Won't start up; charger blinking orange

I had the same problem. The power adapter was blinking orange. Disconnecting the battery wouldn't fix it. I'm not exactly sure what fixed it but this is what I did.

1) plug power adapter into a different wall circuit

2) remove back cover and unplug battery (make sure it can't reconnect)

3) plug in power adapter (be careful with the back off of the computer) and hold down the power button for a long time (30 seconds). At this point the power adapter started blinking green.

4) unplug the power adapter

5) plug the battery back in and put cover back on computer

6) plug power adapter back into computer (at this point the power adapter went orange to indicate charging and my computer started just fine)

7) back everything up because you might not be as lucky next time.

I know this is a little old now, but I really have to thank dbartul for this, i'm a DJ and was in the middle of my set when my macnook just blacked out on me, I was very angry as I thought someone had dropped a drink on it, I came home thinking that was it for my laptop when I saw this thread, I followed the instructions to a T and my computer came back on, the chargers not working though, but I'd prefer that doesn't work than my computer,

Thanks again!!

I just wanted to say thank you for your post on unplugging the battery adapter it worked perfectly for me! I was in the middle of work and had a deadline to meet which meant no time to take it to Best Buy yet, you saved my deadline! Much much appreciated :O)

Have a great holiday weekend!

If anyone else is reading this post, try it, it was incredibly easy and worked!

dbartul, You are a life saver!! I had this problem with my mid 2012 Macbook Pro 13"... Just suddenly powered off and I couldn't get it to turn on. When I plugged in the Magsafe Charger it just flickered really dimly. Was thinking about taking it straight to the shop, but I googled the symtoms and came across this forum, I was skeptical about it working for me, but gave it a try and boom!! Laptop powered on, charger working, everything fine!! Thanks a bunch!

After waiting almost 2 hours, a not so genius at the genius bar looked at me like a fool when I braught up this thread. He said it was a "component" issue and my labtop had to be sent off for repair($300 is a lot for a broke college student). I walked out and after 2 hours of hunting for a screwdriver compatible for opening the case, I hit the jackpot at home depot ($10 for a screwdriver that has all the tips needed for anything screwdriver related). THANKS DEBARTFUL! Im sure you would be a valuable asset to the genius bar..... I took my labtop to the genius bar because I was too scared doing this on my own. I found hunting around for a screwdriver was more of a challenge, so if you can find a scredriver you can fix this issue on your own. 🙂

Hi everyone,

my macbook pro later 2009, died the other day, I called Apple the other day, its obviously out of warranty and they wanted me to take it into the genius bar. Since then i have tried dbartul's remedy and still nothing, i've tried over and over again. i still get the light orange light flashing, I work for Samsung and had a staff member in a retail store tell me to just leave the charger in and it will come good after 24 hours. well that didnt work either.

Can someone please help?

Thanks so much for sharing this video Fiachrag! I'm a visual person and was too afraid to mess with the inner components without an example. And guess what? My laptop NOW turns out and takes a charge! Phew! Thanks everyone. And a huge thanks to dbartul for getting us all on the right track in the first place!

Debartful you are an absolute star, just about to spend €300 to have is fixed. It works just careful where you screws go.

7 of them are very small and easy to lose with a magnetic screwdriver

AMAZING! Thank you so much! Debartful, that worked a treat. I would never ever ever dare to do such a thing, especially because I am the least tech savvy. I was even stresses when someone mentioned the plug next to the ram or whatever hahah. So yea really appreciate it!

And thanks to Fiachrag for the video, that really helped too, coz yea again, not techno savvy so it made it super easy.

My mac just switched off, nothing worked, as everyone says, red/pink light was on for the charger. But everything is 100% again... well I hope.

Better than that $300 repair fee. I only paid $2.80 for the screw drivers at daiso!

Thank you so much, I couldn't turn on my Macbook for two days, just tried what you suggested.. was not sure that it will work for me !! I am very happy now that it worked, you are a life saver. Thanks a million.

The truth was that I was working on a doc and then I plugged in my iPod touch(pretty old school haha) with a semi damages cord, and out of the blue my screen darkened! I don't think it has anything to do with the magnet but possibly some defect either in that cord you plug in your mini pad or like you said, just a defect product. At least you bought it in, the moment I sensed my pro with a problem when I got it fresh out of the box I convince myself that I just have to get used to the pro from my MacBook, but problems occur so soon! I regret getting my pro, honest to god! $1200 for an impersonal product since there is always that chance of getting a defected one!!! I think this is the last apple product I'm purchasing. Even the iPhones. After trying all their models, one by one they falls into the same problem but none of them are fixed?! iPhone heats up like crazy after updating its iOS, battery life falls downhill after a year of age, etc, etc. it's quite upsetting to see this happening. I loved my MacBook!

Thanks Fiachrag for the photo, my MBP is a little different than the one described, so I was able to find the part using your pic as a reference. This thread seems to have saved a bunch of people from headaches with an easy fix. Thanks dbartul!

I'm having the exact same problem; my macbook pro won't start up and the magsafe light keeps flashing orange.
I'm not going to try to touch or remove anything even though it might be an easy fix, i'm just going to leave it as it is, take it to the apple store and take advantage of my applecare. I've only had this item since late October 2013, so it's only been 3 months and it's being faulty already. Whether it's an easy fix and they'll be able to sort it out within no time, I haven't paid £1500 to have a half working system. Apple better come up with something. What a farce...

Just used this tip from dbartul - AMAZING.

words cannot literally express how happy I am!

Thought that I'd lost my work and my mac forever; but now currently writing this message from it!!! 😀

I have to admit that I did use a cheap, 3rd party charger iphone cable (non-apple) to charge my phone from my mac to phone. BEWARE. NEVER USE THEM. they caused me to worrry nervously about my computer after it unexpedtedly shut down, and would not start up for many hours.

Thankfully dbartul's tip is really really simple.

For all those really nervous or a bit skeptical about opening up a computer - so was I (or should I say, my dad!!), but it was seriously as simple as anything.

Very happy with this!

It basically reboots the machine, but nothing was/is lost, and the laptop had the windows open that I'd previously been using before it blacked out on me!!

Really cannot stress how much time and money this saved me!

Go ahead and do it - its really simple!