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

myztikal47

macrumors Maltese
Original poster
Dec 4, 2007
134
7
I believe the keyboard on my macbook is completely dead due to a spill. When I plug in the power adapter, the light is green, but I can't get the macbook to turn on at all. So I'm thinking my keyboard is most likely completely dead. Even if it doesn't turn out, atleast I'll know the whole thing is dead and not just the keyboard. Is there anyway to hard boot a macbook without a topcase keyboard installed, anyone know of any tricks in service manuals or anything? Any help would be greatly appreciated it!
 
I know that you can schedule you computer to turn on at a specific time (Sys Pref>Energy Saver>Schedule). In this way, actuation of the power button is not required.

Therefore, I would say that there is a way to start the MB, other than pressing the power button. How- I dont know. Sorry couldnt help!
 
If you spilled liquid into the keyboard, most likely it's not the keyboard and is a toasted logic board. Every macbook that I have bought with a liquid spill , the keyboard still worked (some keys would be stuck) and the logic board was dead. The logic board sits under the keyboard on the left hand side of a macbook.
Sorry, it doesn't sound good.
 
I got my Macbook back after a month at the apple service provider. They returned it unrepaired because they found liquid residu in it (spilled half a cup of coffee in there).

While I cleaned it to make nice pictures for eBay, it came alive again! Turns out only the top case is busted, half of the keys won't work and are sticky. The power button is dead too. So I got myself a top case from eBay and it should work fine again.

I might mention that I immediately powered the machine off after the spilling, lete everything drop out and took it apart and cleaned everything. Everything's working so far, only the Sleep LED won't light up and the DVD drive has a different sound when waking from sleep, still reads and burns DVDs fine though.

I guess the repair people have diagnostic devices that can power on a Macbook with a dead power switch.
 
People need to learn not to drink anything near their computer, especially laptops. This is like the millionth time I've seen a thread like this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ABC5S
People need to learn not to drink anything near their computer, especially laptops. This is like the millionth time I've seen a thread like this.

No kidding... Are people really stupid enough to hold a coffee cup and drink it over a $1000+ computer? Apparently so:p
 
  • Like
Reactions: ABC5S
No kidding... Are people really stupid enough to hold a coffee cup and drink it over a $1000+ computer? Apparently so:p

People work and have coffee all the time. You can't let the laptop run your life. Just take precautions.


I drink coffee and use my laptop all the time, and I don't think it's stupid. It's life. My solution is to place my coffee/drink slightly behind my screen. Even if it spills, it won't spill into my laptop.
 
i keep drinks far far away from my laptop! lol not really maybe like a foot or 2 away. i need lots of room for my workspace (papers, drawings, etc, oh and mouse space too!)
 
Is there anyway to hard boot a macbook without a topcase keyboard installed

On my late 2007 MacBook logic board there are two solder pads which when shorted (e.g. with a small screwdriver tip) will turn the computer on.

Useful for powering the computer without the top case connected.

Ironically I think it was the repeated act of connecting and disconnecting the keyboard cable so I could use the power button to turn on the computer whilst disassembled that has damaged the cable and stopped the power button working.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0080.jpg
    IMG_0080.jpg
    154.4 KB · Views: 7,202
If you spilled liquid into the keyboard, most likely it's not the keyboard and is a toasted logic board. Every macbook that I have bought with a liquid spill , the keyboard still worked (some keys would be stuck) and the logic board was dead. The logic board sits under the keyboard on the left hand side of a macbook.
Sorry, it doesn't sound good.

not really true,

depends on how much liquid is spilled, if someone is selling it with liquid damage they most likely have exhausted all repair methods.

i have repaired close to a dozen macbook/pro's with liquid damage and it is almost always just the keyboard/trackpad/power button assembly acting up.

i would say this could be fixed by the symptoms.

and yes you can start a macbook without the power button using a screw driver to short out pins 3 and 9 on the keyboard to logic board connector.
 
I had a spill on my 13" MBP too, and it seemed completely dead as well. Tried starting it daily for a week, but nothing worked. Then my girlfriend tried mashing the keyboard, and suddenly it started! After a lot of keyboard-mash-testing, I noticed that pressing right arrow and the key above the enter key at the same time gave the same effect as the power button. I use it to turn the computer on or off now. Also, there are a few keys not working properly (F4, 4, r, f and v). I'll try cleaning it out better, but I might end up exchanging the top case. I guess there are some spill residue in there causing shorts.

Anyway, my point is - try every combination of keys on the keyboard. In my case you could get the powerbutton functionality by pressing other keys.
 
People need to learn not to drink anything near their computer, especially laptops. This is like the millionth time I've seen a thread like this.

or just really clumsy. I eat and drink all the time and I have yet to spill anything on my computers *knock on wood*
 
Thank you!!!!

On my late 2007 MacBook logic board there are two solder pads which when shorted (e.g. with a small screwdriver tip) will turn the computer on.

Useful for powering the computer without the top case connected.

Ironically I think it was the repeated act of connecting and disconnecting the keyboard cable so I could use the power button to turn on the computer whilst disassembled that has damaged the cable and stopped the power button working.

Hi !!! I want to really thank you for this :)

Apple service in Netherlands said the motherboard of my laptop was dead because some liquid spilled on it but I didn´t believe that !! I only cleaned my macbook up with a bit of spray that I think made the power buttom die.
Now I am writing you from my Macbook and everythings works perfect but the power buttom.

I-m going to post my video here :)
 
Hey, I would like to point out that not drinking coffee and other beverages around your MBP isn't the solution. What is the solution? Sippy Cups! Let's start a trend!
 
MBA broken power button solution

Is there a way to start a MBA without power button. Apple service says the button is broken but they could start it in another way and everything is working fine. Because the power button is part of the keyboard they want 300 $.
 
Is there a way to start a MBA without power button. Apple service says the button is broken but they could start it in another way and everything is working fine. Because the power button is part of the keyboard they want 300 $.

If I remember correctly (long time since I opened my MacBook), there is a connector on the logicboard for the power button. Just a two pin connector with wiring to the power button, where pressing the button lets the current through. I suspect that shorting the connector would have the same effect as pressing the power buttons - but no guarantees, it's hypotethical :) I'm guessing they did something like that - I haven't been able to find another way to start it at least.
 
not really true,

depends on how much liquid is spilled, if someone is selling it with liquid damage they most likely have exhausted all repair methods.

i have repaired close to a dozen macbook/pro's with liquid damage and it is almost always just the keyboard/trackpad/power button assembly acting up.

i would say this could be fixed by the symptoms.

and yes you can start a macbook without the power button using a screw driver to short out pins 3 and 9 on the keyboard to logic board connector.


So back in June I spilled about a half a glass of water on my keyboard on my macbook pro. I took it to apple, and they, of course said they can fix it with a price. Im a broke college student and can't afford this, so i just left it in my room. (No matter how many times i pressed the power button, it wouldn't turn on). Come August, I decided to just plug it in (to the charger) and press the power button to see if it turns on. When I plugged the charger into the laptop, it just booted up itself, without me pressing the power button, i was extatic. Everything worked fine, all the keys and the mouse. the only thing that didn't work still was the power button, so i knew i had to keep it charged 24/7 in order for it to be used. But alas, while i was in class, i guess i forgot to plug it in, and it died, every since then (about two - three weeks ago) it hasn't turned back on....so i see/heard that you can short a specific place in the back of the macbook in order to start it, and also, you can press the right keys to also start it....is this true...what should I do? I know my computer works and everything, because it was working perfectly for about a month...

Where are the 3 and 9 pins, and how do you exactly "Short" something?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.