[Gossamer]

I had a user call in about a problem with his MBP (17" CD, 2GB), and here's what I found. Upon attempting to start up, the optical drive makes the start-up sound, then a slight griding/wind-down sound, then just repeats over and over again until I hold the power button to turn it off. The power light on the display latch stays on, but nothing happens on the screen. This happens both battery and wall power. Any ideas?

[Gossamer]

Oh yeah, he mentioned there was some sort of update or something before he started up, he didn't know what it was.

[seanc]

Firmware update gone bad?

I think Apple have a recovery CD, try and find it, put it in and see if anything happens.

[Gossamer]

Could the EFI 1.2 firmware updater (from 11/13) have done this? I think that's the latest firmware update. I tried booting and just holding the power key, and the power light began blinking. Would that mean anything?

[seanc]

Could mean that the Mac went into programming mode.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by seanc 

Could mean that the Mac went into programming mode.

Well after I let off the power button it would only blink rapidly for a couple seconds, blink slowly for a couple more seconds, then go solid and it would try to boot again.

[CharlesS]

How many times did it blink?

[seanc]

Have a look at this. Apple - Support - Downloads - Firmware Restoration CD 1.2

[Gossamer]

I got that link from Apple's support boards too. I tried it, but nothing happened when I put the CD in, and it won't come back out now. It's weird because the ambient light sensors were still active (the power light would dim if I'd cover them) but absolutely nothing was happening. I arranged to have our on campus authorized techs look at it.