Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

macbook emergency! not starting up...

V

vicki2314

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 1, 2006
82
0
Texas
i also have this posted in the macbook section but i'm now posting it here since this is the "help" section

mkay i have a black macbook that is not wanting to move past the gray screen. first it had a flashing question mark on a file folder icon and now it's making clicking noises from where the disc drive is. tried to reset the PRAM, nothing happened, and it's not booting...



ANY suggestions would be extremely appreciated!!!
 
Hold down the power button until the light on the front starts flashing quickly. It will make a loud BOOOOOOOOOOP, so don't be frightened.

Other than that, sounds like a dead hard drive.
 
Emergency questions on a web forum?

hmm, I think there are better emergency outlets than a forum.
 
ok, first- thank you thank you thank you for the replies

second, nothing worked, back to flashing question mark folder

single-user mode didn't work

and you weren't kidding about the booooop!!! haha

any other suggestions??? is apple care 24 hours??? :( sadness
 
vicki2314 said:
ok, first- thank you thank you thank you for the replies

second, nothing worked, back to flashing question mark folder

single-user mode didn't work

and you weren't kidding about the booooop!!! haha

any other suggestions??? is apple care 24 hours??? :( sadness
Click to expand...

When you say single-user mode didn't work do you mean you weren't able to boot into this mode, or that it didn't find any problems with the disks?

Sounds like a call to Apple Care is what you need (24/7, btw.). 1-800-275-2273
 
lamina said:
Hold down the power button until the light on the front starts flashing quickly. It will make a loud BOOOOOOOOOOP, so don't be frightened.

Other than that, sounds like a dead hard drive.
Click to expand...


Not a dead HD. Happened to my Blackbook too before they replaced my heatsink. Search the forums for all the discussion about the Macbook RSS (random shutdown syndrome) problem. Lamina's fix is correct, hold the power button for 5 seconds, and your laptop will kinda yell at you, but will fire up normally. If this starts happening often (or RSS symptoms) take it to your nearest Apple store, its a known issue and can be fixed.
 
gauchogolfer- couldn't enter single user mode

i have already sent this macbook for repairs twice- first time was for system shutdown and the second was for the battery not being recognized- actually, no battery for that matter

cannot return the macbook because it was bought through the university of texas campus store and they apparently have a no return policy
 
vicki2314 said:
gauchogolfer- couldn't enter single user mode

i have already sent this macbook for repairs twice- first time was for system shutdown and the second was for the battery not being recognized- actually, no battery for that matter

cannot return the macbook because it was bought through the university of texas campus store and they apparently have a no return policy
Click to expand...

OK, thanks for the clarification.

I'd be shocked if you couldn't return a defective product, no matter their policy. It's not like you've changed your mind.

Assuming you're at UT-Austin, there is an Apple Store in Barton Creek Mall. You can take it there even though it was purchased at UT.
 
gauchogolfer said:
Assuming you're at UT-Austin, there is an Apple Store in Barton Creek Mall. You can take it there even though it was purchased at UT.
Click to expand...

I've taken it there before and they told me they couldn't help and sent me back to the UT store because it was bought through them
 
called applecare and got a message that i called outside the operating hours and gave me an option to visit the support website...

is there some way to contact an apple agent through the support site?
 
vicki2314 said:
I've taken it there before and they told me they couldn't help and sent me back to the UT store because it was bought through them
Click to expand...

Well, I'd still call AppleCare (assuming you're within your warranty period still) and explain your problem. If they ask you to bring it to a local service center, just ask if they'd prefer you to go to the Apple Store or UT campus. Either way your machine will get serviced. But, I'm pretty sure that if I was in Austin seeing family and had a problem, that I could take my laptop in to the Apple Store, even though I bought my machine in CA. It shouldn't matter.
 
thanks for your help, I guess I'll just have to wait until tomorrow

meanwhile I'll be re-typing an english paper that was saved on my macbook...
 
I had my user account crash once, now I always have 2 accounts active and only use one for main.if one crashes I can always use the second one.
 
lamina said:
Hold down the power button until the light on the front starts flashing quickly. It will make a loud BOOOOOOOOOOP, so don't be frightened.

Other than that, sounds like a dead hard drive.
Click to expand...

-lamina

Ok, learning mode!

What exactly is happening in the machine when one does this?
 
lamina said:
sounds like a dead hard drive.
Click to expand...

you were right! my hard drive is dead so now it is being sent back for repairs. they told me that if something else happens to the macbook then they would replace since this will be the 4th time I've had to send it.

thanks all for your help!
 
i have the same problem so what shouldi do see the thing is the macbook is not mine its my uncles so i cant really take it to a service shop and i also dont have any money i tried to hold the power button but that didnt work either what should i do now please HELP!!!!!:(
 
jessy2k20 said:
i have the same problem so what shouldi do see the thing is the macbook is not mine its my uncles so i cant really take it to a service shop and i also dont have any money i tried to hold the power button but that didnt work either what should i do now please HELP!!!!!:(
Click to expand...

Can't your uncle take it to the service shop? It sounds like the HDD is failing.
 
vicki2314 said:
you were right! my hard drive is dead so now it is being sent back for repairs. they told me that if something else happens to the macbook then they would replace since this will be the 4th time I've had to send it.

thanks all for your help!
Click to expand...

I have a feeling it's the same for me. Are you losing all the data on your hard drive? PLEASE HELP !!!! If anybody can. I'm qiute nervous.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back