Retina Macbook Pro Won't Power On (No water damage)

[ArrinDel]

Hi everyone, I have a macbook pro retina (2012) and it will not power on. This seemed to happen out of nowhere. The laptop's never seen a drop of water, so that's out of the question.

The battery still charges, and I can even perform an SMC reset (the charger light will change colors briefly). But when I press the power button, I get absolutely nothing at all. Clearly, the power button is being recognized, since I can perform an SMC reset. Anyone have any idea? I would hope this $3,000 laptop didn't already die in just two years. :/

 

[chscag]

My first question to you is... did you buy Apple Care for your $3000 retina MacBook Pro? If you did, make an appointment with your nearest Apple Store genius bar and take it on in to them for diagnosis. Even if you don't have Apple Care, that's still a good idea. A machine that won't power on could have a serious hardware problem or it could be something as simple as a bad power button.

 

[ArrinDel]

No, I do not have applecare. I know people have different opinions on that topic, and we probably disagree, which is fine, but I'm behind the belief that a $3,000 product shouldn't need an additional $300 warranty to function as it should. Especially if it's logic board failure, and not at all user-caused.

I mainly came here in hopes that someone else who has experienced this might have some input. I'm not going the apple repair route; I can easily replace the logic board for less than they can, if that's necessary. But I was hoping for some troubleshooting steps, outside of SMC reset, fully charge/discharge battery, etc.

I've also used the power pads to jump start the macbook pro, but it's a no-go. Also, since I'm able to reset the SMC, that verifies that the power button is recognized.

 

[chscag]

OK, that's fine. If you have the ability to do your own trouble shooting and repairs, then perhaps the ifixit site can help. www.ifixit.com

By the way, if it should turn out to be a dead logic board, that could be a costly replacement part since your machine is a late model rMBP. Let us know your progress.

 

[ArrinDel]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll give iFixit a try as well. I have a quote on a used logic board for $600 less than Apple will charge, and it's only a ~30 minute swap. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that, but I'll keep you posted!

 

[hempomatic]

No, I do not have applecare. I know people have different opinions on that topic, and we probably disagree, which is fine, but I'm behind the belief that a $3,000 product shouldn't need an additional $300 warranty to function as it should. Especially if it's logic board failure, and not at all user-caused.

I'm not a big fan of extended warranties, and I do NOT have one on my computer, however, a $3000 computer is not 3 times as good, or 3 times as reliable as a $1000 dollar computer, it has $2000 dollars worth of more stuff to go wrong. Of course you MAY find that it's a simple and inexpensive fix.

ken

 

[ArrinDel]

The sad part is, this computer really doesn't have much 'more' to it than some $500 laptops. (It definitely doesn't have $2,000 more worth of stuff.) As far as actual parts, components, and features, the macbook pro retina is pretty minimal and underwhelming in all honesty. There's less in this computer to go wrong than my mom's toshiba laptop; thus it baffles me even more.

I can agree that it's definitely not 3x better and definitely not 3x as reliable, lol. My 2011 macbook pro has been a far more reliable and less expensive device. But at a price of $3,000; with less to go wrong (no battery light indicator, thus no related cable/ports, no optical drive, thus no cable/port, an SSD, etc.) I would expect it to be a much more reliable machine. Especially under light use.

 

[pigoo3]

I was going to use the high-end sports car example. Just because you spend close to or more than $100,000 for one…doesn't mean that you'll be able to drive a million miles before the first problem. All it means is…the repair costs will be a lot higher than an "average" car when repairs are necessary.

I to am usually skeptical when it comes to warranties/extended warranties. It's definitely a personal choice.

As I always say…"If you buy an extended warranty & never need it…you feel it's a waste of money. But if you have it & need it…you thank god you bought it!!!"

- Nick

 

[pigoo3]

Hi everyone, I have a macbook pro retina (2012) and it will not power on. This seemed to happen out of nowhere. The laptop's never seen a drop of water, so that's out of the question.

The battery still charges, and I can even perform an SMC reset (the charger light will change colors briefly). But when I press the power button, I get absolutely nothing at all. Clearly, the power button is being recognized, since I can perform an SMC reset. Anyone have any idea? I would hope this $3,000 laptop didn't already die in just two years. :/

I know that you said that there was no liquid spills related to this problem…but has anything else happened to this computer that could be responsible? Please be honest…we are just trying to help…and the more we know…the more we can help.

If you:

- ran it over with a car
- dropped it off a 5 story building
- a 150 pound dog stomped on it
- girlfriend threw it across the room when she caught you kissing her sister
- etc.

…tell us. Usually these problems don't just happen "out of the blue".

- Nick

 

[chscag]

I agree with Nick, re: extended warranties. I've bought them on some products and others I did not. It saved me a bunch of dollars on my daughter's new Honda when the transmission went out, but I wasted money buying an extended warranty for my wife's Camry. It all comes out in the wash. You win some and you lose some.

 

[ArrinDel]

@Pigoo, lol very true. But I can guarantee that if that $100,000 car has engine troubles and is only 2 years old, with minimal mileage put on it, it'd be repaired in a heartbeat at no cost.

Then again the comparison is apples to oranges. I'm not saying products don't have issues, and I'm not saying apple should take it right back and repair it, although I think they should I came here wondering if anyone who knows these computers fairly well, on a more technical level, had any ideas, given the circumstances I discussed. (i.e. keyboard input working, communicating with the magsafe board, which is separate from the logic board, though an inability to start up)

And that is honest. This computer is in like new condition. Not a scratch on it. Never dropped, nothing. From what I've been reading, maybe it is partial logic board failure. Seems like there are over 100 noted instances of retina logic boards just failing out of the blue. And of course the 'genius' bar responses are they have no idea.

 

[pigoo3]

@Pigoo, lol very true. But I can guarantee that if that $100,000 car has engine troubles and is only 2 years old, with minimal mileage put on it, it'd be repaired in a heartbeat at no cost.

"Guarantee" = 100%…and nothing is 100%. Please don't take this the wrong way…but what I can guarantee is…the statement made above is absolutely not guaranteed! A bad logic board for a computer…is like a blown engine in an automobile. If the automobile is out of warranty…and you take it to the repair shop/dealer for repair…I can guarantee you that not ALL DEALERS will replace or repair the engine for free.

BELIEVE ME…I totally agree with you that a 2 year-old $3000 computer should not be doing what what your computer is doing (assuming that it has not been exposed to anything abnormal).

But there is one thing that you haven't considered…electricity. It is always possible that this computer was exposed to a lightning strike or power surge that could have fried something. In the middle of the night while you were sleeping…and would never know about it. It's a long shot…but not impossible.

I'm not trying to defend Apple…or justify that this situation is ok or normal. Unfortunately…sometimes bad things happen.

- Nick

p.s. Actually there are some things that are 100%. But getting expensive automobile repairs for a 2 year old car for free by 100% of all auto dealers is not one of them.

 

[ArrinDel]

Like I said, "apples to oranges." ;P Can't compare cars to computers despite the similarity in premise. Same reason most dealerships offer mileage warranties / time warranties that would be the equivalent of such usage.

It definitely wasn't a power surge or any thunderstorm. When it is plugged in, it's plugged in to a high-end surge protector. And at night or when I leave it at home, I disconnect it from the charger.

I don't mean this comment to offend or anything, and I know it's going to come across snarky, but it's not intended. But this site is the wrong place for technical discussions isn't it? It's more for consumer-level discussions and very minor "did you try turning it off and back on" type repairs? It seems like the Ifixit community seems to have some highly skilled people, but not too many apple-centric. If anyone knows a good forum for that type of thing, I'd definitely appreciate a link.

 

[pigoo3]

I don't mean this comment to offend or anything, and I know it's going to come across snarky, but it's not intended. But this site is the wrong place for technical discussions isn't it? It's more for consumer-level discussions and very minor "did you try turning it off and back on" type repairs? It seems like the Ifixit community seems to have some highly skilled people, but not too many apple-centric. If anyone knows a good forum for that type of thing, I'd definitely appreciate a link.

Let's see…you just joined Mac-Forums today. Do you REALLY feel like you've spent enough time here to come to that conclusion?? I don't think that you have. I really think that you've come to this conclusion prematurely.

This thread (at this time) is less than 5 hours old. What sort of immediate gratification are you expecting. You could join other Mac internet forums…and go days without a reply…and maybe not get any replies. How do you know someone may not sign in within the next hour or day…and have some ideas for you??

Have you performed any Mac-Forums searches to review some other threads where folks with hardware or software issues…and there were some great discussions??

So again…I think that you are coming to some very hasty conclusions.

- Nick

 

[pigoo3]

Like I said, "apples to oranges." ;P Can't compare cars to computers despite the similarity in premise. Same reason most dealerships offer mileage warranties / time warranties that would be the equivalent of such usage.

It definitely wasn't a power surge or any thunderstorm. When it is plugged in, it's plugged in to a high-end surge protector. And at night or when I leave it at home, I disconnect it from the charger.

You're just being argumentative. By the replies you've given so far in this thread…it sounds like you live in an "always or never" world. In the real world…everything is NOT 100% or 0%.

I also find it VERY curious (as a brand new Mac-Forums member)…why you specifically selected to "call out" that this computer is not water damaged. BEFORE anyone made any suggestions to this possibility.

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

So $2500 Dells never fail in the first 2 years? If you believe that you are surely no computer tech. I have seen it all and trust me it happens with the TOP PC Brands more than most people would ever realize!! My friend has sent his 1.5 year old TOP END Lenovo Gaming laptop in 3 times now. First time Motherboard died, then video chip then hard drive and he is very careful. They would have never after the first year fixed it either. He bought an expensive after purchase warranty so they had to fix it!

I have seen Toshibas months old with serious issues and I was told by them they would not repair it.

 

[lclev]

If there is a local Apple store near by with a genius bar won't they diagnose for free?? That is what I have read on here many times. I would certainly give it a shot if the OP is near one.

Lisa

 

[chscag]

If there is a local Apple store near by with a genius bar won't they diagnose for free?? That is what I have read on here many times. I would certainly give it a shot if the OP is near one. Lisa

The genius bar at a genuine Apple Store will do a diagnosis for free. Of course any repairs outside of the warranty are charged accordingly. By the way, this is a great service when you think about it because most authorized repair centers will charge for a diagnosis. Although most will deduct the diagnosis charge from the repair bill if you should decide to have it repaired there.

 

[antmeal]

Have you been eating while using it? Perhaps there is food inside which is stopping the button from operating!

 

[alicepattinson]

The built-in power supply maybe got some problem or overheating.