My MacBook won't boot, no start chime, just the DVD spinning sound.

I don't know if this will work but try setting the SMC. Ralph

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

Just a thought, but something i like to try in cases like this: Remove all RAM and try to start it. If the computer starts error beeps you know that the firmware chip is alive. Start troubleshooting from there. It's all too easy to just say you'll need a new logicboard.

The same issue happened to my MackBook Pro 2011

Fixed:

Power up, No startup sound, Solid power light, Black screen, Fan spinning, dvd drive and hard disk running,

Perform Option Command P R to reset Parameter RAM then shut down by hold on to Power Button. Then Power Up and immediately SHIFT CONTROL OPTION COMMAND Power button to reset SMC . Power down again. The put any CD into the CD drive and power up with holding the eject power. The CD make so noise and the the start up screen and boot up sound heard, The MBP17 2011 finally power up.

Hello, I've experienced this same issue. Now, I have the

A1151 model (first generation of Macbook Pro) which does not have the NIVIDA video chip. While there are a lot of things that could cause this problem I take it that you have not opened up the top cover case. If you did then try these steps: remove only the two "allen type screws" completely (located behind the memory cover plate) also remove the four (4) screws located at the rear bottom side. Then start the machine and if it boots normally then just let it set idle for at least an hour. If all is well shut it down and wait for 30 minutes then reboot it again, let it just idle without logging in. If it stay up without shutting down then you know it is something pressing against the logic board underneath causing an automatic shutdown issue. If you have success, reinstall the 2 allen screws first then reinstall the back 4 screws only 2 at a time (the two closest ones on the same side). Then start the machine and repeat the idling process. Remember, this procedure is mainly for those who have gone inside of the machine to remove and reinstall the logic or I/O board for ANY reason. It will not hurt to still follow this procedure. If this clears up your issue, celebrate; you have saved yourself a boat load of money.

Had the same problem .... fans running, dvd spinning, sleep light glowing, no chime/no start.

tried all the fixes here and whadayaknow Tomas Jones, Feb 16 2012 fix made it boot!

That was holding down the cd eject key while (trying) to start up. The DVD ejected and it started on the HD. Then I turned up the muted volume and restarted and it chimes!

It's now 2018, almost 3 years after the last comment here, and I just stumbled upon this thread while trying to rescue my 2010 MacBook Pro. I rebooted in recovery mode, wiped the drive, tried to reinstall the OS, and nothing would get me past the "black screen with no chime" phenomenon. Incredibly, when I booted while holding down eject, the display came alive again and the chime sounded and I'm now happily reinstalling High Sierra on this old machine. I haven't seen the "hold eject" solution anywhere before this, and it just saved me about $2k buying a new Mac. Thanks a ton, and for those wondering, this fix still works!

The same issue happened to me and I found that by re-seating the interneal connectors for the DVD and the HD solved this issue! I spent several hours reading up about this issue and it was never mentioned anywhere. Based on what I had read I thought had to be my logic board but it WASN'T!

I read in several places that if the following conditions occur then it 'had' to be the logic board

(1) No startup sound

(2) Solid power light (not flashing)

(3) PRAM and SMC/PMU reset don't work

(4) RAM is compatable and correctly seated

If you can't get your system to work with the above you should check any internal connections to see if they are causing your issue, it was for me.

Problem I had:

Macbook Pro 17" from 2008. After a Lion update I would push the power button and get a solid white light (from the sleep light), black screen and there would be no chime. I had a disc in so I would hear it spinning.

I thought it was because of the Lion update.

Fix:

The Macbook must have overheated when I was doing the Lion update. I tired SMC resets, taking the RAM out, PRAM zap, etc. I heard that this could be due to the Left Logic Board.

What I did was set the Macbook up like a teepee under the covers on the bed. I put lots of pillows around and covered it good. After it got really hot to the touch, I set it in another room upside down overnight. The next day it worked! I had the HDD out, so I powered it down and put it back in.

Problem was, I decided to do updates. About a year+ worth since that's how long it was down. So there was a 2GB combined Lion update. I did the update, restarted and the issue was back: solid white light, black screen, no chime.

I set it up like a teepee again under the covers and overheat it. That did not work. So a day later I powered it on, but this time I put it upside down on the bed with the lid closed, so the batter was facing up. With it powered on, I covered it really good. After about an hour give or take, I put it in the other room to let it cool. Once it was cool to the touch I powered it on and it worked.

I thought there was a correlation with Lion, but I think it is just a heat issue. While doing updates, the computer heats up.

So far it is still working. I downloaded smcfancontrol and set the fan speed to max. I am going to order a big cooling tray for it.

But it seems it was overheating and affecting some connectors on the logic board.

So in summary, the fix (at least for me) for the black screen, no chime, solid white light: is to overheat the laptop upside down under the bed covers and then let it set until it is cool. Then give it a shot. While I overheated mine, I took out the battery and HDD. Then download smcfancontrol.

Try this simple trick first - it worked for me! Hold down the eject button while you push power to restart. Thanks, Tomas Jones!

Holding down the eject button works. This fix saved me after numerous attempts ( ctrl + shft + R etc)

I am having the exact same problem as well. After running all the troubleshooting guides, I broke down and called Apple Support. After having me re-run all the things I had already done in the troubleshooting, he said he had no idea what was wrong and that I would have to take it to Apple or an authorized repair place. Mark or Chad, what happened with yours?

Thanks, Holly

I've just experienced the same issue, solid power light, nothing else.

It happened after an update, the computer was working perfectly fine before.

The first time I held the power button for 10 seconds ( quick power light flashes ) then rebooted ok.

Started software update again, same story wouldn't reboot.

This time holding the power button for 10 sec when powering on, didn't fix it.

I tried holding the eject button and the power button, even if nothing was inserted and it worked!

Heard the chimes and it started flashing some internal device ( one of the updates ) and then it restarted ok.

I had this same issue (DVD noise on boot - no chime - solid dim indicator light - black screen) - removing the RAM and starting gives a flashing indicator light. then I turned it off and put 1 RAM module in and it started right up. I found that one of the chips was bad so if you have 2 RAM chips then you may have to remove all RAM start it - get the flashing light - then shut it off and add the other module if it doesn't work with your first RAM module.

It could be one of several things:

- bad RAM

- bad motherboard

- bad hard drive

The easiest way to troubleshoot the problem is to start by simplifying the things you need to evaluate. If you have two RAM modules, remove one of the two and reseat the other to make sure it is properly seated. Disconnect the power feed to the hard drive. Normally a software problem on the hard drive won't cause this issue, but a 'stuck' hard drive may draw so much power on startup that it looks like a short circuit and the safety circuitry may abort the startup sequence. Then try starting the machine again.

If the machine gives you the startup chime with one RAM module and the hard drive disconnected, then you have one or both of a) a bad hard drive--most likely, they do wear out), or b) a bad RAM module--less likely since there are no moving parts, but it can happen.

If the hard drive is bad, then I suggest carefully removing it and cloning it to a SSD of the same size or slightly larger. SSDs are faster than the old physical drives, use less power, generate less heat, and are generally more reliable if you pick a manufacturer with good support for Apple. I purchased a Samsung for my Mac a while ago and have been very happy with the change.

Please be aware that if the hard drive is catching on startup, then it may only work a few more times. Be prepared to copy the contents the next time you get the drive spinning since it may not happen twice.

I've tried everything in this thread, NOTHING. I have a late 2010 1297 17" MPB. I just replaced they keyboard, because the power button did not work. It works now, but all I get is the fans come on, checks the cd (which has a cd in it now because I tried that method), then I get half of a chime and it immediately shuts down. I've tried every %#*@ thing possible on every site. HELP ME! I'm pulling what's left of my hair out. Any other tricks up your sleeves? Acts like it wants to start, gets the the chime, then just flat out shuts down after it plays half the chime. I'm dying to hear an entire chime again!! Thanks guys.

Possibly a bad motherboard. This happened to my 2008 MacBook in 2015. Most likely caused by a faulty battery that expanded and pressed against the hardware for several years before I realized I should remove it. I had to get a new computer when that MB refused to boot up, but the hard drive was still fine, so I was able to get all of my files transferred over and didn’t lose anything.

I tried all the above for my early 2011 MBP, 15” which encountered the same issue- power on, black screen, and no chime. Ultimately, the thing that did the magic was powered on holding down shift+fn+option +control/alt+command. Thanks to Raza computers for suggesting this solution in the forum, you saved my MBP!

I have a similar issue with a late 2006 macbook. Battery works. When I turn it on, the screen blinks and stays black. Fans operate normally. The HDD can be heard like normal. No success reseting the pram or smc. Sleep light is on. Please help me!

I ended up disconnecting the batter from inside and the connected it to the power supply and let it book up to a log on. Then shutdown and reconnect the battery. Now it works great.