MBP doesn't boot but fan is running

Question

Level 1

0 points

MBP doesn't boot but fan is running

I've got a MacBook Pro early 2008, everything worked fine until recently. The machine was shut down for a few days and thereafter won't boot at all. When I press the power button three things happen: the power indicator light goes on, the cd drive does some self test (typical cd drive noise on power-up) and the fan starts. All normal. Unfortunately it doesn't go any further than that. I've tried the NVRAM reset, the SMC reset and checked many other pages to find a possible cause. The battery is working normally, slowly discharging at a normal rate when it's off all the time now. The charger looks ok, charging works normally. Nothing seems to help. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2008), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Oct 17, 2012 3:00 AM

Reply

Answer 1

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 17, 2012 3:18 AM in response to gerbenbondt

First, see if you can boot into Safe Mode:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

If you can, just re-boot after doing so.

Reply

Answer 2

gerbenbondt Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 17, 2012 3:50 AM in response to wjosten

I just read the article. It explains I have to wait for the startup tone but unfortunately it doesn't make any tone. Just the fan, the disc-drive and the power-on light. Thereafter it stops.

Thanks for replying by the way!

Reply

Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 17, 2012 3:54 AM in response to gerbenbondt

Try re-booting while holding down Command + Option + R. This will bring up Internet recovery. See if you can use Disk Utility to repair/verify your hard drive.

Best done if you first connect your Mac to Ethernet...will go much faster.

Reply

Answer 4

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Oct 17, 2012 3:54 AM in response to gerbenbondt

Your system is Dead. Take it to an Apple Genius Bar.

Reply

Answer 5

gerbenbondt Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 17, 2012 4:26 AM in response to wjosten

Also no sign of response. Spoke to Apple Support in the meantime, tried to do another SMC reset. Very friendly and helpful, even though there is no warranty at all anymore. I guess the only option is have it checked by some Apple techs.

Reply

Answer 6

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 17, 2012 4:28 AM in response to gerbenbondt

Yep, go to an Apple store. They can tell you exactly what the deal is.

Reply

Answer 7

gerbenbondt Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 27, 2012 8:54 AM in response to gerbenbondt

So I've been to an Apple approved service provider. They told me the logic board was dead, replacement around 600 euro including service. Decided not to do it and buy a new one. The service guys were so friendly to remove the harddrive and put it into this USB box to make it like an external HD.

Got the computer back and as the logic board was dead anyway I decided to try this: bake it in the oven. 190 degrees C, 7:30 minutes. See this website for some more details: http://russell.heistuman.com/2010/04/27/cooking-the-books-or-baking-my-macbook-p ro-logic-board/

I removed the logic board according ifixit.com instructions, bake it for 7 and a half minutes 375ºF or 190ºC, follow the deassemble manual in reverse order (placed the harddrive back as well) and it worked. It's running now and I'm writing this post from my "undead" MacBook Pro.

Anyway I will buy a new MacBook as I take into account this "solution" will not work forever, but at least now I've got a bit of time to collect money for it.

Thanks all of you for taking the time to read and answer my posts, you've been very helpful. It's a bit of a unusual solution but I hope the above can be helpful to others as well.

Ciao

Reply