MacBook Pro 2011 wont switch on

First what size MBP is this?

15" or 17"?

There's a recall on those:

https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

"I plug in macbook with power cable,"

Any lights on the MacSafe plug? Green or amber (charging).

"Tried another battery from another mac book and it comes back on!"

Does the charge light come on with the other battery?

No lights in either case - possible bad DC in board.

Try another power adapter.

"Resetting SMC"

Did you try a "hard SMC reset"?

Try a hard reset. Disconnect the battery (open the bottom and pull the connector off. Use your fingernails.) and power adapter. Press the power button for 1 minute. Let the computer sit for 5 minutes, Reconnect and try to start up.

No? - Go through the same procedure and try to start without the battery connected.

The addendum to this would be to try a known good battery.

This would be for a "no start" scenario but basically it's the SMC reset w/ a battery you can remove.

Lights with the other battery - bad original battery.

Make an appointment at an Apple store genius bar for a FREE evaluation.

Ciao.

Having all diagnostic information in the beginning makes it easier to determine your problem.

"When I press battery indicator is only flashing on one"

So not charged.

" I left it on over night as I could see it was charging battery,"

Because the light changed from green to amber? In the morning what did the battery LED bar say? How many LEDs were lit?

"Tried another battery from another mac book and it comes back on!"

Did that battery charge?

"Its just strange it let me charge it last night."

But did it actually charge?

Most likely a bad battery.

"Yes it did charge battery fully and all light indicators are now green, lights went from green to amber"

Then back to green again when fully charged?

"I shut it down... now it wont restart again."

"It seems to let you use it with power connected, then after about minute it stops using power and use's battery and acts like power isnt even connected."

Could still be a bad battery.

Get it running again and go under the:

Apple - "About this Mac - More Info - System Report -Power"

and report what it says about the battery.

E.G. here's mine:

"I have noticed is power button doesnt seem to work"

When you push on the power button does it seem to click.

This is what you're actually pushing under the metal button:

It's a tactile membrane dome switch. It can fail but usually it would be like the switch is constantly activated. I.E. the MBP would turn on by itself but then would shut down.

" it finally switches on, I just get apple logo and spinning circle and doesnt load operating system"

What OS are you running? Now that sounds like a bad hard drive or damaged OS.

"but I did let it do some updates yesterday"

Perhaps they failed?

"When I press power button it does click but doesnt do anything."

So that trace could have gone bad. That picture of the power switch I posted shows a flat black ribbon cable running to the left. That continues to the keyboard membrane itself and it's all one big assembly.

Also the connection to the logic board could be loose/bad.

You've done all the SMC, PRAM resets I see.

"Do you think this Mac book is not repairable?"

No, I've repaired much worse besides it turns on so it's mostly alive.

I'd unplug the keyboard:

https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Pro_13%22

Not sure if it's early or late 2011.

If it is the keyboard it might have to be replaced. Keyboard itself is cheap but Apple and almost everyone else replaces the entire top case.

Firstly you can bypass the power button by using the logic board startup pads. Be very careful that you have the exact right location and pads because of course if not you can destroy your logic board.

http://www.insidemylaptop.com/turn-on-macbook-pro-laptop-without-power-button-lo cating-power-on-pads/

"I cant see power button will I need unplug wireless card?"

Yes to either replace the keyboard or replace the top case.

The iFixIt site is here:

https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Pro_13%22_Unibody_Late_2011

and everything has to come out of the computer to replace the top case.

" would it be easier if I purchased new top case?"

Yes that's the standard fix but it's expensive. The keyboards/power switches typically cost ~ $30 but it's very difficult to put in. ~ 80 tiny screws.

"is it easy enough to reassemble?"

Look at the iFixIt guide for replacing the top case.

" trackpad is working would that still work if keyboard was disconnected/broke?

Yes it's a different connector to the logic board. See here:

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Late+2011+Trackpad+Repl acement/7664

Did you try the logic board startup pads?

Need to know for sure that the keyboard is bad.

The part number for the top case is 661-5871 (US) not sure if that is compatible. You should message the seller to guarantee if that top case is compatible. In any case talking to the seller would give you a clue to what he's like to deal with.

"it would be worthwhile replacing DC adapter whilst I'm doing this, although it did charge on laptop before but doesnt always charge. "

Dirt or smutz in the contacts? You could probably do that since everything is coming out of the computer anyway.