Macbook Pro 2009 Stuck On Apple Logo Screen

[macuser_2009]

I have a MBP 2009 that was working ok until two days ago. It got stuck when I tried to enter my password and login to OS. So I turned off (hard off) and then turned it on. It wouldnt boot and be stuck in the apple logo screen. The progress bar would progress till the end but it would not get into the OS.

I reset SMC but that didnt help.

Unable to boot in safemode or recovery mode. I dont think its even recognizing that I am trying to get into safemode? It would just continue as normal and get stuck.

Unable to reset PRAM too. Pressed COMMAND OPTION P R soon after turning on and just before grey screen. Just doesnt work.

Anything else to try? Should i physically open it up and reset anything?

FYI, i upgraded the RAM to 8 GB and hard disk to SSD several years ago (2012 I guess). It mught be irrelevant for this topic though.

 

[Audit13]

Disconnect the SSD and see if that allows your to reset the SMC and pram.

 

[macuser_2009]

Disconnect the SSD and see if that allows your to reset the SMC and pram.

Thanks for the reply. Tried and it didnt help.

So I had an old external hard disk that I installed Mac OS X few years ago. I connected that ext HDD, turned the mbp on. Pressed alt key and chose the external hard disk to boot. It did boot fine into the OS X. But my SSD did not show up in finder. So opened disk utilities and the partition under the SSD is faded out. No option to verify disk. Couldn't mount it too. So wondering if the SSD got corrupted or something? May be a format and fresh install might help? Any idea how to recover some files from that SSD before I format?

Thanks again

 

[cobracnvt]

Does it make any beeps? Try reseating the cable on your SSD and reseat your memory chips.

 

[macuser_2009]

Does it make any beeps? Try reseating the cable on your SSD and reseat your memory chips.

It always makes the startup sound before the apple logo shows up.

I did remove the SSD cable and even tried a PRAM reset but that didnt help. Yes, I also reset the RAMs. No change.

I wonder if the SSD is corrupted. Like I said in my previous post, MBP booted with ext hdd that had Mac OS X that I installed few years ago for situations like today.

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

It always makes the startup sound before the apple logo shows up.

I did remove the SSD cable and even tried a PRAM reset but that didnt help. Yes, I also reset the RAMs. No change.

I wonder if the SSD is corrupted. Like I said in my previous post, MBP booted with ext hdd that had Mac OS X that I installed few years ago for situations like today.

You installed the ssd in 2012? That's 6 years ago. Could very well be that the ssd simply reached the end of it's life and died. You should expect that the average life span of a system drive is about 5 years. If you buy and install a new ssd check it's S.M.A.R.T. status regularly to get an estimation how long it still has left. Current ssd's should have a longer life span than those from 6 years ago.

 

[macuser_2009]

You installed the ssd in 2012? That's 6 years ago. Could very well be that the ssd simply reached the end of it's life and died. You should expect that the average life span of a system drive is about 5 years. If you buy and install a new ssd check it's S.M.A.R.T. status regularly to get an estimation how long it still has left. Current ssd's should have a longer life span than those from 6 years ago.

Ouch. Didnt know the SSD life thing. This SMART status is also new to me. I guess I need to catch up on these and keep a watch.

So basically you think the SSD could be dead? And also no way to recover anything from it I assume?

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

Ouch. Didnt know the SSD life thing. This SMART status is also new to me. I guess I need to catch up on these and keep a watch.

So basically you think the SSD could be dead? And also no way to recover anything from it I assume?

Every ssd comes with a utility program that you can install. This program differs per ssd brand. S.M.A.R.T. stands for 'self monitoring and reporting technology'. All modern drives and ssd's have this built in. The utility programs can show you the status. This status includes an estimation of the remaining life time.

I am sorry to say, but if you can boot from an external drive and your ssd is not recognized by your MacBook anymore than it seems to be dead. Maybe you can check the connection between the ssd and the motherboard to be sure, but if that does not help......

About Data-Recovery from that ssd: I hope you made backups. You can try to put the ssd in an external usb-casing, but the chance it will be recognized is slim, because it is not recognized inside your MacBook Pro either. As I said: I hope you made backups..
Of course you can always have a genius (or a repair shop) look at your laptop. Maybe one of them has a bright idea.
Sorry for the (most likely) bad news.

 

[slam5]

I have a MBP 2009 that was working ok until two days ago. It got stuck when I tried to enter my password and login to OS. So I turned off (hard off) and then turned it on. It wouldnt boot and be stuck in the apple logo screen. The progress bar would progress till the end but it would not get into the OS.

I reset SMC but that didnt help.

Unable to boot in safemode or recovery mode. I dont think its even recognizing that I am trying to get into safemode? It would just continue as normal and get stuck.

Unable to reset PRAM too. Pressed COMMAND OPTION P R soon after turning on and just before grey screen. Just doesnt work.

Anything else to try? Should i physically open it up and reset anything?

FYI, i upgraded the RAM to 8 GB and hard disk to SSD several years ago (2012 I guess). It mught be irrelevant for this topic though.

Your problem could be the sata hard drive cable inside the machine that is failing. It is a common problem. https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Hard+Drive+Cable+Replacement/10379

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

Your problem could be the sata hard drive cable inside the machine that is failing. It is a common problem. https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Hard+Drive+Cable+Replacement/10379

Oh yes, you are right! I completely forgot that! Maybe better news for the OP than my answer

 

[smbu2000]

Can you install the SSD into that external HDD case and then see if you can boot into macOS on the SSD. If you can boot into it, then the problem isn't the ssd. You can also install that other HDD back into the MBP and see if you can boot into it with it installed internally. It could be the sata hard drive cable like slam5 said.

 

[macuser_2009]

Your problem could be the sata hard drive cable inside the machine that is failing. It is a common problem. https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Hard+Drive+Cable+Replacement/10379

I had an SSD from a idle PC at home. Installed that into my MBP. SSD detected fine and I also ended up installing OS X on it. Does that rule out the fact that hard drive cable may not be a problem?

Oh yes, you are right! I completely forgot that! Maybe better news for the OP than my answer

[doublepost=1530539009][/doublepost]

Can you install the SSD into that external HDD case and then see if you can boot into macOS on the SSD. If you can boot into it, then the problem isn't the ssd. You can also install that other HDD back into the MBP and see if you can boot into it with it installed internally. It could be the sata hard drive cable like slam5 said.

Well, a different SSD works fine with the same internal cable. So wondering if thats not a problem?

Also, I am not sure if I want to play with removing the casing of external HDD. I will probably buy an adapter like the below just to see if I can recover data from my old SSD?

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-...ds=ssd+usb&dpPl=1&dpID=415wEUkX4eL&ref=plSrch

 

[cobracnvt]

Probably time to just get a new SSD. Prices are down right now.

 

[macuser_2009]

Probably time to just get a new SSD. Prices are down right now.

The SSD that I removed from a idle pc and installed on the MBP seems to work fine. As of now. I wonder if its even worth it to spend $10 on the SSD to USB cable to see if I can get the old (failed) SSD to work on another pc or mac?

I am also interested to see how long I can keep this MBP 2009. It runs ok but it gets hot too soon and makes a high fan noise. Is there a way to change the processor and may be keep it going for few more years? Lol

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

I had an SSD from a idle PC at home. Installed that into my MBP. SSD detected fine and I also ended up installing OS X on it. Does that rule out the fact that hard drive cable may not be a problem?


[doublepost=1530539009][/doublepost]

Well, a different SSD works fine with the same internal cable. So wondering if thats not a problem?

Also, I am not sure if I want to play with removing the casing of external HDD. I will probably buy an adapter like the below just to see if I can recover data from my old SSD?

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-...ds=ssd+usb&dpPl=1&dpID=415wEUkX4eL&ref=plSrch

Yes that rules out the sata- cable. That definitely means your ssd is dead. I would not bother ordering a case. If it does not work in your MacBook pro it will probably not work in a case either.

 

[macuser_2009]

Yes that rules out the sata- cable. That definitely means your ssd is dead. I would not bother ordering a case. If it does not work in your MacBook pro it will probably not work in a case either.

Thanks

I am also interested to see how long I can keep this MBP 2009. It runs ok but it gets hot too soon and makes a high fan noise. Is there a way to change the processor and may be keep it going for few more years? Lol

Like I said before, the only upgrades that I did myself are the SSD and the RAM (to 8 GB). The charger has probably died 3-4 times and I buy genuine used ones from ebay.

What else can I do to make it better at this point?

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"So opened disk utilities and the partition under the SSD is faded out. No option to verify disk. Couldn't mount it too. So wondering if the SSD got corrupted or something? May be a format and fresh install might help? Any idea how to recover some files from that SSD before I format?"

Sometimes SSD's just fail.
No warning to speak of.
They just ... "go dark" on you.

I had one fail that way. It just "stopped dark and dead". Could not be mounted on the desktop, and Disk Utility (and other drive related apps) could no longer "see" it.
Just ... gone.

You said in reply 12 that you put -another- SSD into the MacBook and got it up-and-running again, is this correct?

If so, I'd try connecting the "bad" SSD via USB3.
See if you can ERASE IT using Disk Utility.
If DU won't do that, or can't even "touch" it...
... I'd call it "failed", dead.
Either return it to the vendor for a refund (if you can), or... it's time for "the circular file"... (sigh)