# MacBook seems dead. Any ideas?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-seems-dead-any-ideas/595561>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 8, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-seems-dead-any-ideas/595561 "2011-09-08T00:40:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-seems-dead-any-ideas/595561/1 "2011-09-08T00:40:04Z")

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My wife has a MacBook that is around five years old. It’s never caused any trouble, but now, out of the blue, it decided to play dead.

Attempts to power it on result in nothing at all happening. The power cord shows the little green light lit, but that is the only sign of life.

I know PCs, but next to nothing about Macs. I’m just wondering if there are any tricks to try before I take it in to be evaluated.

Also…if the battery is toast, the power cord should still allow it to work, correct?

Thanks for any help,  
mmm

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**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-seems-dead-any-ideas/595561/2 "2011-09-08T00:54:56Z")

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Which model?

Remove battery, remove power cord and hold down power button for 30 secs or so until chime sounds. Reassemble and retry.

If no joy and a MacBook Pro, remove battery and RAM cover and reseat RAM. Reassemble and retry.

If nothing, Google “reset PRAM and PMU.”

Burn incense.

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**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-seems-dead-any-ideas/595561/3 "2011-09-08T01:26:18Z")

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> [@andyleonard](#):
>
> Remove battery, remove power cord and hold down power button for 30 secs or so until chime sounds. Reassemble and retry.

This worked first time, andyleonard.

And I could kiss you.  
mmm

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**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-seems-dead-any-ideas/595561/4 "2011-09-08T01:59:15Z")

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Nah! That’s O.K.