Can macbook pro 3,2 run on 60w magsafe

there is no MacBook Pro 3,2 model. If it is a 15" or 17" model, it requires an 85w charger, the 60w is not strong enough to charge it.

A 60W charger should be more than enough to start it & charge it. It will take longer to charge, of course. You may have other problems... do the battery test lights work ?.

Generally a lower-rated power adaptor will:

<>run the computer with a good battery in place

<>charge the battery (slowly),

<>but not both.

That series MBP was designed to draw power from the battey if the computer demanded more power thant A/C alone could provide.

If you had a working battery you could get away with the 60W unit for a while. In the absence of a working battery, I think efforts along this path will prove frustrating.

I assume it need a partial charge from the battery as well as the power from the 60w charger in order to boot?

Yes, although that is more common with the PowerBooks that proceeded the MBP. Try this: remove the main battery and let the computer sit turned off and unused BUT on the power adaptor for 24-48 hours. Tht can pump a little power back into the internal backup battery. Now reinsert the main battery (yes, I know it's dead) and try a restart.

If that does not work and you are sure nothing else is wrong with the comptuer, you will at least need to get a new battery. Apple still has them:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MA348LL/A/rechargeable-battery-15-inch-macbook -pro?fnode=5a

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

If you still can't start, test without the battery.

If you've reset the SMC & it still won't charge or recognise the battery, then short of substituting a known good one... no; although the battery itself is the most likely cause.

No test but there is a status check. I'm having to guess about your Mac OS version because it's not shown but, assuming you have OS10.5 or higher, click and hold on your Apple menu and press the option key. The top item, normally "About this Mac," will change to either "System Profiler" or "System information" depending on your OS version. Launch that.

In the resulting window's left pane, select "Power" to get this:

Copy/paste the info I've highlighted in yellow into a reply here. A failed battery will show error values.