Level 1

16 points

Won't start up; charger blinking orange

Came home from work and went to turn on my late-2011 MacBook Pro. It won't start up. Nothing happens (no tone, no motor noise, nothing). When plugged in (MagSafe power charger that came with the unit) the charger unit blinks orange. Tried the charger on my other computer - works just fine. Tried 2 other MagSafe power chargers (from other Macs I own/have owned) and all act the same way with this computer, but work just fine with another Mac.

Anyone have any idea what's going on? I have owned Macs since 1988 (over the years I've owned a Macintosh II, Macintosh Performa, Power Mac, Power Book, and another MacBook Pro before this one). I've never had a problem like this one before...HELP!

[A side note: There have been NO spills, no tumbles, no falls, nothing to prompt any sort of issues....This was a completely RANDOM "dead" laptop!]

MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011)

Posted on Sep 5, 2012 8:03 PM

Top-ranking reply

Joshua Kapellen

Level 1

44 points

Posted on Sep 5, 2012 9:32 PM

It could just be your system management controller. Try resetting it using the following procedure:

Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

Note: Portable computers that have a battery you should not remove on your own include MacBook Pro (Early 2009) and later, all models of MacBook Air, and MacBook (Late 2009).

Shut down the computer.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
Note: The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.

This was found here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

If that doesn't give any love it may actually be a battery problem. The part may just have been defective. Manufacturig isn't perfect, especially when you introduce things like Humans and Fridays. 🙂 That is why we have warranties.

Hopefully the SMC reset helps!

=Josh

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172 replies

Oct 2, 2014 4:40 PM in response to dbartul

I Cant Thank you enough dbartul!!!

make a long story short i plugged a third party iphone usb cord while the computer was in sleeping mode, found out i made a big mistake!

computer went black out shut down completely would not respond and the power button not working, no reset is working and the button on the side to check the battery was not even showing one light like usual.

i googled about megasafe blinking orange light came to this threat and found the solution witch worked perfectly, just unplug, replug and walla MAGIC!!

thank you guys!

Oct 23, 2014 10:39 AM in response to dbartul

Yep, unplug the battery connector and it works, here is a like to iFix it if you don't know where the battery connector is, I had the same issue with my 13 inch Macbook Pro Unibody Mid 2012, thanks for that tip dbartul.

spudnuty

Level 5

7,128 points

Feb 22, 2015 12:50 PM in response to Noori1313

I also just had an issue w/ a early 2010 MBP 13" that had sleep problems. It would wake up from sleep after much prompting, sometimes it wouldn't wake at all. Once it was awake it would go back to sleep after only a few seconds and be difficult to wake again.

So naturally I'm thinking SMC right? Actually I was also thinking battery. Anyway standard SMC reset had no affect so I did my "hard SMC reset": disconnect the battery, let it sit for a few minutes and push the power button. In this case I actually swapped in another batter, started it up and problem gone! Put in the old battery and problem gone. I'm still suspicious of that old battery tho'!

Apr 25, 2016 8:18 PM in response to dbartul

Thank you so much. My extreme doubt in this working mainly stemmed due to nothing is usually that easy to repair for me and my husband. However I was determined to try the easy and free way first so I didn't regret it. When I opened it up I got worried because I wasn't sure I had right spot and didn't want to pull on something thinking it was plug like and it being soddered in there. I had nothing to fear, I lifted cable plug, then put back in & VIOLA I have a running laptop that didn't cost anything to fix.

Apr 14, 2015 10:22 AM in response to E_Louise

The solution that worked for me was leaving it unplugged overnight.

Oct 9, 2016 6:33 AM in response to E_Louise

Get a GOOD quality, tiny screwdriver and follow debartul's instruction. The battery connector doesn't get pulled out, but sort of flips up. Brilliant.......MBP working again and friend thinks I am a genius. It was actually easy!

Fiachrag

Level 1

0 points

Sep 18, 2013 2:39 PM in response to CKRojas94

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJvOoSKlPfM

Just unplug the cable and plug it straight back in, only that part of the video.

appreciate

Level 4

1,278 points

Jul 3, 2016 9:57 PM in response to E_Louise

It seems you have not updated firmware .

You can follow an apple article : Apple Portables: Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters - Apple Support

SJKabir

Level 1

9 points

Sep 23, 2012 7:41 AM in response to E_Louise

I am having exactly the same problems that you mentioned. LED blinking orange. No battery indicator lights are working. Resetting the SMC not working. Connecting another magsafe charger not working. But i feel some vibration when I touch the laptop when the Magsafe charger is connected. Seems like the fan is working.

Can anyone help please!

Nov 30, 2013 7:19 AM in response to E_Louise

This fixed my problem thank you SO MUCH late 2012 Macbook pro, in fact I found a bit of plastic near the battery connector, it may have been the cause of a lot of other problems.

But thank you so much

Paul

http://www.dailyforextrader.me

Feb 23, 2014 2:02 PM in response to rlb671

My problem was caused by a third party lead too: A 'Poundland' multi lead-- USB to 4 different connectors.

This was proven by the fact that I used the lead a second time and immediately my macbook died.. but was revived once again by the dbartul fix.

The lead is now in the bin.

Scary stuff.

Nov 16, 2015 4:58 AM in response to Joshua Kapellen

Charger plug LED was blinking green and orange. Screen battery indicator showed MacBook was connected to mains power - but battery % indicator would not rise - not charging. Removed charger from mains and MacBook, plugged up again and hey presto charger reset.

Aug 19, 2014 5:43 PM in response to E_Louise

Thanks to dbartul!!

One quick not, if you are thinking on "HOw do i unplug the battery??"

Just look to the righ, for a flat cable. Use your nail and GENTLY remove it and put it back. Pretty simple!

Oct 23, 2014 10:43 AM in response to dbartul

here is the link for ifix it if anyone needs it. www.ifixit.com they have a tutorial on how to disconnect the power cable. very easy to do.

Nov 4, 2016 1:28 PM in response to E_Louise

Hello Loise,

Here is the solution It acts like that due to. Loose contact if batter connector switch. Internally.

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Won't start up; charger blinking orange