sawatchboy

Q: Laptop working fine, now dead

I have a 15" 2011 MacBook Pro.  Replaced the hard drive and battery 2 weeks ago and everything was working splendidly.  I walked away from my computer this morning, came back 10 minutes later to find it dark and it will not start.  It is plugged in to power and I get the green indicator light on the charger cable but still no life.  It does not respond when I try the Power button.  Any ideas as to how to troubleshoot this would be greatly appreciated.

MacBook Pro, iOS 9.1

Posted on Dec 3, 2015 1:37 PM

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Q: Laptop working fine, now dead

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  • by Pmintz25,

    Pmintz25 Pmintz25 Dec 3, 2015 1:42 PM in response to sawatchboy
    Level 4 (1,679 points)
    Dec 3, 2015 1:42 PM in response to sawatchboy

    Try the SMC reset. Note that even though you replaced the battery, follow this article as a device that has a battery you aren't supposed to remove.

     

    Make sure you unplug everything connected to the computer except the Magsafe adapter. Also make sure the computer is actually off. Hold the power button for about 10 seconds to make sure it is off and not related to a dim screen issue.

     

    On the left side of the keyboard, press and hold Option-Control-Shift and the power button for about 3 seconds. The Magsafe may change colors but the computer should remain off. Now try to power it on normally.

     

    Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by my ginger,

    my ginger my ginger Dec 3, 2015 1:58 PM in response to sawatchboy
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Dec 3, 2015 1:58 PM in response to sawatchboy

    After doing the SMC reset,which can be done both with battery in or out, try a pram reset. Which is Command/Option/P/R keys and power button down for three chimes. If you get no chime sound, check the magsafe connection to the Macbrook Pro and the magsafe itself.  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203207 Let us know what you found.

  • by sawatchboy,

    sawatchboy sawatchboy Dec 3, 2015 2:07 PM in response to Pmintz25
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 3, 2015 2:07 PM in response to Pmintz25

    I tried the SMC reset as per the article instructions but got no response.  Laptop still will not start. I'm going to try the PRAM reset as per the second respond to my post from "my ginger".

  • by Pmintz25,

    Pmintz25 Pmintz25 Dec 3, 2015 2:39 PM in response to sawatchboy
    Level 4 (1,679 points)
    Dec 3, 2015 2:39 PM in response to sawatchboy

    PRAM will not work if the computer won't boot, but it is a good step if there a possible screen/sound issue causing this.

     

    Try unplugging the power adapter from the wall and the computer for 60 seconds and then try again. This is like an SMC reset for the adapter.

     

    Maybe this will help. I've seen a staple get lodged in the computers power port and it caused a computer to not charge even though the light was light:

    Apple Portables: Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters - Apple Support

  • by sawatchboy,

    sawatchboy sawatchboy Dec 4, 2015 10:06 AM in response to Pmintz25
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 4, 2015 10:06 AM in response to Pmintz25

    I've tried all suggestions and still get no signs of life.  I almost never actually take one of my computers in for repair but might not have an option this time.;-(

     

    Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.

  • by Duane,

    Duane Duane Dec 4, 2015 10:16 AM in response to sawatchboy
    Level 10 (124,018 points)
    Dec 4, 2015 10:16 AM in response to sawatchboy

    Have you tried holding the power button down for a long time (2-3 minutes)? It may be that some process has the CPU hung up. Holding the power button down for a long time will force the MacBook Pro to power down.

  • by my ginger,

    my ginger my ginger Dec 4, 2015 11:44 AM in response to sawatchboy
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Dec 4, 2015 11:44 AM in response to sawatchboy

    Can I assume that when you tried the pram reset or just try starting up pressing the power button, you get no chime and the sleep lead light in the front does not come on or even blink? One last thing you could try is to remove the battery and see if it will now start. If none of this works you are going to have to have an appointment at the genius bar to have it looked at. They do not charge to look at it and if it needs to be repair . They will tell you the approximate cost.

  • by sawatchboy,

    sawatchboy sawatchboy Dec 4, 2015 12:35 PM in response to my ginger
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 4, 2015 12:35 PM in response to my ginger

    You are correct.  the laptop has shown no signs of life through any of these tests; no light, no chimes nada so I'm off to visit the genius.

     

    Thanks!

  • by my ginger,

    my ginger my ginger Dec 4, 2015 1:06 PM in response to sawatchboy
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Dec 4, 2015 1:06 PM in response to sawatchboy

    You tried with battery removed? I'm not saying this could be the problem, but some years ago on a relatives  Ibook, there was the same problem. As I also had an Ibook, I put my battery in it and it would startup.So I replaced the dc-in board, which is where your magsafe attaches to the laptop. And it fixed the problem. Doing this requires a take apart.