Ok, following that test with a known prior running HDD, it is still the same, black screen and gradual fan run up to full speed.
I have done a SMC reset (disconnect battery per instructions etc). NVRAM reset, attempt start in Safe mode. The one thing I have noted is there is no start up chime. This chime is seemingly, from all the Apple help, a pre-requisite to forcing the different startup modes - like Safe Mode, etc. I think I am looking at another MBP or MBA. Even if I do that, I am not certain how I can migrate Tims data back into a new machine (with the SMC fan controller thing still present in the backup). I’ve used the Migration Assistant a few times but very infrequently so I can’t recall if I can selectively bring back the data knowing that will remain safe. The failed machine was a Yosemite OSX and a new machine I would go straight to High Sierra. Getting a bit ahead of myself down the Plan B road but considering this still as a likely outcome here. Tonight I am leaving the MBP with AC adaptor off and the fan running away to drain the battery. A very long shot may force the SMC to think in a different way. Not many other choices nor much to loose anyway. Regards Pete > On 21 May 2018, at 7:39 pm, Peter Crisp <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Neil and Ronni, I have run the test below to attempt the AHT and as I > suspected the MBP wont even entertain it. Screen remains black and the > cooling fan starts after about 15-20 seconds and slowly ramps up to full > speed. It just remains with the fan running flat out and nothing else to > suggest any activity going on in there. > > I am confident it is not a screen fault as across the weekend before it went > completely black all the time, the screen was displaying quite normally. I > accept that is not definitive, but my thinking is it is unlikely a screen > fail when whilst it was showing HDD anomalies, the screen still displayed ok. > Still without the AHT running, I don’t yet know what the fault is. > > I also tried the NVRAM/PRAM reset “Option/Command/P/R” concurrent with > attempted start. Same response - black screen and slow fan ramp up. > > I don’t actually have a disc that it came with for the external start up > test. I do however have my CCC drive for my MBP Retina (High Sierra) and > wonder if that could serve as a test for external boot. But even still, the > instructions for external drive boot requires that I get a Start up chime, > which I don’t get and hence I don’t think it will even enter into this mode. > I’ll give it a shot. No good there with that test. > > I’ve had a thought, I have the removed disc that was in James’ MBP (same > model 2011 MBP) with a fully functioning drive in it when it was removed. I > will swap it into Tims MBP and see what that does to try eleminiate the > hardware of the laptop as being suspect or otherwise. > > Regards > > > Pete > >> On 21 May 2018, at 11:54 am, Neil Houghton <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi Peter, >> >> Just some thoughts. >> >> The fact that you can mount the HD on another computer does not necessarily >> mean that there will be no problems with it - or the system installed on it >> – but it does suggest that the HD is not the cause of the black screen/no >> life problem of the MBP. >> I do not think there is any point trying to fit a new HD until you have >> determined the hardware status of the MBP. >> Even with no HD inside, if the MBP was OK I would expect to see it attempt >> to start and then display a flashing “?” to indicate that it cannot find a >> suitable OS to boot from – that is what happened with my iMac when the >> internal drive died. >> If the problem was just with either the HD or a corrupt system installation >> on it, as a test you should still be able to run the MBP from an external HD >> – I continued to use my iMac from an external FW drive, containing a >> previous clone of my system, for around 2 years before I finally got round >> to repairing the iMac with a SSD and new HD. >> As Ronni says, you could try and run Apple Hardware Test (AHT) – although >> the MBP will at least need a working screen. >> I suppose it is possible that the MBP has a dead screen – although it would >> be a bit of a coincidence if you were having these other problems and then >> the screen died when you tried to address them – unlikely but coincidences >> DO happen. – If you have an external screen and the appropriate lead/adaptor >> you might be able to narrow the problem down to a failed screen (very long >> shot). >> I suppose the residual cruft from the SMC fan controller might give some >> problems – however that would all reside on the HD so with the HD removed I >> would have thought the MBP should behave as normal if there are no hardware >> problems (well normal for a computer with no HD as discussed above). >> After removing the HD, did you try booting from the install disk that came >> with the MBP – if there are no hardware problems I think that you should be >> able to install a bare OSX even on an external usb stick of sufficient size >> – if you can confirm the actual MBP hardware (less HD) is OK then it is >> worth persevering to upgrade. >> >> As I say, just some thoughts which might help you narrow down the actual >> problem or problems. >> >> >> HTH >> >> >> Neil >> >> >> -- >> Neil R. Houghton >> Albany, Western Australia >> Tel: +61 8 9841 6063 >> Email: [email protected] >> From: <[email protected]> on behalf of Peter >> Crisp <[email protected]> >> Reply-To: WAMUG <[email protected]> >> Date: Sunday, 20 May 2018 at 21:10 >> To: WAMUG <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: GREAT GAME EAGLES! >> >> Hi Ronni, I removed the HDD from Tim’s MBP and using the SATA adapter >> connected it to Joannes MBP. It opened fined, the folder structure as an >> externally connected drive looked completely as expected. I did locate the >> SMC app in the Downloads folder and was able to succesfully trash it. Upon >> refitting to Tim’s MBP I get the same behaviour which makes me think the >> problem is with the MBP chassis/hardware somewhere and not the HDD. I am >> puzzled where to now. If I simply replace the HDD, with this information it >> seems unlikely that that would actually fix the problem. >> >> Buying a replacement MBP and restoring from the backup would be plagued by >> the SMC installation in the backup and there being no apparent way to get >> his MBP to start up and be able to get into the OSX to disable the SMC fan >> controller. Buying a replacement SSD for his MBP and copying over also would >> not seem to be a solution given the fact it looks fine when connected as an >> external disc. >> >> Is there some other sort of way I could assess the HDD to confirm it’s >> status or even the MBP hardware as well? >> >> Regards >> >> >> Pete >> >> On 20 May 2018, at 7:17 pm, Peter Crisp <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> HI ROnni, thanks for that, but the problem i have is that Tim’s MBP is >> completely unresponsive so I cannot even get into it to disable the SMC Fan >> control he installed to then create a backup with that not in place. So I am >> stuck with the backup I have. I really am unsire of the next step, I will >> persevere with the current MBP now but I think I am wasting my time. All >> that happens is the screen remains black and the fan starts up, nothing to >> show. I think it is rooted. Maybe there is a command I can hold upon hitting >> the start button but I try “Shift” and “Command R” and nothing really >> results from it. >> >> Regards >> >> >> Pete >> >> On 20 May 2018, at 6:52 pm, Ronda Brown <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi Peter, >> I would be careful about restoring from backup until you can completely >> uninstall the smcFanControl then do a backup & restore from the new backup. >> >> Apple and we consultants don’t recommend users to control the fan speed by >> any 3rd party utility, it’s better to let your Mac set the fan speed as it >> wants. smcFanControl is not a necessary app for your Mac. >> It installs many files throughout the system which need to be deleted as >> well as the app! >> If you think you just drag smcFanControl to the trash & think removal is >> complete, then you’re wrong. That won’t remove the supportive files, cache >> files & other associated items it created during the setup and daily usage. >> To thoroughly ‘Delete smcFanControl, it is necessary to delete the remaining >> components scattered around the system. >> >> Regards, >> Ronni >> >> Sent from Ronni's iPhone 7 Plus >> >> On 20 May 2018, at 5:56 pm, Peter Crisp <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi ROnni, yes I have just got back from Gin Gin I had to collect one son >> from Coolup as well so lots of driving today from Mandurah. >> >> I am getting you WAMUG mails from WAMUG and I also do see them at the link >> you sent too. Not sure what’s going on your end but it all looks ok from the >> ‘outside’. >> >> I’ve just got back home now so James is rerunning the second half for me but >> I was listening on the radio and I heard Darling was having a cracker. >> >> I am looking further into Tims MBP tponoight too, I am not hopeful. I think >> I will be buying another SSD to replace and then restore from backup. But >> fingers crossed. He needs it for school so I gotta do it quickly. I think >> tonight it wont be sorted. >> >> Regards >> >> >> Pete >> >> On 20 May 2018, at 5:50 pm, Ronda Brown <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi Peter, >> >> That was a great game to watch the Eagles are flying high! >> Darling was absolutely brilliant... I thought his kicking leg would fall off >> in the final quarter! >> The whole team played together, very slick and accurate passing either by >> hand or foot. >> A very good result and well deserved. >> >> Cheers, >> Ronni >> P.S I don’t know what has happened to WAMUG mailing list as I’m not >> receiving any messages... even my replies to you regarding ‘MacBook failing >> or not?. >> The archives show my messages, so you can check there at this link >> https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> >> Ronni Brown’s iPad Pro 12.9-inch 256GB >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - Guidelines - >> Settings & Unsubscribe - >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Settings & Unsubscribe - >> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
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