MBP 1,1-10,2 2007 (non unibody) MacBook Pro won't boot?

[unclemiltie]

this is an old system that I gave to my dad to use as a browser and to do his mail. Worked fine and then he said it won't boot.

When I power it on I get the bong and then a white screen and nothing.

If I make a USB installer for MacOSX El Capitan and put it in and hold the option key I get the boot picker. The keyboard works as does the trackpad/pointer. But the boot picker doesn't have the internal HDD just the USB stick. But if I try to select (either with the trackpad or the keyboard) the system just hangs.

I tried re-seating the memory, that didn't do the trick.

Suggestions?
or do I need to give one of my other old pieces of hardware to my dad so he can read his mail?

 

[unclemiltie]

BTW, I've taken this model unit apart a number of times. I used to have a bunch of them and had the main boards out for the GPU replacement years ago (1 under warranty, 1 not) so if I need to tear it apart to take a look I can do that.

 

[TheShortTimer]

If I make a USB installer for MacOSX El Capitan and put it in and hold the option key I get the boot picker. The keyboard works as does the trackpad/pointer. But the boot picker doesn't have the internal HDD just the USB stick. But if I try to select (either with the trackpad or the keyboard) the system just hangs.

Are you able to check that the internal HDD actually still works? It could've failed. Also I'd reset the SMC and NVRAM too.

 

[unclemiltie]

I can take it out for sure, but why wouldn't it boot the USB stick

I did reset the PRAM and SMC, bu twill give that another go just in case. I'll take the disk out and put it in a USB enclosure to see if it's sstill good. If that's it, I have a few others lying around that I can use

 

[TheShortTimer]

I can take it out for sure, but why wouldn't it boot the USB stick

My iMac G3 had a kaput HDD and it prevented the USB installer from proceeding.

I did reset the PRAM and SMC, bu twill give that another go just in case. I'll take the disk out and put it in a USB enclosure to see if it's sstill good. If that's it, I have a few others lying around that I can use

Yeah, I'd definitely check the HDD first and make sure that it's ok and doesn't have bad sectors etc.

 

[unclemiltie]

Well, well, well

It actually was the HDD (actually a SATA SSD) that failed. I put a SATA hard disk in it and am in the process of re-installing el Capitan

The old box lives to see another day I guess. But it'll be really slow now since the SSD made a huge difference

 

[TheShortTimer]

Well, well, well

It actually was the HDD (actually a SATA SSD) that failed.

Always check the drive first when a computer won't boot.

I put a SATA hard disk in it and am in the process of re-installing el Capitan

The old box lives to see another day I guess. But it'll be really slow now since the SSD made a huge difference

Excellent news that it's running again. You might want to mark the thread as resolved.