HELP - Macbook Pro 2012 will not start

[Arkious]

Hello,

I have a 2012 MacBook Pro that sometimes wont start. when the start button is pressed, it clicks and the white LED blinks once then nothing. If I repeat this process with the magsafe plugged in it does this again and again and again until the magsafe is removed.

I have tried the usual SMC reset etc but nothing. Sometimes if I leave it a few days it will start. What could this possibly be?

Thanks

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

Could be a few things, battery, charging port, or HDD. Possibly the Logic Board but there's things you can try before getting to the stage. If you have anywhere local that'll look at it I'd book it in though as it'll save you hassle down the road, at least diagnose it for you and you can go from there. But there'll be a lot of questions I'm afraid!

Is it all original stuff in there, have you changed any components? Using official chargers? Is the MagSafe port clean, dirt could be interfering with the charging. Is it actually charging do you know?

The HDD could have become corrupted and is failing to boot. Was there anything suspicious going on before you experienced these problems? Did it just all of a sudden happen or were there a few times something happened before?

The battery could have failed somewhere, it is old enough to question it. Do you know the health of the battery? Have you had it since 2012? Have you used it mainly on battery in that time or anything? It's unlikely, as it should bypass the battery and run directly from a power source if it had failed. However something could possible go wrong and it's getting confused by trying to run from a dead battery.

Are you comfortable opening it up? You could disconnect the battery entirely from the machine (And also see if there's any obvious issues, could even be a build up of dust so give it a good clean), and try running it directly from a power source. This would eliminate this problem.

If you have a spare HDD that would fit, you could try removing the original HDD and fitting the other one, this would again eliminate that potential issue.

So I'd give it a really good clean and check those things if possible as it wouldn't take long. If all that fails then it's likely to be a problem with the Logic Board, in which case you may I'm afraid be better off buying a new computer. However, it could also be something simple like a blown resister which is where I'd advice you to take it to a repair centre (Apple possibly although they wouldn't repair it, they'd simply replace), as you might get away with a small and relatively cheap solution.

Hope that helps and good luck!

 

[Arkious]

Hi there and thanks for the swift reply

Should have added in my original post, it has an SSD and extra ram fitted, I have tried running on a single stick of each and reverting to original ram but NG, I haven't the original HDD to try but I removed it thinking it would at least boot but nothing. I have also unplugged the battery and again it does the same thing. The MacBook is quite clean inside as I have had the fan off before and cleaned it.

It started playing up when I went to Japan on a business trip, it would go off and then work the next day but that time seems to be getting longer and longer

 

[wmk]

Hi there and thanks for the swift reply

Should have added in my original post, it has an SSD and extra ram fitted, I have tried running on a single stick of each and reverting to original ram but NG, I haven't the original HDD to try but I removed it thinking it would at least boot but nothing. I have also unplugged the battery and again it does the same thing. The MacBook is quite clean inside as I have had the fan off before and cleaned it.

It started playing up when I went to Japan on a business trip, it would go off and then work the next day but that time seems to be getting longer and longer

In some cases it's not enough to unplug the battery -- check this out:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...n-flashing-sleep-light.1026021/#post-19105220

 

[Arkious]

It's charging fine, occasionally the Mac starts up perfect on either battery or charger but then it will just go off and not turn on for a long time

 

[Ryan700]

Are you comfortable opening it up? You could disconnect the battery entirely from the machine (And also see if there's any obvious issues, could even be a build up of dust so give it a good clean), and try running it directly from a power source. This would eliminate this problem.

So I'd give it a really good clean ...........

Hope that helps and good luck!

I did a reset on the SMC using the instructions on this page. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

I used the instructions for the removable battery even though technically apple thinks that people are too stupid to know how to remove the battery in the aluminum case MBP. Instead of removing the battery I just unclipped the battery connector and pressed the power button for 5+ seconds. reconnected the battery and charging cable and booted up. Worked a charm. I didn't want to do the 3 button combo solution because I might have had to do t his anyway so I skipped that and went straight for this.
[doublepost=1484762916][/doublepost]

I did a reset on the SMC using the instructions on this page. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

I used the instructions for the removable battery even though technically apple thinks that people are too stupid to know how to remove the battery in the aluminum case MBP. Instead of removing the battery I just unclipped the battery connector and pressed the power button for 5+ seconds. reconnected the battery and charging cable and booted up. Worked a charm. I didn't want to do the 3 button combo solution because I might have had to do t his anyway so I skipped that and went straight for this.

Spoke too soon. WIll try the combo and then if t hat doesn't work it's off to the repair shop

 

[duervo]

It's charging fine, occasionally the Mac starts up perfect on either battery or charger but then it will just go off and not turn on for a long time

Sounds reminiscent of an overheating problem I've seen happen on lots of laptops over the years.

Thermal paste should be reapplied, especially since the factory-applied stuff is reaching 5 years old at this point. Hopefully, there's no heat-related damage to anything. If there is, it likely means a new board.

I would confirm that the fan still works too. It's possible it wasn't plugged in correctly when you took it out, or it may have been damaged in the process, or it simply has died due to normal wear-and-tear.

 

[Arkious]

unfortunately I have done all of the above already its currently away for repair, hopefully I can report back with what the fault is... by repair I mean a proper repair at an electrical shop not just swapping bits out lol

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

unfortunately I have done all of the above already its currently away for repair, hopefully I can report back with what the fault is... by repair I mean a proper repair at an electrical shop not just swapping bits out lol

I did say to take it in! Lol. Glad you're getting it sorted, hoping it isn't anything too serious for you and it gets sorted.