The Apple Macbook Pro would turn on, but the screen would not. The screen would stay black. I could tell the computer was on because when I hit the “caps lock” key, the green light on the key would turn on and off.
I fixed this the following way (this is basically resetting the Power Management Unit — PMU):
I disconnected the computer from the power cord, and from all other cables.
I held down the power button for several seconds to turn off the computer.
I let it sit 5 minutes.
I restarted the laptop while holding down the Shift key. This restarted the computer in Safe Mode, with the screen visible again.
After I logged in (in Safe Mode) to make sure everything was ok, I simply restarted the computer the normal way, and the screen behaved normally again.
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If that doesn’t work for you, you could try these steps, documented at apple.com:
Holding down Command, Option, P, and R to reset your PRAM and NVRAM
Thankyou!!! This worked!
Hi im having the same problem, but there is a diffrence since its a Macbook Laptop i cant move the screen up and down, when i put the screen up the the whole screen turns black but when i put the screen down the light go on.
What is the problem?
sorry i meant i can move the screen*
Thank you!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thx Beth,matter now rectified at Apple. Turns out it was a faulty short wire connection within, preventing system from going thru start up. Apple were 1st class.
Why did this work? I’m happy it did but am curious. Mere shift hold fixes a display issue? Cool!
man, I dont know how to thank you enough for this information…I spent sleepless nights trying to fix my mac display…. thanks
Hey guys,i had tha same issue of my mac pro black screen with no sound but the lid light on,spent sleepless nights,i even went ahead en changed my hard drive,but still wasnt successful…..but today i just woke up en googled en found this site…”Yukontg” my problem was same as yours…but wat i did was 1,cleaning/blowing tha motherboard
2,disconnected my hard drive then installed it back again.
3,inter-changed my rams.
4,Connected the power adapter en boot up tha mac laptop while pressing shift and power button at tha same tyme,it came on as usual with a blackscreen en i kept holding both keys until it restarted and tha screen came back on…
NB: i dont really know which of this steps did tha magic,but u could also try them…i had lost hope.
Hi, I have Macbook Pro. It turns on chimes and you can see a little light and a faint apple. Tried doing the shift power. Nothing. Tried C, O, P, R and my macbook justs will restart over and over. How long am i supposed to hold down for. Tried inverter didnt help.
Ty kim
My daughter is out of the country and has a problem with her macbook pro. This was purchased Oct 2012 model #A1278 and she discovered today that it is turning on but showing a black screen…we walked her thru all the suggestions posted her and it has not seemed to work….what else could you suggest for this model to avoid have to replace the entire display..UGGGGHH! Thanks so much!
Hi, had the same problem here.
After baking the video card fix on a macbook pro 3.1 2007.
So, I thought oh no not again! But actually this seems to relate really to some issues with the new mac os x mavericks. Maybe the recent update.
I was on a flight and without battery it quite felt like the video card did again get crippled. Now when i came back home, first i heard the startup sound again with power connected and nothing on the display. So there was hope, because that was really different to the overheated graphic card syndrome :-).
How I got it working again was by connecting a monitor to the DVI. I do not know though was that really it, because I also did start it in single mode by pressing shift S during start. But there was nothing on the screen either.
volume control in normal startup fine and normal hd activity.
I dont know what it was but after the DVI plugging it works now fine.
Before I had also a strange screen size that it chose from automatic screen size settings. Maybe it relates to that somehow. Because that is also fine now.
So, dont give up! Using macbook pro 3.1 on OSX mavericks is quite annoying it seems, because if you once deactivate your WLAN card your in deep trouble to get it on again, because it crashes. Then in safe mode you have to edit the wlan settings. Google it and you’ll find. I hope there will be bug fixes in the future.
And I would be tempted to say this OS has maybe not been as thoroughly tested as with the newer models, so simply dont give up as easily
Hi
Thanks, had the same issue with Mac booting up and Caps key showing on/off but black screen and did the “Command, Option, P, and R” keys to reset the PRAM and NVRAM and this worked fine for me and Mac is now up and running again.
Thanks
You’re awesome! Worked for me! Thank you!
I have what may or May not be a related issue. I run a MacBook Pro A1262 (unibody late ”08). It was running mavericks without issue. After not using it for a week I turned on and nothing. No chime, no screen activity. All I get is an attempt to use the cd drive and fan noise.
Related or a fried hard drive! Opinions?
My MacBook Pro starts up as far as a fan sound and the front light but no key board lights or screen so I’m not sure what to do any suggestions
Thanks alot.
Like Renoes, my battery went down during my flight and since then, my macbook pro was starting but screen stays black.
Just did the Cmd Opt P R thing and its working now. Saved me big time. I had a presentation I have to do tomorrow on it.
Thanks again.
THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! The holding Shift and power button at the same time worked!!!! 🙂
You are a lifesaver! I loaded the Mavericks update over the weekend and tried to turn on my computer today because I need to take several depositions out of town next week and …. black screen of doom. Thought I was going to have to spend tomorrow trying to find a new computer. Thanks!
I had the same problem too. I fixed it through Disk Utility. Run the ‘Verify Disk’, and after ‘Repair Disk’.
Of course I had to connect to an other monitor, to see the screen.
I hope I could help to someone.
Cheers,
home screen/ password won’t load …. the “Command, Option, P, and R” keys to reset the PRAM and NVRAM did not work…. screen lit up, apple shows, spinner too and bar “filled up, then bar left and spinner just kept spinning. what now?
Thanks for the advice, i got my macbook working again!
thank you thank you thank you
life saver, option, command, P and R worked a treat
Hi,
One day I connected the DVI to the TV, next day I turned on the computer and had the black screen of doom.
I have Mavericks installed on a late 2011 15 inches MacBook Pro, instead of looking for answers in the forums I made an appointment to the apple store Genius Bar, this was the diagnosis:
Data transfer: not required
Issue: Customer reports computer will not boot
Steps to reproduce: Observed extremely dim apple logo which flashes off, no post chime, however internal fans spin
Proposed resolution: Send to repair facility to replace all necessary components
Cosmetic condition: Colorful keycap covers and clamshell totoro sticker, scratches on bottom case and clamshell
Estimated Turn Around Time: We’ll call you in 3 – 5 days
Mac OS version: Unknown
Hard Drive Size: unkno
Memory size: unkno
iLife Version: unkno
Employe: ——–
Repair Estimate
Flat rate repair charge, pbg4/mbp15″ $210
Labor charge, Pbg4/mbp15″. $100
Total (Tax not included). $310
One coworker told us that it was a mistake to take the computer to the Apple store, that most likely we will be ripped off. I called apple store to cancel my repair order, fortunately I was on time before it was sent to the repair depot.
I got it back, and then browsed online for similar problems of other users, fortunately I found this post, I tried the solution “Command – Option – P – R” after starting the computer to reset the NVRAM and PRAM, and it worked!
The solution took no more than 5 minutes, I tried it 2 times I think, and my computer started working again, I heard the sound at the start and the screen was bright again. No data lost, memory and hd in perfect conditions.
So the Genius Bar diagnosis was wrong, and the community is right.
Restarting in Safe Mode worked for me!!!
Thank you very much for the tip.
Does this work more than once a day? I really need to know quickly so I can get it back running again.
hi guys,
im new to apple computer, recently bought used macbook pro 15, model a1226. it worked fine for few days and i loved it. now, after couple of days, im turning it on but screen is black, no light in back apple logo either.
everything was grand until i bought this carbon fibre casing for it online and put it on. since then it is turning on startup sound, caps lock light on.off. but screen is black.
i tried all the option guys mentioned in the post, c.o.r.p, shiftPOWER but no use.
being a student i can not afford to pay apple repair charges.
any help be appreciated.
thanks