MacBook Pro Won't Start

Question

2000Flyer Author

Level 1

8 points

MacBook Pro Won't Start

I've read through numerous posts and discussions on this topic and I've yet to find anything that will work. I press the power button, the grey screen comes up asking for password (or single user). Single user asks to restart and just goes to the circle with cross through it. If I enter my password (normal operations) it either hangs on that or proceeds to the apple symbol and stays there.

I've tried SAFE and RECOVERY to no avail. Even tried FSCK. At least this got me past the dreaded frozen grey apple screen. Following are the messages I received. (NOTE: in the directions it says to enter "fsck -fy" at the prompt, however my prompt is frozen)

**** ERROR ArchiveGetData Couldn't find file: 1_flag_menu_item.png

**** ERROR _ArchiveCopyPNGImage ArchiveGetData coudn't find file: 1_flag-menu-item.png

**** ERROR _CreatedMenuWithWithIdentifier no image for file: 1_flag-menu-item.png

**** ERROR ArchiveGetData Couldn't find file: 72_flag_other_menu_item.png

**** ERROR _ArchiveCopyPNGImage ArchiveGetData coudn't find file 72_flag_other_menu_item.png

**** ERROR _CreateMenuWithWithIdentifier no image for file: 72_flag-other_menu_item.png

**** ERROR UIFlagPicerRestoreState No state found for flagpicker

**** ERROR ArchiveGetDatat Couldn't find file: preferences_good_samaritan_message_ribbon.png

**** ERROR _ArchiveCopyPNGImage ArchiveGetData coudn't find file: preferences_good_samaritan_message_ribbon.png

**** ERROR ArchiveViewCreateWithOptions ArchiveCopyPNGImage failed for file: preferences_good_samaritan_message-Ribbon.png

**** ERROR ArchiveGetData Couldn't find file: loginui_bootprogressbar.png

**** ERROR _ArchiveCopyPNGImage ArchiveGetData coudn't find file: loginui_bootprogressbar.png

**** ERROR ArchiveViewCreaeWithOptions ArchiveCopyPNGImage failed for file: loginui.bootprogressbar.png

........Read error 0x6

Error loading kernel cache (0x6)

Any ideas, solutions, thoughts...?

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Aug 14, 2015 11:17 AM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

684,045 points

Aug 15, 2015 12:32 PM in response to 2000Flyer

Startup - prohibitory sign at OS X bootup

Startup Issues - Resolve

Startup Issues - Resolve (2)

Startup Issues - Resolve (3)

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Answer 2

2000Flyer Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 2, 2015 4:35 AM in response to Eric Root

Eric, thank you for the tips and I apologize for the delay in replying.

I went through every step you listed and still end up with either a gray screen, the log on screen (without ability to enter password), prohibited symbol, folder with "?" or just a white screen. Seems each attempt yields a different response, none ending in a successful startup.

I was able to start once in recovery mode. I received a message saying there were errors in the partition (I made the mistake of not writing down the exact message to relay to you). I clicked to repair and it instantly came back with an alert that it was unable. Since, I have not been able to start in recovery mode.

After that attempt, it took multiple attempts to start in safe mode, typically ending in the prohibited symbol or the symbol followed by the file folder with "?". One safe mode attempt went as far as logging on under my user account but then went to a white screen and froze.

Any further suggestions outside a visit to the Apple Store?

Thank you for your time and assistance.

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Answer 3

Sep 2, 2015 4:45 AM in response to 2000Flyer

Certainly sounds like the disk failed. What's the make/model of the MacBook Pro? If it is under warranty or the extended warranty of AppleCare then you should just book a GeniusBar appointment or ship it to Apple for repair. Or find a licensed Apple repair vendor. If it is out of warranty and its an older MacBook Pro without the fancy PCIe SSD, then you can likely replace the drive yourself. Excellent guides here: https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac You must understand if you break it you are stuck as Apple won't touch it.

Have you tried booting with an external thumb drive or USB hard drive? Hold down Option (alt) key when you boot and choose the external disk. Then try to repair the internal disk using the Disk Utility or purchase Disk Warrior which can do a lot more with disk soft errors. But nothing will help if the disk itself has failed hardware. Then you need to replace the faulty disk.

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Answer 4

2000Flyer Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 2, 2015 5:04 AM in response to James Brickley

Thanks James,

Laptop is a MacBook Pro 13" purchased mid 2012.

Finally, after more than 20 attempts, I got the recovery (CMD+R) to respond except this time I'm getting an "!" with apple.com/support -2102F.

No warranty/apple care. My last MacBook lasted nearly 10 years and I'd still be using it today if Apple supported upgrades. I'm on my third Mac desktop in 28 years and have never had an issue.

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Answer 5

Sep 2, 2015 5:17 AM in response to 2000Flyer

2000Flyer wrote:

My last MacBook lasted nearly 10 years and I'd still be using it today if Apple supported upgrades. I'm on my third Mac desktop in 28 years and have never had an issue.

You've been very lucky! Hard disks rarely last that long. Especially since all the HD plants in Thailand were under water due to flooding. Many drives are made in China as a result and the quality control is not like it used to be... Although its been getting better lately.

If you feel adventurous here is the guide on how to do it yourself (just be very careful)

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Hard+Drive+Rep lacement/10378

If you are going to replace the internal disk you might as well buy an SSD from OWC. Solid State Drives are typically more reliable than the traditional spinning rust style. It will also speed up your Mac tremendously, it will feel like a whole new computer.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Mercury_6G/

I recommend OWC because their drives do not require TRIM support as Apple doesn't turn on TRIM for non-Apple SSD drives. Also OWC has excellent support. I had an SSD go bad and they replaced it very quickly.

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Answer 6

Sep 2, 2015 5:27 AM in response to 2000Flyer

Again, is there anyway you can boot the MacBook Pro 13" from an external drive (USB/Firewire/Thunderbolt)? You might be able to recover your data if you don't already have a TimeMachine backup. You could also use Target Disk mode by connecting this new Mac to your older Mac and holding the T key while booting the broken Mac. That will make the disk mount on the old Mac possibly. If your old Mac is too old for Target Disk Mode you could find a friend or someone else to help you out with a newer Mac to connect to.

It is certain the disk is failing, once booted with an external disk or via Target Disk Mode you will need to run a repair on the disk and then you can try copying data off of it to another external disk, etc. But if it's very intermittent and you keep having errors then it might be a lost cause. There are data recovery companies you can ship the drive to and they will recover data. But it is not cheap, there's a non-refundable evaluation fee and then they quote you what it will cost before they do it. Cost can be up to $1000+. In some cases, the data might be worth it, depends on what you might need to recover.

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Answer 7

2000Flyer Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 2, 2015 6:02 AM in response to James Brickley

Thanks again James,

I've never tried to boot via USB or another Mac. Don't know the first thing about it or how and what to do once booted (if successful). I'll look into it this afternoon when I have more time.

Regards,

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