Macbook Pro (mid 2009) won't start

[ThunderRoad]

My mid 2009 Macbook Pro isn't turning on. There is no startup sound. The only sign of life is that the battery level button on the side still works, and the power cord still lights up when plugged in. Before this I used the laptop daily, with no noticeable problems.

So far I've tried...
* Holding the power button for 10 seconds, and then trying again
* Taking out and reinserting the RAM
* SMC reset

None of these have worked though. Is there anything else I can try before taking it to a local Apple specialist?

Thanks in advance

 

[bjet767]

The battery is probably completely dead.

 

[Fishrrman]

There comes a point with hardware after which it no longer makes sense to try to keep it going.

Told ya that to tell ya this:
If replacing the battery can "liven up" the 09 MBPro again, that may be worth it. Probably will cost about $100 (don't get a cheap battery, get a good one from ifixit.com, etc.).

Other than that, probably not worth putting $$$ into...

 

[ThunderRoad]

There comes a point with hardware after which it no longer makes sense to try to keep it going.

Told ya that to tell ya this:
If replacing the battery can "liven up" the 09 MBPro again, that may be worth it. Probably will cost about $100 (don't get a cheap battery, get a good one from ifixit.com, etc.).

Other than that, probably not worth putting $$$ into...

Yeah I'm considering buying a new battery, my only issue being that it could be a waste of money if that's not the issue. And like you say, at a certain point it might not be worth putting money into. I'll look into it.

In the event I don't try and repair my current Macbook, is there a recommended way to recover the data on it without turning it on?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Audit13]

To recover data, you could insert the hard drive into a USB enclosure and use another Mac to copy off the data.

 

[0002378]

BTW, about the battery, have you checked System Report to see how many charge/discharge cycles it has been through, and the remaining charge (measured in mAh - milli ampere hours, I guess) ? Our mid-2009 MBPs have a battery cycle life of 1000 charge/discharge cycles.

> About this Mac > System Report > Hardware > Power > Battery Information > Charge Information (and) Health Information

See attached image. I have a mid-2009 MBP too and my battery is normal at present.

Checking this will allow you to at least eliminate the battery as a potential problem if everything looks normal there.

 

[bjet767]

BTW, about the battery, have you checked System Report to see how many charge/discharge cycles it has been through, and the remaining charge (measured in mAh - milli ampere hours, I guess)

One problem, it won't boot. Can't check battery if it won't boot.

 

[0002378]

One problem, it won't boot. Can't check battery if it won't boot.

LMAO. I must have been brain dead when writing that response

Never mind

 

[ZapNZs]

It sounds like there is a good chance that this is more than the battery...especially if the side indicator is showing the battery is holding a charge. One exception could be if the system has detected a potentially dangerous battery condition and has a shut-off safety feature (but IIRC your MBP has a disconnect feature where it can simply & completely disconnect the battery and still run on AC power at a slightly slower speed), or another could be that the battery has swollen and placed enough pressure on the internals to interfere with normal operation (which in some cases can cause permanent damage.)

• Have you (opened the case and) inspected the physical condition of the battery? (i.e., any swelling or leaking?)
• Have you removed the battery and power cord, held the power for 10 seconds, reinserted the battery/charger, and tried to turn back on?
• Have you tried turning the system on without a battery? (and with battery only, without a charger?)
• Have you tried a different charger? (even if you see the green/amber light, that doesn't necessarily rule this cause out)

If the system will not power on at all, and basic POST reset and battery/charger troubleshooting cannot get it to turn on, the standard diagnostic tool that Apple Stores and Authorized Service Providers use will not be able to run and this could make getting a clear answer to what is wrong a more complicated process that could in some cases incur a diagnostic fee. Consequently, even the diagnostics may not be financially justifiable because the price of extended diagnostics and repair could be a reasonable chunk of change towards a system that is much newer. That $100 on a battery is almost 1/6th the price of a new MacBook Air (with an i5 CPU, a SSD, USB 3.1, Thunderbolt 2, a 10+ hour battery, and a warranty...)