MacBook won't boot up

My MacBook takes about 7 mins to start up and when it does all I see is my background and cursor and that's it, if it try click the cursor turns into the spinning rainbow and that's as far as she goes, help please, I started it up in recovery but my trackpad moves but won't click so I can't do anything, I've done a VRAM reset, I've taken out the battery and booted it up but still the issue with booting and mouse still moves but won't click, I actually don't know what to do anymore someone please help

If you do not have a current backup then your first priority should be to backup your data. Your drive may be failing, it could be your disk is almost full, or there are other causes.
I’ll assume you have not updated OS X or installed any 3rd-party software lately. If you have, there may be a different set of fixes than the trajectory listed below.
Start with an SMC Reset.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Will it boot in Safe Mode?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564
When in Safe Mode does it operate normally?
After booting in Safe Mode will it boot in normal mode?
If it will boot in Safe Mode then backup your data onto and external disk drive using Time Machine or some other method.
If you can get it to boot in either mode, how much disk space is used out of what capacity?
If it will not boot in Safe Mode, try repairing the disk.
See Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1417
When in Disk Utility you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of your internal hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or has failed and needs to be replaced. If it is “Verified” then run and re-run Repair Disk until it reports it fixed no errors and it finished normally. If it continues to report errors proceed to the fsck section.
Boot normally and see if the system is healthy.
Reinstall OS X.
If the disk is healthy and your system is not, reinstall OS X.
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10763
Hope to hear from you soon on your progress.

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Mdworker deny mach-lookup. But macbook won't boot in safe mode

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There is a solution, which should resolve it, like here https://discussions.apple.com/message/19750564?searchText=mach-lookup%20com.appl e.ls.boxd#19750564
I have just boot in safe mode. (holding Shift during boot)
but my macbook won't boot in Safe mode. It just freeses with a grey screen for hours and wont boot.
I tried to leave it overnight to boot, but it didn't.
Please help me make my macbook to boot in SafeMode.
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There is a bug in fsck_hfs that is affecting a bunch of people. Basically as your comptuer starts in safe mode, it runs a file system check (fsck) against your hard drive, it gets to a certain point and... just sits there. No one knows why outside of apple.
Lots of info here, including a way to get around it by tricking the system to think fsck had been run, though the fsck will not be complete so it is not a good solution.
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MacBook won't boot when iPod is connected

I have the same problem as described here :
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=4112865
My MacBook won't boot if my iPod 5G is connected to the USB port.
If I unplug it, it will boot normally.
Does anyone know what could cause that ?

<When iPod is plugged in at startup, the MacBook does not startup; unplugging iPod lets it startup.
yes, it seems that the kernel is not loading
<After resetting the iPod and BEFORE synching it, there is no problem. Any type of synching seems <to make this problem recur.
only syncing music make the problem occur.
the other syncing works ok
<Even if iPod is connected directly to Mac and it is the only USB device connected, the problem still <occurs.
yes
<The iPod and MacBook work fine if iPod is connected after startup.
Yes
<If the iPod is set to NOT mount to the desktop, the problem with startup does not occur.
Yes, but there are some problems in the boot/halt process.
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and the stopping process takes very very long, about 2 minutes.
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My Macbook won't boot up because there isn't enough free space for my start up disk. It's now stuck on a blue screen. How am I meant to delete files to free up space if I can't access the computer?

My Macbook won't boot up because there sin't enough free space to run the startup disk. My Macbook now won't go past the blue screen so exactly how am I meant to be able to delete files if I can't access the computer?

Do you have a bootable backup?
What operating system are you running? If OS X 10.6 or lower, boot from your original OS X DVD or a retail OS X DVD and then delete files as needed. Your goal should be to get to 10% of your disk capacity free.
If you have OS X 10.7 Lion or 10.8 Mountain Lion, you don't have many choices in recovery mode (boot holding the command and r keys down).
If you have a FireWire or Thunderbolt connection, you can try target disk mode with another mac.
If none of those work, perhaps your local Apple store can help with a bootable external drive.

Macbook won't boot up - grey screen only

Hi,
I have a core duo MacBook from summer 2007.
All of a sudden the MacBook won't boot up. The battery is fully charged and AC adapter plugged in (same symptoms if not plugged in). The following occurs upon pressing the power button:
1) Start-up chime sounds
2) Can hear hard drive and fans start up
3) Screen turns grey
4) Nothing happens (screen still grey)
Thoughts? I tried resetting PRAM and PMU with no changes.

I have the same problem, just the grey screen and tried
- resetting PRAM (second chime, so this should be OK)
- Safe Mode (just the same)
and pressing Option (or C) to choose the Mac OS X Install Disc gives me the wonderful cursor which can be moved by moving the mouse. No harddisk and even no Install DVD are displayed on the screen.
Also The Apple Hardware Test (by pressing D) doesn't get further than the, now familiar, grey screen.
I pressed the keys with different keyboards, with the original white keyboard and with the aluminium keyboard.
As I've tried everything, I think there's something seriously wrong. Does anybody have some last tips that I can try?

Macbook won't boot up anymore after trying to reformat

So my White Macbook won't boot up anymore after trying to reformat. While trying to install a fresh copy of Snow Leopard, the Macbook just froze and I had to reset. Now, while trying to boot it up, it hangs at a white screen with a folder with a question mark.
My install disk is still in there, so when I try to boot up while holding C, nothing happens. It either goes to the folder with a question mark or the screen stays white. So after that I tried holding option to go to the drives nothing happens. I just see a white screen and a cursor.
I tried resetting PRAM and tried booting in safe mode and everything but to no avail. Everything results in just a white screen or just a folder with a question mark.
Can I do anything before I have to bring it to the Apple Store? The optical drive should work because before I reformatted it, I could see that the disk was in the drive because the icon was in the upper right.

it hangs at a white screen with a folder with a question mark
Startup your Mac while holding down the Option key. That should prompt the Startup Manager window where you can select the startup disk.
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

MacBook won't boot up power light on

My MacBook won't boot up without the system disk, has Lion with 4 Gb Ram all updates, has a DVD stuck n the drive any suggestions

Have you tried booting into Lion recovery mode? Boot holding the command and R keys down.

MacBook Won't Boot just on AC.

My recent issues are power related.
Won't boot. Reason: Dead battery at 0 mAh.
Won't boot with dead battery even on charge...
When I take out the battery, it won't boot anyways.
I got lucky since I plugged it in when I left it off charge for the night, and went away about 10 minutes, and it boots. Now that won't boot it up... I take out the battery and tried to boot it since I know it's dead. Nothing.
I have 2 MagSafe adapters (One is OEM and is spliced (Charges and fine), and another is not OEM (stupid eBay lied) ) and when I remove the battery to boot just on AC power, nothing. Tried both chargers, both plugs, 2 tips and extension cable, Nothing.
I noticed the light is a dim green when I plug in my OEM charger to my MacBook.
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If your MacBook won't boot on just the AC adapter, and you are certain the AC adapter is not damaged, then there is a hardware issue with your computer that needs to be repaired.
~Lyssa

Oh, shoot! My MacBook won't boot! Silver screen is all I see!

Oh, shoot! My MacBook won't boot! Silver screen is all I see

Try a PRAM reset:
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
Any unusual noises coming from it?

Macbook won't boot properly.

Macbook won't boot. When turned on, it starts clicking; after a while, I get a gray screen with a blinking folder in the middle that has a question mark on it. After a minute or two, it shuts off.

That folder with the question mark icon means that the MacBook can't find the boot directory. That can either mean it can't find the hard drive or the Operating System data on the hard drive is somehow corrupted.
Put your install DVD into the optical drive (CD/DVD drive) and reboot. Be sure to either use the disc that came with your Mac, or, if you installed a later Mac OS X version from disc, use the newer disc. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option Key until the Install Disk shows up) until the apple shows up. That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
Or if you are running 10.7 Lion, boot from the recovery partition (Command +R on boot) and use Disk Utility to repair your OS 10.7 partition.
When it does start up, you'll see a panel asking you to choose your language. Choose your language and press the Return key on your keyboard once. It will then present you with an Installation window. Completely ignore this window and click on Utilities in the top menu and scroll down to Disk Utility and click it. When it comes up is your Hard Drive in the list on the left?
If it is, then click on the Mac OS partition of your hard drive in the left hand list. Then select the First Aid Tab and run Repair Disk. The Repair Disk button won't be available until you've clicked on the Mac OS partition on your hard drive. If that repairs any problems run it again until the green OK appears and then run Repair Permissions. After repairing use Startup Disk from the same menu to choose your hard drive for restarting from your hard drive.
If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

Macbook won't boot, black screen, no chime

My macbook won't boot at all. It is a white non unibody one. When you press the power button the screen breifly blinks and a clicking sound is heard but no other sounds or chime or anything. I'm suspecting the worst but thought i'd submit it on here first. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for the reply but it isn't a hard drive issue. I have tested the hard drive in an external enclosure and it's working fine. I even put in another hard drive i have and it wont boot that either. I'm thinking its a logic board issue. Any one know best place to get logic board replacement near london for cheap

How do I back up my MacBook Pro from an external hard drive if my macbook won't boot up from the white start up screen? HELP!

I went to the Genius Bar a week ago, and the guy helping me there was nice enough to help me save some money by telling me I could replace the bad hard drive my MacBook Pro had by myself. I bought everything I needed (hard drive, screws, external hard drive) and my computer won't boot past the white start up screen. It doesn't even show the Apple sign at the start up screen. How do I back up my computer so I can save all my music, school files, etc.? Could really use someone's advice on what to do! Thanks!

Ok, to be sure I understand what's going on. You were able to boot the Macbook from the existing "damaged" internal drive, and it has been backed up to the internal.
If that is correct, your internal drive is working. Just to be sure, try booting with the R key down. Then run Disk Utility to repair the internal drive. That drive may in fact be useable.
You should be aware that you cannot boot the MBP from a Time Machine back up.
Please post back so I am sure I am understanding the situation.

MacBook won't boot from disc

On Sunday my ten-month-old MacBook froze up and made some nasty clicking noises. I forced a restart, but now it just boots to a white screen and, after a good five minutes or more, eventually displays the blinking, question-mark folder.
I'm quite certain the drive is toast, but what I find more interesting (and in some ways more irritating) is that I can't for the life of me get it to boot from a DVD. I've tried my Leopard disc and the install disc that came with my computer. I hold C while booting, the drive spins for a bit, and eventually it just spits the disc back out. I've also tried holding D with the original install disc to boot the Apple Hardware Test and get the same result. I've tried holding Option to get a list of boot volumes and just get a white screen with a mouse cursor. I've tried resetting the power management unit and zapping the PRAM, as suggested in the "What to do if your Mac won't boot" list, and have noticed no change.
Thoughts? There must be something else I can do.

You may have a bigger problem than just the Hard Drive. Call Apple support or go by an Apple store if your near one and talk to them. You've done everything you can do. It will be up to them now. Be thankful it's still under warranty.

Macbook Won't Boot

I looked around for similar problems but didn't see anything.
I had some trouble with the latest security update crashing me, and the geniuses at the apple store just reinstalled OS X (I can do that myself), so I was hoping someone here could help me out.
Here's what happened:
I was trying to burn an mp3 CD with iTunes. 6 of the tracks were not mp3 format, so it wouldn't burn the whole disk (no big deal). So I accidently told it to go ahead and burn everything except those tracks, and quickly cancelled the burn to try and save the disk as soon as I realized.
Then iTunes wouldn't show that it had stopped burning, it wouldn't eject, and iTunes wouldn't quit. I did a forced quit, but it still showed up as open in the dock. Finally, I went to the apple menu and shut down. Computer took a little longer than usual, but did eventually shut down.
Now the computer won't boot at all. It plays the chime and just sits here with a grey screen (no little timer thing either). The cd is still in thre, and the HD is spinning (or maybe it's the disk).
Anyways, any input anyone might have would be greatly appreciated, I'm pretty bummed as this is my second issue in as many weeks.

The same thing just happened to me. My son tried to burn a disc then cancelled it; he said it wouldn't eject and then he just shut down. Trying to start it now I just got a grey screen and the sound of the spinning drive.
I held down the mouse, held down the eject during startup, I reset the PRAM (SMC, whatever they call it on the MacBook now) and still nothing.
Then I just let it sit (on the grey screen, without the "apple" at startup) while I went online for some solutions-- and after a good 5 minutes, it finally went thru the reg startup on its own, and I was able to eject it from the desktop. (Thank you, God.)
Sometimes patience (or neglect) is a virtue.

Friends macbook won't boot

My friend got his macbook 2.0GHZ from this guy 6 months ago, now he told me one night it won't boot. It has sign it's working by the indicator while asleep. I am thinking it's the logic board, what else could it be? Can a mac not work if it's HD is full?
I might take a look at it, Ihave places where I can taake it.. Thanks

What has he tried?
Has he tried booting from the install DVD?
Does he get the "bong" sound? when pressing the power button?
Remove the battery and the power cord and then hold the power button down for at least 5 seconds then reinsert battery and power cord
Remove and then reinstall the RAM cards as a last resort. Sometimes this is the cure but not very often.
Always look for the simple stuff first because that is the most probable fault

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She bought the computer used so unfortunately she does not have the start up disk. She also has not backed up the information on the computer but we are more concerned about getting the computer to work because she cannot afford to buy a new one and she has barely had this one more than a year. The only thing that is connected to the computer is the power cord and the battery is shot so we cannot disconnect the power cord and use the computer. Well I read the instructions on starting up in safe mode so I hold the power button until I hear the obnoxious beep and then hold the shift key down until u see the little gear thing and apple logo. Well I get the apple logo but no gear and then I get the pop up window that I spoke of before telling
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MacBook won't boot up

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