Urgent Help Macbook Won't Start Up

Hey
Im in need of some "urgent help", yesturday i was working on my GCSE coursework, i saved and then i turned my macbook off. Later that day i turned it back on to add some finishing touches, the macbook decided not to load the OS.
It just goes to the apple logo and the circle thingy and just stays there.
I rang up the helpline but they basically said that it dosen't matter that i can't get my coursework because i don't have the extended warranty. They advised me to come here because "we are bound to have hundreds of other cases the same to your's on there" that to me say's something.
Although i will continue to use the mac if this has to go in for repair, the response is quite inconsiderate being honest. Im 15 and i can't afford the extra care.
So im really reaching out for your help here folks, it's due in next week. I need to get the file off there desperately. I've done a hardware check and everything comes up fine.
Please guys HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks

Try running Disk Utility, and repair permissions and verify disk. If verify disk shows any problems, boot from your install disc and repair disk.
If you can't repair the disk and get going again, you may be able to do an archive and install OS reinstallation, which will preserve your data. If that doesn't work for some reason, you may be able to do an erase and install, which will erase your data. Hopefully you have a backup.
I assume phone support works the same way in the U.K. as in the U.S. You have a 1-year warranty. If you call after 90 days, they ask for a credit card in case the problem is not covered by warranty. If the problem is covered by warranty, you are not charged.
If the problem is solved by any of the above troubleshooting steps, it is not a warranty issue. The Apple support person is probably just trying to save you from being charged for what is very possibly not a warranty-covered problem.

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My macbook won't start up i have used the option command p r while holding down power button but not done.. please help guys

my macbook won't start up i have used the option command p r while holding down power button but not done.. please help guys

It not polite to repost asking fro more help three minutes after initial post.
Recovery mode is Command & R keys after depressing and releasing the Power button for a normal startup.
OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support
That only works for Lion and later.
What exactly happens when your try to boot to Recovery?
Try starting in Safe Mode resetting the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM
OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
About NVRAM and PRAM
What model MacBook Pro and what OSX version was on the Mac?
Have you tried booting from an OSX install DVD?
When you try to start doe the Power light light?
This is the Mac Pro desktop forum. I requested your post be moved to the MacBook Pro laptop forum.

Macbook won't start

Macbook won't start up. Sounds like disc drive is spinning but screen remains dark as though startup file is not booting.

Did you also try reset of NVRAM/PRAM?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
When you tried the Command + Opt + P + R keys on restart, held almost
immediately and through the time period it should chime on startup, did
you keep holding those keys down, so as to force it to repeat the chime?
You should do this (if possible to tell) through Three chimes, before you
let those keys go; that would be indicative of a NVRAM/PRAM reset.
Aside from the details and troubleshooting processes in the SMC reset
article from Apple Support, that could shed some light on the issue, if
these were done in their subscribed order before finally trying the SMC.
Have you tried System Management Controller (SMC) reset more than once?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964 {and those other troubleshooting bits}
Depending on which MacBook you have, the details may vary; with some
you could try several items not possible with a later model, such as a hard
reset of the computer (remove battery, hold power button, etc) and other
details I am not going into now... Here's something that worked for this one:
•My MacBook won't boot, no start chime, just DVD spinning sound:
http://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/6271/My+MacBook+won%27t+boot,+no+start+chime, +just+the+DVD+spinning+sound.
There are some ideas there which may help. At least as far as trouble-
shooting. If you have access to an Apple Store with Genius Bar in the
USA or Canada, you could call ahead for an appointment to have one
of their staff genius tech persons diagnose and troubleshoot this issue.
In other locations, there may be fees charged to accommodate services.
Anyway, I an not certain what to suggest next.
Did you try booting from the Snow Leopard DVD?
Good luck & happy computing!

Macbook won't start - apple icon turns to circle with diagonal line/slash

My Macbook won't start. When I turn on the power, the apple icon appears but then after a while it changes to a circle with a diagonal line/slash, then it just shows a gray screen.
The last time I used the computer I did several software updates. Could this be causing the problem? Any suggestions for getting my computer operating again?
Thanks for any help/advice.

Yup, i encountered the same experience after a strange failed USB-loading, and a sudden shutdown of my macbook.
Luckily i manage to "safe-boot" (pressing "Shift" key once starting up the mac) my macbook so that i can save the necessary files before will lose them all.
After that i popped-in my SL Installation DVD, and did the reinstallation process. Fortunately, everything works as charm and everything is back to normal after Spotlight has done it's hard work.
Happy Apple user once again.

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My MacBook won't start AT ALL - nothing, nada, zip.
I press the power button and nothing happens at all - no sound, no lights, no movement.
I have tried taking out battery and unplugging it, then pressing power button for 5 seconds, then inserting battery and plugging back in (as per Apple's kb note). This doesn't help.
[OK I was trying to upgrade the hard drive - original hard drive is now back in the MacBook]
Any ideas?

OK I took my MacBook to the guys at Streetwise in Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn (we are talking Melbourne Australia here).
Incredibly helpful - the genius there diagnosed a dislodged cable between the top board (keyboard and housing) and the main body. He thought I had dislodged it trying to change over the hard drive.
In any case, he straightened things out, reseated the cable and voila, its all working.
Hard drive upgraded too using Carbon Copy Cloner.

MacBook won't start on battery/shuts down when power adapter is removed

Help & advice needed please.
My MacBook won't start without external power, it gives a whir then a click then nothing. Once started up, if I remove the external power it just shuts off.
The battery shows at 98% & charging. Coconut Battery shows the following:
Current battery charge 4126 (& increasing as I type)
Maximum battery charge 4200
Current battery capacity 4200
Original battery capacity 5200
80%
Battery loadcycles 111
Age of your Mac 6 months
Charger connected yes
Battery is charging yes
Does anyone have a clue why the Mac won't power itself on the battery when everything else seems like it works?
Cheers!

As of today, my MacBook and I have been together for 40 days. Yesterday, while I was happily surfing (on battery), it powered down with no warning. Okay, these things happen. I plugged it in, restarted, and all seemed to be fine. Battery was about 70%. I did other things on my other machines and when it was about 90%, unplugged it and everything was good. This morning after using it unplugged for 1.5 hours it did the same thing, but decided to only work with the power adapter, not on battery alone. When trying to boot without AC, it would try to spin the CD and then fall back into off. When on AC, if I pulled the adapter, it would last two seconds and go blank. I made an appt. with the Apple store (Fashion Show Mall, Las Vegas) for 3:20pm. I got there right at 3:20pm and the monitors showed I was 5th in line. Store was fairly packed, at least one patron at every display item. Monitors also said the next MacGenius appt. was "approx. 8:30pm." Glad I made an appt! I was served about 15 min. later, during which time the monitors had changed to "No more MacGenius appts. available today, please try tomorrow." However, one guy came by without an appt. and was told he would be put on standby and to come back in 30 min.
Once I explained my issue with my MacBook battery, my Genius tried one of his batteries. "I just want to make sure it's your battery and not your motherboard." My machine worked fine, so he said "No problem, I'll have you out of here in 10 minutes." He got me a brand new battery, tested it, and put my old one in a box on the rear counter with four others. He pulled the serial number from the "About this Mac" area, didn't need my receipt for purchase date or anything. I had even printed this page: http://www.apple.com/support/macbook_macbookpro/batteryupdate/ to use as ammunition, but didn't need it. He did approve highly of my dashboard widget "iStat pro", available here: http://islayer.com/.
So the battery issue is a very common problem, and one that Apple has tried to deal with as painlessly as possible for the consumer. My Genius did ask if the battery showed an "X" in the icon bar, and I said no. Just wouldn't run on battery. On the way out of the store, one of the 3 MacBooks, in fact the one closest to the door, had an "X" on the battery icon. When I unplugged the power, it shut down immediately! The moral of the story is to contact Apple immediately with problems and give them a chance to fix them. Hope this helps others.

If my MacBook won't start, is there a way to access my data without replacing the battery? Someone mentioned removing the hard drive?

I'm assuming that my MacBook won't start because it's been spilled on... It's happened once before and when I brought it in, all that was needed was a battery replacement. I have a brand new MacBook Pro and all I really want is my pictures, videos, music & other documents from my old MacBook.. Is there a way of getting all of that without buying a new battery, and then using Mavericks to switch over everything? A friend suggested that I just get all of it from the hard drive, but I don't really know much about that. Help?

If you can take the computer to somewhere or someone who has a known-good battery, and if the MacBook is dry, you could tell in quick order if a replacement battery would be worth it. Likely, you won't have been as fortunate more than once; electricity and water don't mix well, and short circuited or fried electronics result.
{There used to be a way to access one Mac from another if you could get the bad one to boot into Target Disk mode, but Intel-based macs didn't always work; they both needed FireWire ports & correct cable. If In an enclosure, you may be able to use a migration assistant utility.}
An authorized service tech with Apple certification in portable computers should be able to remove the internal hard disk drive, install it into an external enclosure, & test it, for a fee; once in an enclosure it may be accessed to see if the hard drive's data files on the drive, or at least sees them. Labor + parts?
Once the hard disk drive is removed, your user files would still have whatever account password protection needed to access them, but there are ways to migrate data from drives into another computer; in some cases the information on this may be tilted toward using a device you don't have, such as a Time Machine. If the data had been backed up on a Time Machine, it may have been possible to get it from that device using a method available in a Support article and put directly into another Mac.
If the computer has failed due to contact with moisture or a drink pouring over it, more than once, it may require more than a new battery to see if it'd work well enough to run and get data from its hard disk drive. You may pay quite a bit of money to have someone do anything at all.
How long ago did the MacBook get wet again? If several weeks ago, it may be dry inside. But may be damaged and the main logic board short-circuited or toast. So, it may not work even with the MagSafe attached due to other damages beyond a new battery. That could be a waste of money to buy one.
There are repair guides at http://ifixit.com which may help you determine if you can extract the HDD from the failed MacBook, but even then you'd have to install it into a suitable USB enclosure to gain access to data. Some drive enclosures already have a hard disk drive inside, so try and get one that would work with the MacBook's SATA hard disk drive, and with no HDD installed. One less thing to do.
So I know only enough about it to be dangerous.
And to troubleshoot the old MacBook may not
be worth the cost, if logicboard now is toasted.
Maybe someone else can say it direct w/ less words? LOL
Good luck & happy computing!

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Hi,
*"question mark inside a file sign and flashes"*
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
Flashing question mark can mean several things. One the drive is failing or failed. Two, it can mean that your Mac can't find a system folder to boot from. Try booting while holding down the Option key which prompts the Startup Manager window. If that doesn't work, it's time to replace the drive.
Carolyn

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From my experience, resetting the PRAM and PMU do not work in this situation, at least with my MacBook. I have a feeling that 10.4.7 update didn't flash correctly or the firmware is buggy in some way.

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With MacBooks it's only the Late 2008 model 5,1 Aluminum Unibody and the Late 2009 model 6,1 and Mid 2010 model 7,1 White Unibody that don't have FireWire. Which one is hers?
You can get a larger hard drive (sounds like she needs one) and an external case. Put the larger hard drive in the MacBook and do a fresh install of the Operating System and the old hard drive in the external case.
For a hard drive try Newegg.com. For larger drives go to the left hand side. http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=380&name=Laptop-Hard-Dr ives&Order=PRICE
Or OWC http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/
Here's a cheap SATA external hard drive case on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-5-SATA-HDD-HARD-DRIVE-EXTERNAL-ENCLOSURE-CASE-BOX-/120 636286623?pt=PCC_Drives_Storage_Internal&hash=item1c167ba69f
Here's video instructions on replacing the hard drive on the Aluminum Unibody http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro_13_unibody_hd/
Here's video instructions on replacing the hard drive on the White Unibody http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbook_13_09_unibody_hd/

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Wire Bus:
Maximum Speed: Up to 400 Mb/sec
FW Solo:
Manufacturer: M-Audio
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GUID: 0xD6C0B007E03B7
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Sub-units:
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Hi guys,
I just suffer as all other that after try ti install the 10.4.11 update my macbook won't start, I have a external HD with a image of my macbook but went I press and hold the option key I only see the bootcamp parttion and my internal HD, I don't see the external HD.
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I follow the robotobi post and solve this issue.
Thanks robotobi

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I have the exact same problem and waited it out and got to my homescreen. Whateve the problem is fried my bluetooth and my trackpad. I tried starting it again and couldn't even get to homescreen, it stayed on the bluescreen with the wheel of death. So, I took it to genius bar today. I was informed that my logic board is fried and it needs to be replaced. $300 repair that I'm looking at...

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After installing the latest update my macbook won't start up. Instead of the login screen I get a flashing map icon with a question mark. My uncle says that means it can't find the startup disk and I had to startup from the install disk holding C but it didn't work. I'm quite desperate because I need my macbook for school (writing & producing music). I type this on a friend's computer... How can I fix this? Or do I really have to go to a mac store and part from my macbook for an unknown time...? :'(
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Hi
Anything unusual happen during the 10.5.3 update installation phase?
What type of iMac are you using? Your tag says G5 but also Intel core processors - it can't be both.
Try this:
-First unplug your computer and wait 10 minutes
-Next, simultaneously reinsert the power cord while pressing the power button for 5 seconds then release
-Press the power button again to start the computer - this resets the computer's system management unit (SMU) which controls your machines power functions.
-Next, press/hold down the P/R/option/command keys for 3 Apple chimes. This clears the machine's PRAM. After the 3rd chime release those keys and immediately hold down the Shift key to put the machine into Safe User Mode
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Post back
Message was edited by: Hawaiian_Starman

How do I backup all my files if my Macbook won't start up?

So a few days ago, my dad and I got into a fight - he reacted by pouring coffee all over my macbook, then continuously slammed it on the floor. There wasn't really much I could do for my macbook then, except the basic procedure of powering it off, turning it upside down, then waiting for a couple of days to use it. Luckily enough, my macbook was able to turn on, but it got stuck on the logo screen and couldn't go any further than that.
I had already planned to diagnose my macbook after an earlier water spill, and spent over $500 on tools/replacements. I bought an external hard drive to backup my computer files with before diagnosing it - but now I can't really do that since my macbook won't start up. Is there any way I can boot it up just to back up my files before they get lost forever?

yes, the HD contains all you data, SEE PIC BELOW of macbook
Do you have 2 HD in your macbook? Some macbooks are modified and have removed DVD/Superdrives and contain a second hard drive (if you didnt do that, it isnt in there)
The HD itself is sealed, however the internal armature and heads are fragile, these are like records and needle.
obviously torturing these HD heads is like shaking an old record player with its needle and arm (bad idea)
The HD is like a metal sealed box (in simple explanation)....which is GOOD.....since liquid doesnt get in there...
what is BAD is what is inside that box is fragile
also what is bad is that the underside of that "BOX" contains a control board which CAN get ruined by nasty liquids.
if this was also possible to do with the hard drive.
No, dont think of putting any liquid ON / IN the HD, ..as said the HD is sealed, but it does have a circuit board on it (controller board) you cant see in this pic above,.....nasty liquid on it can of course fry the ability to access the data ON the HD platters inside......data recovery experts can get around this,....so can I, but its costly and very "painful" to do.
see picture of that control board here> http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Portege-R500/small/remove-hard-dri ve-10sm.jpg
inside of a HD:

Urgent Help Macbook Won't Start Up

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