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How do you fix a MacBook Pro that will not boot in safe mode?

I have a MacBook Pro 15" from 2011 running OS X Lion that will not boot up. A blank gray screen came up on it while using it last night and now it will not boot back up. I can turn it on and get the Apple chime, but after the Apple logo appears the screen just goes gray without prompting me to login as normal. I have tried booting in safe mode via holding down Shift, but I still get taken to a blank gray screen. I have also tired resetting the NVRAM via Command Option P R as instructed in a Apple help article and this did nothing too. I have not had really any issues with my computer before. Can someone help me? Thanks & Happy 4th!

MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Jul 3, 2015 12:15 PM

19 replies

Jul 4, 2015 5:22 PM in response to SeekingAppleHelp1

I took my MacBook to the Apple Store and based on their diagnostic tests, the graphics card is the problem. I was told that this would normally cost $500, but due to the recall as mentioned in this message thread (https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/), my laptop is covered and will be fixed for free. It is possible a computer will boot on occasion with this issue, as mine did, but not very likely since the card is part of the boot process. Hoping I can get lucky again to create a backup prior to getting the new card installed just to be safe, but the Genius Bar employee told me that this issue doesn't affect data so I will likely not lose anything.

Jul 4, 2015 5:47 PM in response to spudnuty

I took my MacBook to the Apple Store and based on their diagnostic tests, the graphics card is the problem. I was told that this would normally cost $500, but due to the recall, my laptop is covered and will be fixed for free. Thank you again! I appreciate you bringing the recall article to my attention.

spudnuty

Level 5

7,116 points

Jul 4, 2015 7:54 PM in response to SeekingAppleHelp1

". Thank you again!"

You're welcome. When a Mac has a graphics problem often the OS will freeze due to the GUI nature of the OS. This would happen w/ the old iBooks and even though you couldn't see the graphics problem (video tearing, bars, etc.) the problem would cause freezing.

"the Genius Bar employee told me that this issue doesn't affect data so I will likely not lose anything."

Hopefully!

"normally cost $500,"

I've heard numbers as high as $750.

Aug 2, 2015 5:04 PM in response to spudnuty

Just to provide an update, my MacBook is fine now after Apple replaced the logic board as they instructed they would do. I did not lose any data either.

How do you fix a MacBook Pro that will not boot in safe mode?