My mac won't start!

mumof2

My mac book pro won't boot. Its fully charged by the way... All it does is it kicks in (fan and drive boot and a second or two later dies and stops again).

This is out of my parameters of comfort zone so if any one has tips I welcome them!! Thank you.

Spocker

Couple of options here: https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/mac-wont-turn-on-3423817/

Hal3000

Spocker wrote: »

Couple of options here: https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/mac-wont-turn-on-3423817/

Return of the Mac!

mumof2

Spocker wrote: »

Couple of options here: https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/mac-wont-turn-on-3423817/

Tried everything - it’s just not booting properly (getting nothing passed 2 seconds of powering up) and nothing on screen to help either.

mumof2

mumof2 wrote: »

Tried everything - it’s just not booting properly (getting nothing passed 2 seconds of powering up) and nothing on screen to help either.

Edit - this morning it powered up and I got display on screen but only loading half a bar and the display looks all funny (strange hues in the background). Me thinks it’s €uc&3D. 😢😢 Work prevailes so I’ll try again tonight.

mumof2

mumof2 wrote: »

Edit - this morning it powered up and I got display on screen but only loading half a bar and the display looks all funny (strange hues in the background). Me thinks it’s €uc&3D. 😢😢 Work prevailes so I’ll try again tonight.

Still no joy. It switches off after getting it to login screen stage (after many attempts) and an alarm started sounding?!! Weird stuff. Pulled the battery again but not restarting anymore.

Think it’s time to switch to windows. I have had enough of Apple products - can’t even use my tablet as it won’t update its software any further!!

Sad Professor

How many beep sounds? Have you third party RAM installed?

"Pulled the battery"? How old is the Mac?

mumof2

Sad Professor wrote: »

How many beep sounds? Have you third party RAM installed?

"Pulled the battery"? How old is the Mac?

3 beeps a break and 3 beeps again.....really strange (like an alarm) never knew the machine had such capabilities:D

Pulled the battery - I disconnected it internally to re start properly....

As for 3rd party RAM - I don't think so. I bought it second hand to use along with parts from my own....luck of the draw I guess, and it's the mid 2012 version of Mac.

Sad Professor

Sounds like it’s the RAM. It’s either worked its way loose or failed. Try removing one chip and reboot. If that doesn’t work, reinstall it and repeat with the other chip.

mumof2

Sad Professor wrote: »

Sounds like it’s the RAM. It’s either worked its way loose or failed. Try removing one chip and reboot. If that doesn’t work, reinstall it and repeat with the other chip.

Right, I'll give that a go - see does that make any difference. Thanks!

EDIT: So far its working!!!!! sssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (dare I say it too loud?!)
I only took out the top ram and trying it out.....fingers crossed. I'll be certainly cheaper buying ram as opposed to a laptop Lol

Thanks for tip @Sad Professor - was it the alarm thing that gave the clue?

Are you glad you didn’t buy a windows laptop after all?

Great when things work out. Good on ye, Sad Professor.

Sad Professor

mumof2 wrote: »

Right, I'll give that a go - see does that make any difference. Thanks!

EDIT: So far its working!!!!! sssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (dare I say it too loud?!)
I only took out the top ram and trying it out.....fingers crossed. I'll be certainly cheaper buying ram as opposed to a laptop Lol

Thanks for tip @Sad Professor - was it the alarm thing that gave the clue?

Glad to hear, hope it stays working for you.

Yeah, the 3 beeps indicated a RAM issue but even without them it sounded like one. I've experienced it several times, usually due to my not inserting RAM properly but also due to chips failing.

mumof2

JayZeus wrote: »

Are you glad you didn’t buy a windows laptop after all?

Great when things work out. Good on ye, Sad Professor.

Haha ...... can’t celebrate just yet.... it happened suddenly, could happen again. But one thing is for sure - no windows laptop - either way!!! Ill get refurbished MacBook Air I’d say! Lol

mumof2

Sad Professor wrote: »

Glad to hear, hope it stays working for you.

Yeah, the 3 beeps indicated a RAM issue but even without them it sounded like one. I've experienced it several times, usually due to my not inserting RAM properly but also due to chips failing.

Never knew it could be the cause of a machine not starting up properly! I took one RAM out and machine worked away, then I shut it down and reinserted the one I took out and it’s still working away - will see now over the next few weeks what happens. Hope it keeps going a spell. Too much to pay out in August so can’t afford a replacement yet. But to think I was going to get a windows laptop (again! - I should have learned the first time!) ;-P

Sad Professor

mumof2 wrote: »

Never knew it could be the cause of a machine not starting up properly! I took one RAM out and machine worked away, then I shut it down and reinserted the one I took out and it’s still working away - will see now over the next few weeks what happens. Hope it keeps going a spell. Too much to pay out in August so can’t afford a replacement yet. But to think I was going to get a windows laptop (again! - I should have learned the first time!) ;-P

Not sure if it still works, but Memtest/Rember used to be good for testing RAM.

mumof2

Sad Professor wrote: »

Not sure if it still works, but Memtest/Rember used to be good for testing RAM.

Looks like I'll have to do something soon as it gave up again. Ive taken out the top RAM chip and leaving it out. I'll find a replacement chip somewhere in the city over the weekend I hope.

Spocker

Is there only one chip? What size is it?

mumof2

Spocker wrote: »

Is there only one chip? What size is it?

Theres two of them. I'm working with a 4 GB chip - there was 8GB in total. So I'm hanging in at the moment:D

Gonna order a Macbook Air very soon. For College and work I need a good laptop.