MacBook Pro won't boot

[Skyhooker]

I'm working on my cousin's Macbook Pro (A1260), and it will not boot. I'm rather new to Macs, but very comfortable working on laptops in general. It's getting power from the adapter, and the battery is fully charged.

When the power button is pressed, the LED on the left side of the lid unlock bar flashes briefly, I can hear the hard drive begin to spin up, then I hear the drive's read arm click back into its rest position, and nothing more happens.

If I hold down the power button, that same LED stays on for several seconds, I hear the DVD drive go through its motions trying to detect a disc (and maybe try to eject - can't tell, but it sure sounds louder than I would expect), the hard drive starts to spin up, the LED changes to a rapid flashing for a few more seconds, and then everything once again stops.

I've gone through all the recommended steps here to no avail. I reseated and swapped out the memory with no changes. I removed the top cover/keyboard, inspected the board and components, removed and tested the HDD, and checked all cables, but still no joy. There is never, in any of the tests, any sign of life at all on the display - it remains cold and dark.

There was a game CD in the drive which my cousin was unable to eject, so I removed it by opening the case of the DVD drive. Is it possible that a dead/dying DVD drive could cause a failure to boot?

I suspect a fault with the logic/motherboard, but I have no experience with these kinds of symptoms, being a Mac noob. If anyone could suggest any other tests or confirm my diagnosis, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!


Sky

 

[14049752]

Almost certainly the logic board. (I think) That model is one of the ones affected by the nVidia gpu issue and had a warranty extension for qualifying symptoms/systems. Pretty sure that extension ended, but if you're feeling like putting up a fight you might get it fixed for free.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

(I think) That model is one of the ones affected by the nVidia gpu issue and had a warranty extension for qualifying symptoms/systems. Pretty sure that extension ended, but if you're feeling like putting up a fight you might get it fixed for free.

That extension is still going so long as the machine is under 3 years old and its usually the 2.4/2.2 Ghz models that are affected. I've done so many of those boards I could do them asleep. This doesn't sound like the Nvida issue though because the machine wouldn't shut down (I assume from original post that's what its doing?) I've seen similar symptoms with firmware updates that went bad. This might be of interest to you if its what I'm thinking is going on.

EDIT: Just noticed OP posted that its an A1260, so that is one of the machines with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT GPU. So the question is, does the machine stay running with no video or die? You should at least be able to power it on with the top case loose and see if the fans stay running.

 

[14049752]

This doesn't sound like the Nvida issue though because the machine wouldn't shut down

Hey, don't fault me...I haven't needed to know details of that stuff for years. Although re-reading to be sure, I disagree...I do think it sounds more like an nVidia thing...although, yeah...I guess the blinking LED isn't consistant. What does it do on an external monitor, probably nothing, right?
(edited to remove a threadjacking question. PM'd direct to AMT)

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Although re-reading to be sure, I disagree...I do think it sounds more like an nVidia thing.

Yeah, I reread it also and noticed its the A1260 which "should" be the one. Just confused by the symptoms?

 

[Skyhooker]

This doesn't sound like the Nvida issue though because the machine wouldn't shut down

So the question is, does the machine stay running with no video or die? You should at least be able to power it on with the top case loose and see if the fans stay running.

No, there isn't any "not shutting down," because there is no booting up - at all. Doesn't even come close to starting. Dead as the proverbial doornail, other than the symptoms I mentioned.

Thanks, guys - I'll call Apple to look into that extended recall.


Sky

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

No, there isn't any "not shutting down," because there is no booting up - at all. Doesn't even come close to starting. Dead as the proverbial doornail, other than the symptoms I mentioned.

So you don't know the difference between dead and won't POST? Obviously, going by your first post its trying to do something.

In this case, then its really not the NVidia GPU issue. But this contradicts what you said before especially since you did say;

If I hold down the power button, that same LED stays on for several seconds, I hear the DVD drive go through its motions trying to detect a disc (and maybe try to eject - can't tell, but it sure sounds louder than I would expect), the hard drive starts to spin up, the LED changes to a rapid flashing for a few more seconds, and then everything once again stops.

What happens when you hold down the power button on a Mac is the machine is expecting a firmware update, since this is the process to run one. So the machine is doing enough to attempt to run the firmware restoration. So that would be my first move. You can try Apple and they will tell you to take it to an Apple authorized shop for them to run the GPU test for the bad NVidia GPUs. If the test generates a validation code and is under 3 years old, then it will get a new board free of charge. But from what you are describing, the machine is not even going to be functional enough to boot off a USB stick required to run the test.

 

[Skyhooker]

Sorry, I used sloppy terminology - yesterday was a very long day. Yes, obviously it's trying to do something, but it will not POST.

Thanks again.