mysteriously DEAD after inserting CD ROM?

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mysteriously DEAD after inserting CD ROM?

backstory

Today I turned on my year (and two weeks) old MacBook pro. When I inserted a CD ROM it made a weird stuttering noise, almost like the disc was hitting against some component. Then the entire computer suddenly shut off, no sleep light, and nothing from the power indicator light on the side.

what I tried

My first step was plugging into a power adapter (because by freak coincidence it could have been a dead battery). This resulted in no change what-so-ever. My MacBook still wouldn't power on - and even weirder, when holding down the power button I heard a faint 'blipping' noise, almost like it was trying to start but couldn't.

Oddly enough the mac still seemed to have some power - the CD had partially ejected before the shut down. When I pushed it lightly the Mac sucked it into the case.

I needed the CD for my work, and my laptop wasn't giving any other indications of life. With no other option I managed to pull it out using two plastic cards. This lead to another weird occurrence - upon completely removing the disc my laptop made the distinct 'power on' sound it usually makes when you hit the power button. This sound halted abruptly before finished as if the power on signal had suddenly been cancelled.

With the optical drive as my only lead, I tried inserting the cd back in. There was no response from my laptop at this point (it didn't try to suck the cd back in). HOWEVER when I tried the power on button at this point my MacBook booted. The battery power indicator lights on the side turned back on when pressed and everything since this point has been normal.

help solving this mystery??

So where does this leave me? I'm happy my MacBook is up and operational but I'm concerned that something is seriously amiss under it's unibody case. I'm reluctant to take it to a genius bar because as previously mentioned I am two weeks passed the warranty. I haven't tried inserting another CD into the drive for obvious reasons.

My instinct is something in the optical drive short-circuited or interfered with the power system, but I have no experience with how the internal components of a MacBook are actually laid out, so this could be completely off base. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas?? What caused this and is something seriously wrong?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Apr 18, 2012 6:20 PM

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Answer 1

ZintainUSA

Level 5

6,537 points

Apr 18, 2012 6:37 PM in response to Tamarabyte

The only way to really know for sure if it was a freak occurance or something that is actually going to happen again is to try it again. You don't want to continue to use your computer and never put a CD in it again just because you are worried that it won't work. You'll never know if you don't try. Try it and if it happens again, then take it to the Genius Bar as they may have a better idea what is going on. It could just be a bad CD that the computer locked up on because it couldn't read it right. It could be any number of things. I would say try a different CD and see what happens. If it works then it is probably either a freak occurance or something wrong with that other CD. Then it is up to you if you want to try to insert it again, but if you do and that one does it again, then you know that the CD is bad. If you put in a different CD and it does the same thing then you know you have a hardware issue and you need to have your MacBook looked at.

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Answer 2

Tamarabyte Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2012 7:27 PM in response to ZintainUSA

I've ruled out an issue with the CD. I tested it on my PC and another MacBook. I really do think it's an internal hardware issue.

I know you're right about attempting to repeat the situtaiton . But.. I am willing to never use my CD again if it means saving hundreds of dollars in repairs.

It just seems weird to me that a malfunction in the optical drive could have such an impact on the rest of the system...this is what leads me to believe that there is some tertiary part that is damaged and effecting both the optical drive and another piece? Or that the optical drive and some other component were damaged simultaneously... by movement or rough handling? (I'm not exactly gentle with my laptop. It gets dragged around in a backpack with all my other school books).

My main concern is that something besides the optical drive is in serious disarray.... and that my laptop could die suddenly because of this.

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Answer 3

ZintainUSA

Level 5

6,537 points

Apr 18, 2012 7:30 PM in response to Tamarabyte

Well, I did have a PC that had a drive issue and it did some weird stuff. When it came time to getting the computer to boot, it wouldn't boot if there was a CD in the drive. This was due to the fact that the drive was defective and when it would try to read the CD it would just hang there. This was due to the fact that the drive was trying to read the disc and the computer wouldn't pass POST because while it was waiting to read the disc (which it couldn't read because it had a problem) it wouldn't report back what type of drive it was. The computer would hang there until removing the disc. As soon as I would remove the disc, the POST would pass and the computer would start right back up. Other times, it would past POST if it hadn't realized there was a disc in the drive yet but when it came time to loading Windows, it would hang up there because it was set to boot first off the CD drive and because it was waiting to see if it was a bootable disc, it would hang up there. I am telling you this because it was just simply a $30 part that went bad (the drive itself) that caused the whole computer to act up while booting. This could be similar to what was going on there. I can't know for sure because I can't see what is going on with the POST on the MacBook, but it could very well be a similar problem that the drive is causing POST to fail which is why the computer won't go any further.

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Answer 4

Tamarabyte Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2012 7:44 PM in response to ZintainUSA

Hmm... now that I think about it I have no idea how a Mac POSTs. So maybe you're right.

If only Mac optical drives were $30... I think once I hunt down a screwdriver small enough to open it I'll take a peek inside and see if I can spot anything obvious, then I'll test inserting another CD. But... after exams... haha! Not having my laptop for my computer science finals would be terrifying!

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Answer 5

ZintainUSA

Level 5

6,537 points

Apr 18, 2012 7:56 PM in response to Tamarabyte

Tamarabyte wrote:

But... after exams... haha! Not having my laptop for my computer science finals would be terrifying!

lol...Yeah I hear that...I don't know how they POST, but I do know that the Ding you hear at the beginning is the tone that you get from the POST being successful.

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