My MBP Just Died!

I was surfing along happily (OS X 10.4) when all of a sudden, things started to freeze up. I couldn't really shut down any applications so eventually I did a hard shutdown holding down the power button.

Now when I start, I get either a completely blank screen, or a blinking ? Folder. I don't always get the ? Folder.

I have tried this, none of these things worked:

• Reset PRAM via cmd-opt-P-R
• Reset SMC via taking out the battery, disconnecting, holding down the power button
• Start from CD via holding down C when starting up - it doesn't start from CD, just sits there with the white screen
• Start Apple hardware diagnosis by inserting the CD (inserting and ejecting still works) and holding down D while starting up. Again, white screen.
• Start in FireWire Target disk mode by holding down T while starting up - nothing happens, never enters FW target disk mode

It's the weekend and the authorized Apple dealers over here are closed. What can I do? Does anybody have any ideas? What else can I try?

 

If you can get it to boot from the CD, I would do a reinstall. Other than that it sounds like you may be out of luck.

 

Did you install the 4GB RAM yourself? Maybe one or both sticks are bad. Or just not installed properly.

If that is the case you could try a combination of things. Take out one stick, try to boot. Try the other stick. Or if you still have the original RAM, try that too. Or just wait for the Apple dealers to open.

MBP Memory Replacement Instructions DIY Manual (PDF)