clicking noise and failure to start up

tonight a rhythmic clicking noise started and had failure to complete start up. Any suggestions?

SeamasP said:

tonight a rhythmic clicking noise started and had failure to complete start up. Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

Well, welcome to the forum! But, you might want to give us more information, i.e. what laptop do you own (assume since posted under 'Apple Notebooks') and what OS X is installed? Is this a new issue? In not, what have you tried? Did you attempt to boot into recovery mode? Do you have a backup and/or a cloned drive? Just for starters - please respond. Dave

Mac Book pro 13" . OS 10.9.5 This is new problem. Started tonight.

Hi Dave,

It sounds mechanical. Almost like a motor or fan issue. Sound is low and rhythmic, as if every cycle we are hitting something.

SeamasP said:

Hi Dave,

It sounds mechanical. Almost like a motor or fan issue. Sound is low and rhythmic, as if every cycle we are hitting something.

Click to expand...

Hello again - please provide model/year of the MBPro. Does the computer boot up normally and is it useable despite the 'noise'? If so and if you do not have any type of backup, then consider getting your important data onto an external drive and/or USB storage (I suggested some options in my initial post). At this point, a failing internal HD cannot be excluded.

Has there been any recent damage to the computer, like a drop? Do you see any change in appearance around the trackpad (could be a swelling battery which may impact on other nearly internal hardware)? Are you still under warranty? Dave

Dave,

It is a Mac Book Pro13". Purchased in summer of 2011 with Japanese/English keyboard. I am out of warranty and Apple Care. Does not boot up; nothing but the clicking until a folder with a Q mark appears. I tried a recovery routine, but could not proceed with the repair disc routine. Did talk to apple; tech believes it is a disc problem and will most likely need a hard drive replace.

SeamasP said:

Dave,

It is a Mac Book Pro13". Purchased in summer of 2011 with Japanese/English keyboard. I am out of warranty and Apple Care. Does not boot up; nothing but the clicking until a folder with a Q mark appears. I tried a recovery routine, but could not proceed with the repair disc routine. Did talk to apple; tech believes it is a disc problem and will most likely need a hard drive replace.

Click to expand...

Sorry, but your HD seems to be the issue - are you close to an Apple Store or an authorized Apple repair shop for an diagnostic evaluation? I'm assuming that you have no backups? If so, then you likely will have to get the HD replace and start over. Dave

Dave,

Thanks. I've come to same conclusion. Fortunately, Apple Stores are reasonably close. Holidays may interfer with quick turn around, but we'll deal with that.

Cheers and thanks again,

SeamasP

That is for sure the Hard drive. I don't know how much you know about computers, but since Apple care is over if you know your way around inside a computer, putting in a new drive is easy.

If not take it in but you will pay a lot more for someone else to install it.

dtravis7 said:

That is for sure the Hard drive. I don't know how much you know about computers, but since Apple care is over if you know your way around inside a computer, putting in a new drive is easy.

If not take it in but you will pay a lot more for someone else to install it.

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@ SeamasP - if you want to think about Dennis's advice, then take a look at this iFixit Guide on replacing your HD - described as 'moderate' difficulty and about a 45 minute job (although for first timers, likely longer) - good luck. Dave

dtravis7 said:

That is for sure the Hard drive. I don't know how much you know about computers, but since Apple care is over if you know your way around inside a computer, putting in a new drive is easy.


If not take it in but you will pay a lot more for someone else to install it.

Click to expand...

Dave & Dennis,
Not too worried about the physical changing the drive. Have removed old drives and installed memory cards on my desk tops, but I do not have install discs. Doesn't the new disc need an initialization and then OS download.

Seamas

SeamasP said:

Dave & Dennis,
Not too worried about the physical changing the drive. Have removed old drives and installed memory cards on my desk tops, but I do not have install discs. Doesn't the new disc need an initialization and then OS download.

Click to expand...

Hi again Seamas - from your previous statements, your current drive will not boot and you likely have no type of backup (e.g. Time Machine or a bootable cloned HD, using a program such as CCC, i.e. Carbon Copy Cloner) - correct?

If so, once the new HD is installed, you will need some way to boot the new drive - likely the easiest way is to make a bootable Yosemite USB flash drive - instructions HERE; you likely will have to use another functioning computer - I'll stop there since having no experience in replacing a defective HD in this way, and let some of our 'hardware gurus' respond w/ reinforcing or further advice - good luck. Dave

Dave,

Thanks once again. I'll wait to see what others say too. This is an area where I have no experience at all.

Thanks again,

Seamas

My Drive

Dave & Dennis et al,

Took the powerbook into the Apple Store in Greenwich CT. Showed them Apple Care Receipt and purchase receipt of the Mac too. Considering that the Apple Care was purchased in 2012 about 60 days after the mac (12/17/11) and my difficulty arose on 12/17/14, they honored the apple care. So, my Angst was solved very very nicely by the Mac Care People.

It is a pleasure to go the Greenwich Store!! Big Time!

And thanks to you for the advice and help.

Cheers,

Seamas

Hi again Seamas - GREAT! Always easier to have someone else do the 'dirty work', especially while still under warranty! Dave