[c-oNo-r]

I was watching a DVD on my macbook last night and decided to change rooms. So as I would usually do, I closed the lid of my macbook and moved. I connected the macbook to the power supply and opened it up again, it seemed to be stuck in sleep (common problem, solved usually by pressing space bar) but nothing happened.
Then the computer seemed to shut itself down, with out me touching the power button. It started back up by itself as well, or seemed to. But the screen didn't light up and the hard drive didn't spin up, just the fan powered on. I turned it off again (holding the power button down for 5 secs) and turned it back on again, same thing happened, fan would start up but no hard drive spinning up or screen lighting up. But a new thing happened, it seems now when I start it up, it will start up and stay seemingly dead for 10secs then turn its self off and then back on again to sit the same way then constantly.
I have went through the steps on apples support pages for troubleshooting a macbook that won't turn on (Troubleshooting a MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro that won't turn on) and tried resetting the PRAM and SMC but neither has worked.
I have also taken out the RAM and cleaned it of the white gunk that had started to build up on the contact points, still didn't help.
It's also not a Hard drive problem as I have taken the hard drive out and connected it to my other mac through a USB controller and backed up all my data, just in case. Although i doubt that's what causing it, if it works perfectly.
I have a gut feeling that it's the logic board that has simply stoped working, which means an expensive repair.

Does anyone have any suggestions to get my macbook working again? I'm quite frustrated :(
Sorry if this is long. This is my first post, and I guess it's better to be descriptive with everything.
Thanks

[Spheric Harlot]

The "white gunk" didn't start building up, it's left from assembly.

Your logic board is probably dead, I concur.

Have you tried re-applying the firmware?
Apple Support document on restoring Intel Macs' firmware

[c-oNo-r]

Oh, I had read that the stuff starts to build up and blocks the contact pins sometimes, wasn't aware that it's left there.
Yeah I think that's the case too, thanks anyway.

[c-oNo-r]

I will look into re-applying the firmware, though the DVD that I was watching, is still stuck inside the machine. Any possible way I have read about getting a stuck CD/DVD out hasn't not worked, and I don't know how I would go about manually doing it. Any ideas? and thanks again

[seanc]

I'm not sure of how the sleep switch assembly in these MacBooks work, but you could try unplugging it. The fact that it was getting stuck in sleep might suggest that it's defective.

[c-oNo-r]

Originally Posted by seanc 

I'm not sure of how the sleep switch assembly in these MacBooks work, but you could try unplugging it. The fact that it was getting stuck in sleep might suggest that it's defective.

I think you mean the SMC? (Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC))
I've tried that, and it doesn't seem to do anything. Machine still doesn't start up properly after.
Thanks for the suggestion.

[seanc]

No, I meant the reed/sleep switch assembly.

The sleep mechanism used to be triggered by a reed switch and a magnet in the lid.

[c-oNo-r]

Ahh, I understand now. That actually sounds quite possible that it could be damaged, as you said, I was having problems.
I'll look into were abouts it's placed in the macbook.
Should I attempt to unplug it myself? or leave it into an Apple store?
From what I've heard they just like to tell you the logic boards done and charge you £650 to replace it. What i'm asking is would it be a hard job or easy?
Thanks again.

[seanc]

It would be fiddly, I've had mine apart. The connectors are all small.
I can't find any reference to it in the ifixit guides, Doc HM may know though.

[c-oNo-r]

Hmm, i'd be willing to try it. Thanks for looking through ifixit, I did as well just there and think I have found the sleep sensor guide, correct me if i'm wrong, I've no idea what it would look like.
MacBook Battery Connector/Sleep Sensor (Energy Star) (922-8275, 922-8276, 922-8244) - iFixit
If that is what you're describing, I take it out (obviously with the battery out) and plug in the mag safe connector and see if the computer starts normally then?
Thanks, Conor.

[seanc]

Ah of course!
I have a spare one of these... somewhere.

Try unplugging it and see what happens, be very gentle with everything!!

[c-oNo-r]

Finally something promising after a day of nothing but dead ends.
I'll be extremely gentle
Although in the guide it talks about a spudger? I definitely don't have one, do you know of anything I could use an alternative?
I'll let you know how this goes hopefully within 30 minutes
Thanks for all your help so far

[seanc]

Spudger is a piece of plastic you can use to pry things apart.
Screwdrivers tend to leave marks.

Take your time! Don't do what I did and break the ribbon connecting the top case to the logic board!

[c-oNo-r]

Ahh okay, i'm sure i'll find something to help gently prise the connector free.
Jeez that doesn't sound like too much fun, i'll watch out not to make that mistake.
I'm just starting now, i'll let you know when i'm done.
Thanks