Is my MacBook dying?

shuffles03

I have a terrible feeling that something is really wrong with my MacBook Pro. It wouldn't turn on a few days ago. It would try to power up (I could hear the fans moving) but a few seconds later it would turn off (the led indicator on the front was still flashing so it wasn't completely off). At first I thought it had no battery (even though the indicator on the side said it was full) so I plugged it in. Nothing changed. Eventually, it turned on enough to bring up my login page except the screen was kind of greyed out and it had a loading/resume bar (the same thing that normally happens when the battery goes and it resumes where you previously left off).

Every time I tried to type in my password, it would literally take about 30 seconds to register my key strokes (there was a constant spinning beach ball). After that, it turned off again. Eventually I left it alone and when I came back to it that evening, it was working perfectly.

Is my battery screwed? Could it be my ram due to the constant spinning beach ball? I've noticed a huge performance slow down in the last few weeks.

It's a late 2009 MBP 13".

Liameter

Download and install Applejack if you haven't already done so. (Everyone should install this for emergencies!) Restart with [cmd] held then type:
applejack auto restart
and hit [Return]

Also run your hardware test disc and, if you have any more questions, please tell us your OS version and your full hardware line-up (Hard Drive size, memory size, CPU type etc.)

barryj

As already suggested, run diagnostics from the install DVD that came with the computer - that may help point towards the problem. If the machine is still in warranty you should give Apple a call.

I'd say most likely problem is a failing hard disk - if it boots OK from the DVD, then this may be the case. It could also be faulty RAM - you could try removing one of the two DIMMs and try booting again. If still bad, swap around and put back in the one you removed and remove the one you didn't.

- barry

Hugh_C

The first thing to do is reinstall you system IMHO, if you can start the machine off your installation DVD that would suggest that your hardware might not be your problem. There could be some filesystem corruption which would explain why the machine has been slowing down for be last while.

I don't know your level of expertise, so sorry if you already know this, but you can reinstall the system without losing your User data, documents, pictures, music etc. This is what I would try first. If you can start up off your DVD, then you have hardware problems.

Hopefully you have a recent backup.

Regard, Hugh

Liameter

Hugh_C wrote: »

if you can start the machine off your installation DVD that would suggest that your hardware might not be your problem.....
If you can start up off your DVD, then you have hardware problems.

Contradiction?

muggyog

Is this an overheating problem? Your sure its fans and not hard drive you hear?