izziebell

Q: Macbook pro shut down on its own and will not start again. Progress bar stops halfway.

Hello anybody that can help. My macbook pro seemed to shut down on its own when i placed my mobile phone on it but it will not start up again. I have tried everything but it stays on the the grey logo screen with the progress bar half way. My final attempt at resolving the problem was reinstalling os x. It hasnot changed a thing. I really dont wanna loose the info on it, cause I have not backed up in a long while. Can anyone help?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Aug 14, 2016 5:02 PM

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Q: Macbook pro shut down on its own and will not start again. Progress bar stops halfway.

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  • by Tesserax,Apple recommended

    Tesserax Tesserax Aug 14, 2016 5:13 PM in response to izziebell
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    Aug 14, 2016 5:13 PM in response to izziebell

    Which exact model is your MacBook Pro? Which version of OS X is it running?

     

    The ability to only boot to a gray screen can be caused by a number of problems; however, none of them would be due to just placing your mobile phone near the laptop.

     

    Some of the causes are:

    • A hardware failure.
    • The startup drive is not recognized.
    • Essential OS X startup software is either missing or corrupt.
    • A firmware update is required.

     

    I suggest that you try starting up your MBP in Safe Mode. (Note: Before doing so, temporarily remove any peripherals connected to your MBP.) To do so, reboot or power-on the MBP, and then, hold down the Shift key immediately after you hear the startup chime. Keep holding it down until you come to the Apple logo screen. Eventually the Login window should appear. You will know that you are in Safe Mode as it will be displayed below the words "Mac OS X."

     

    If you can boot up in safe mode, most likely, an issue with a third-party driver. Please post back your results.

  • by izziebell ,

    izziebell izziebell Aug 14, 2016 6:12 PM in response to izziebell
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 14, 2016 6:12 PM in response to izziebell

    I have a mac book pro 15 inch mid 2010. Os x 10.10. Memory 320. Using os x yosamite. I just reinstalled this again as an attempt to resolve the problem, after trying nearly everthing I see suggested. I havetrid safe boot but it still does not make it. My mac was running normally withno problems until that moment I placed my phone on it. It instantly rebooted, stopped and did it again, while I was watching, wondering what was happening. Since then it has not come on again. The progress bar takes a long time to move before it just stops halfway everytime... :-(

  • by izziebell ,

    izziebell izziebell Aug 14, 2016 6:13 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 14, 2016 6:13 PM in response to Tesserax

    Thanks alot for your reply and for your suggestions so far. I am still very stuck.

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Aug 15, 2016 8:01 AM in response to izziebell
    Level 9 (54,040 points)
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    Aug 15, 2016 8:01 AM in response to izziebell

    Were you able to boot up your Mac in Safe Mode?

  • by izziebell ,

    izziebell izziebell Aug 15, 2016 8:05 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 15, 2016 8:05 AM in response to Tesserax

    I have now managed to start in safe mode. It took a major long time. Had to leave it overnight. But im afraid to turn off now. What would I do from here?

  • by Tesserax,Apple recommended

    Tesserax Tesserax Aug 15, 2016 8:25 AM in response to izziebell
    Level 9 (54,040 points)
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    Aug 15, 2016 8:25 AM in response to izziebell

    Safe Mode bypasses all but the most essential OS X system software and typically indicates that your MBP has an issue with a third-party system extension.

     

    At this point, you need to think about any software or external hardware that you may have added to your MBP. Especially recently when this started to happen.

     

    You mentioned that you reinstalled OS X. Did you install a fresh copy or used Time Machine or another backup method to restore it?

  • by izziebell ,

    izziebell izziebell Aug 19, 2016 1:23 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 19, 2016 1:23 PM in response to Tesserax

    I love the knowledge that you have. I thought about the software that I may have installed on my mbp and the most recebt thing was tomtom gps software but I did this around two months ago and my mac has been fine. Will it have any connection do you think? I have put my phone on my computer before and it didnt trigger anything before. My mac is still on safe mode since I last messaged. I have not shut it down since. I deleted the Tom Tom software though, because I dont really need it. Another thing I did was update skype recently. These are the only two changes made recently. I reinstslled os x From recovery mode with command R. I chose reinstall os x from the list as I was not able to turn on my mac in any other way.

  • by Tesserax,Apple recommended

    Tesserax Tesserax Aug 19, 2016 2:17 PM in response to izziebell
    Level 9 (54,040 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 19, 2016 2:17 PM in response to izziebell

    Ok, if you reinstalled OS X via Recovery Mode, then you have nearly a fresh install. In theory, any third-party software or device drives should NOT be included with this.

     

    Recovery Mode works by mounting a recovery system image from a normally hidden partition on your Mac's hard drive. This partition holds an image of the OS X installer and will load the most recent version that you had upgraded to from the Mac App Store ... not the version that originally came with your Mac.

     

    So, why I said "nearly" is that the version installed may include third-party drivers and may be the reason that your Mac can't startup without going to Safe Mode.

     

    You do have another option, and that is to try Internet Recovery Mode. This mode is similar, but instead of installing OS X from the partition, your Mac will contact an Apple server to download and install a copy of OS X that originally came with your Mac. This version will definitely not have any third-party software ... BUT, based on when you first got your Mac, it may be an earlier version of OS X, which you may not want.

     

    So, I think you basically have a couple of choices:

    1. Attempt the Internet Recovery Mode, or
    2. Make an appointment with the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store and have them take a look.

     

    If you decide you would like to give Internet Recovery Mode a try, you enter it very much like you did for Recovery Mode, expect instead of just holding down the <Command> + <R> keys, you hold down the <Command> + <Option> + <R> keys.

  • by izziebell ,

    izziebell izziebell Aug 21, 2016 4:18 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 21, 2016 4:18 PM in response to Tesserax

    Thankyou for all your help. I may have to go to the genius bar anyway. But as I mentioned before I have not backed up my mac in a while so do not want to loose my info. Is there any way I can do a back up before I take it there? If i re-install os x as you said, from Internet recovery mode will this cause any other problems? I turned of my mac and tried to start it up again and it does not even move half way with the progress bar. I get a balck screen first and then after a while the apple logo appears with the bar. Seems like its hopeless now. I hope its nothing too major for the genius bar. Wondering if it will make more sense having to buy a new one...

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Aug 22, 2016 9:34 AM in response to izziebell
    Level 9 (54,040 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 22, 2016 9:34 AM in response to izziebell

    But as I mentioned before I have not backed up my mac in a while so do not want to loose my info. Is there any way I can do a back up before I take it there?

    Yes, but it would require a second Mac to do so. It called Target Disk mode. In this mode, the problematic Mac's internal drive would be accessible to another Mac similar to an external hard drive. You can then use the second Mac to access / backup any data from this drive.

     

    If this data is important to you, then you should do this FIRST, before any other recovery attempt.