Macbook Pro suddenly gave up the ghost

Elaine just walked in and said "my mac just died". Indeed. It's an old Macbook Pro, and when trying to start, all we get is a grayscale square with a text about how the computer needs to be restarted by holding down the power button. My first guess is that it might be the hard disk, but I know *nothing* about Macs - anyone came across this? Any advice and/or ideas?

Julf

How old is this computer?

Will it boot from an OS X install CD?

Hold Command-V to enable verbose boot logging. If that's not helpful, holding "D" will run a hardware test sequence.

More here.

That's a kernel panic screen. Could be a corrupt disk, unlikely to be a totally dead one. Boot from an install CD and run disk utility for starters, that might fix it...

If disk util says all is fine, reinstall (which doesn't wipe your user data).

Of course, if it does the same when booting from the install CD, then the HW is likely toasted in some way.

5 years or so.



Haven't tried yet - will have to find the very well stored away original CD's...

The boot log looks like it proceeds OK until it stops with a "Log in application started". Can't seem to get into the hardware test.

Has the OS major version been upgraded since the original machine purchase?

If so, boot with the upgrade CD.

Ah, yes! Still have to wait for Elaine to get home and tell where she has put the upgrade CDs...

It may not be on the hard drive. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509 has more info on the hardware test.

Apple has a full kernel panic doc here: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3742

This covers the general order Apple recommends for troubleshooting this to narrow it down between a software issue or hardware problem.

Holding down Command-V is supposed to also force kernel panics to be verbose, dumping to the screen potential useful info.

Great information - thanks! Now I just have to find the install CD/DVD...

OK, managed to run hardware diagnostics - and it found a hardware error. very helpfully, it is 4SNS/1/40000000:TGOD - googling indicates "bad sensor on motherboard".

I found this

A little more info here.

I had a logic board on my Macbook Pro replaced last year. Don't remember the exact number (because it was covered under AppleCare) but I remember thinking "boy, I'm glad I'm covered under AppleCare, because that's a big number."

Right, Oh well, it's 5 years old or something, so perhaps time to bite the upgrade bullet - seems there is a new slim one about to come out...

Did you run through the steps to reset the system management controller? Worth a shot at least since it's a sensor issue:

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

Thanks - I did. No joy.

I'd like to point out that, once again, the Empeg is ahead of its time.

+5