Gray Screen: I have tried it all...

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So all was well, then my Macbook Pro froze. I hold down power, I get the gray screen. Try everything -- PRAM, Option, C, Command S, Option R, Replaced my hard drive, RAM, Tried booting from CD, USB, whatever...

I've done it all. Is there anything I'm missing? At one point in the ordeal I actually was able to see my mac backup through my firewire, but it kind of froze up there and I haven't been able to get it to notice my mac backup file since (Firewire or USB).

Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to offer me.

Specs: 17" Macbook Pro model A1229, Ran 10.7.4

Regards,
 
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What OS are you running? If you have Lion, you can restart and hold Command+R to enter recovery.

Unrelated thought, have you considered connecting to an external tv or monitor to see if it's a display issue?

Just spitballing here...
 
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It was on 10.7.4. I tried Command+R and it didn't do anything... The monitor is fine. I have been able to get a cursor to show up, I've been able to get a "Recovery HD" to show up via USB, and one time I was able to get to disk utility from my mac backup. Now I get no where with my mac backup via firewire or usb.

Thanks for the help though

What OS are you running? If you have Lion, you can restart and hold Command+R to enter recovery.

Unrelated thought, have you considered connecting to an external tv or monitor to see if it's a display issue?

Just spitballing here...
 
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This is wild... So I go buy a SATA/USB connector hookup old hard drive. By chance (which I can't replicate again), it boots that hard drive. I had all my computer back -- everything. It was running very slow, but it was completely normal.

Would a computer work like that if the logic board were broke? Might it be the hard drive cable? Both hard drives function perfectly by the way. Alright whiz-kids... Have at it. This seems like a challenge for some of you all...

Thanks,
 
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OK -- I'm able to replicate the boot up to my SATA/USB old hard drive. If I hook up the new or old hard drive internally it doesn't work. What does this mean?

I'm editing this from the messed up computer that is functioning off of a SATA/USB cord. Would this mean it's the harddrive cable and not logic board? When I plugged in the hard drive with the computer on and functioning (stupid I know, but I'm desperate) I heard it spin. If that means anything to you either.

Thanks,
 

dtravis7


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MacMini M-1 MacOS Monterey, iMac 2010 27"Quad I7 , MBPLate2011, iPad Pro10.5", iPhoneSE
Let me understand you correctly. Are you putting in the same drive that works in the USB Enclosure Internally into the MPB and you get a white screen, but the same Hard Drive in that enclosure boots up fine?

If that is the case, it's either the internal SATA cable or the SATA controller.
 
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Yes -- nothing works internally, but both work externally. How do I test if it's controller -v- cable? Do they sale as a package?
 

dtravis7


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The SATA controller is a Chip (might be in the Intel Southbridge) so if it's that, nothing you can do. The Cable you will have to purchase.

Does the cable look intact? Could you take a pic of the Inside of the MBP right by the cable and post it here?
 
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rs7cw1.jpg
 
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Well -- I'll buy the cable and cross my fingers. Otherwise I'll be stuck with a fully jerry-rigged mac...
 
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Great... The cable didn't change anything. So to recap:

1) My computer works normal booting off of a USB/SATA of my old hard drive -- if I attach my new hard drive (or old for that matter) internally nothing works.

2) All else fails (that I have tried).

Have I missed anything?

Thanks,
 

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