MacBook Pro does not boot

Try this:

Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions

Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now shutdown the computer for a couple of minutes and then restart normally.

If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.5.2 for Tiger) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.

If you are not able to start up from the OS X Installer Disc that came with the computer, then it's likely there is a hardware problem. In that case you will need to take it to an Apple service center for diagnosis and repair.

Glad to hear of your success.

I had the exact same problem. See whit power light and hear hard drive, CD and fan sounds but but only black screen on boot (nothing on screen - not grey). The install DVD and external Firewire drives are not recognized.

I was about to give up when I read your post. Thanks.

The solution was removing one of the 1GB DIMMs (the Apple supplied one) and moving the other 1GB DIMM (OWC) to the outer slot. Voila - grey screen with Apple and everything works correctly.

I will try to add the second 1GB DIMM back shortly.

hey graphics-guru, did it work after adding the second RAM chip back in?

I had the same problem, and found that either RAM chip in the upper slot = computer works; but if if any chip is in the lower slot (even with one in the upper slot as well), computer doesnt work.

Im assuming the lower RAM connection is done, eh?

Hey,

Same problem here. Just 2 things:
- The problem started after upgrading to the latest superdrive FW.
- In my case switching the RAM modules does not solve the problem. The MBP uses to start up after reseting the PMU and removing the battery and power cord for some hours. Then the problem appears again only if I reboot the laptod or it goes out of battery.

Any clue?

hi same problem here as well! ive tried switching ram around like above, but nothing!, it just seems like it doesnt want to boot, ive also tried the boot disc, but its stuck and wont eject. any ideas??

I found hundred of posts with the same problem after the superdrive FW upgrade and the Apple support is asking me to send my MBP instead of solving our problem and exchanging the units!!

I'm having what seems to be the same problem here - (except i had another cd in the drive, so i can't try archive and install)

any ideas?

Andrew

I've also got a 1 month old MBP that all of a sudden will not boot up. The LED light goes on and wyou can hear HD (I think) spinning but nothing more. The battery gets hot after a while so it's doing (or trying to) something. I've also tried the suggestions on the troubleshooting website and nothing. I can't boot from disk as it won't take the disk in. I have not upgraded anything...it's right out of the box. The last thing I remember doing was an apple upgrade the night before and shut down mac for the night instead of restarting. I like the MBP but I didn't expect this crap for the price paid

Exactly the same problem.

I contacted Apple Support and asked me to send my MBP to a repair center and stated that the unit won't be replaced. The reseller is not willing to exchange the unit because Apple rejects most of the replacements.

Actually, after more than 10 years using mac computers, I'm thinking about moving to another provider (and unfortunately OS). It's totally inadmissible to pay 2000€ for a laptop that does not come with any support from the manufacturer for a problem THEY CREATED!!!!

Just one question: why is the forum full of messages from users with exactly the same problems after the superdrive FW upgrade and Apple keeps stating that this is an isolated problem?

i have a 2 day old mac pro book that was working fine last night. I turned it on this morning and it spins and the apple symbol comes up and the wheel spins and then it freezes up. I am really P.O.d as I type this message on my six year old Dellthat cost $300 not $3400 dollars. Any advice? Jerry

Ditto here. I'm finding that I have to try and start the laptop several (8? 10?) times before the video shows up. It's very frustrating.

Mine is doing the same thing BUT I think it is HEAT related. Once my unit sits for 30 minutes and cools off it comes back on. It only happens when I disable the Power Saver Screen Saver function where the screen stays on all the creating MORE heat.

I think it is heat.