Broken Power Button

[HeyKatie]

Hello,

The power button on my old MBP went and they want $405 to fix it. I have someone who wants to buy the machine off of my but when I woke up this morning and tried to log in I got the spinning wheel of death and since the button is broken I cannot restart that way. Is there another way to restart so I can get my data off do a clean install and have it ready to sell?

 

[HeyKatie]

Anyone possibly know how I can get the thing to re boot?

 

[T5BRICK]

You could remove the HDD and wipe it using another computer.

 

[CoastalOR]

I do not see many options with a non-working power button. Is it still powered up (spinning wheel)? What screen are you on with the spinning wheel (log in, desktop, etc...)?
What model MBP, year, OS do you have? Do you have a bootable external media (backup on external drive, DVD, USB installer)?
T5BRICK has a good idea about removing the HDD, but you need to get it powered down first.

 

[simonsi]

Click on the Finder icon, then see if it will let you access the Restart option on the Apple menu....has worked for me before as I prefer not to power-button hard restart if I can help it.

 

[HeyKatie]

I do not see many options with a non-working power button. Is it still powered up (spinning wheel)? What screen are you on with the spinning wheel (log in, desktop, etc...)?
What model MBP, year, OS do you have? Do you have a bootable external media (backup on external drive, DVD, USB installer)?
T5BRICK has a good idea about removing the HDD, but you need to get it powered down first.

2011 MBP, running Yosemite. and it's stuck at the log in screen, brother put in hit password hit enter to log in and it just froze.

 

[HeyKatie]

Click on the Finder icon, then see if it will let you access the Restart option on the Apple menu....has worked for me before as I prefer not to power-button hard restart if I can help it.

Unfortunately this isn't an option since it's stuck on the log in screen

 

[T5BRICK]

Unfortunately this isn't an option since it's stuck on the log in screen

It may be time to take it in to Apple for repair, or let the battery die and pull the HDD and sell the rest for scrap.

 

[HeyKatie]

Is there a keyboard shortcut to boot up/shut down without using the power button??

 

[CoastalOR]

Is there a keyboard shortcut to boot up/shut down without using the power button??

None that I have ever found.