Apple macbook pro 17 inch early 2009 User Manual

							MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) Symptom Charts 31 2010-06-11
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Isolate peripherals as cause. 
Disconnect all peripherals and 
external devices and verify unit 
starts.
YesSuspect peripherals as cause. 
Reconnect each one at a time, 
verifying unit operation as 
external device is reinstalled.
NoGo to step 2
2.  Reset SMC, and verify unit 
starts.  (Alternative hardware 
SMC reset can be forced by 
shorting R5001 pads on logic 
board or removing all system 
power for 1 minute.)  Can 
system start up after SMC 
reset?
YesCorrupt SMC state preventing 
power on.  Issue resolved with 
SMC reset.
NoGo to step 3
3. Will system power up with 
battery only?  Check battery 
level LED indicator for status 
of battery charge or battery 
use error.   Inspect battery 
connector for burn marks or 
damaged pins if substituting a 
known-good battery to verify 
starting on battery. 
YesSystem can start up from 
known-good battery -- 
customer battery possibly at 
fault or needs to be charged.  
Continue to verify customer 
battery then AC adapter use 
and battery charging. Go to 
step 4. 
P11
NoSystem will not power using 
known-good battery only. Go 
to step 5
4.  Customer battery may be run 
down, or not recognized. 
Verify customer battery in 
a known-good system is 
recognized and accepting a 
charge.   Confirm customer 
battery is not consumed nor 
defective.
YesBattery is recognized, 
charging and health is good.  
Return to test unit with 
customer battery and AC 
adapter power. Go to step 6.  
NoReplace customer battery 
for not charging (P10) or not 
recognized (P11).  Customer 
to purchase a replacement 
battery if consumed.
P10     
or      
P11
5. Inspect battery cable 
connection at logic board and 
reseat if necessary.  Replace 
cable if found damage or 
burned.  Can the system power 
on from a charged battery with 
battery cable inspections or 
replacement?
YesBattery power restored, return 
to test unit with customer 
battery and AC adapter 
power.    Go to step 6. 
NoLogic board is expected to 
power on with battery only.  
Inspect and test power on 
key.  Go to step 10.  
						

							MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 32 2010-06-11
6. Inspect MagSafe power 
adapter.  Verify AC adapter is 
correct wattage, compatible 
with product and works on 
known-good computer.  
YesPower adapter is good, go to 
step 7
NoRelease stuck pin or replace 
adapter due to wire damage, 
not working or burned pins
P14
7. Inspect MagSafe port on 
computer for physical damage, 
debris or metal fragments 
attracted to magnetic 
connector. Is MagSafe 
connector clean and free from 
defects? 
YesGo to step 8
NoClean port assembly. Replace 
MagSafe board if necessary.
X03
8.  Verify adapter status LED 
turns on green then orange 
indicating power and battery 
charge in progress.              
A green LED can indicate a full 
battery, removal of battery or 
battery not recognized. 
YesSystem starts and has power.  
MagSafe LED indicates power 
is flowing to logic board.   
Verify customer battery will 
also charge.  Review battery 
health to ensure customer 
satisfaction. 
 
 
 
P11
NoAC power is down or battery 
is not charging.  Go to step 9
9. Verify power from adapter is  
present on logic board.  
Remove system battery, use 
AC power only.  Reseat or test 
known-good MagSafe cable to 
achieve power for logic board. 
  
YesLogic board has power 
adapter energy to start 
system.  MagSafe cable reseat 
or replacement resolved issue.  
If still no system power on 
indications, go to step 10
X03
NoAC adapter power not going 
to logic board power supplies.  
Replace logic board.  
 
M21
10.  Test and inspect Top Case 
Power Button. 
Stuck or open power on key or 
keyboard disconnect can 
disable the power on of 
system. If button does not 
work, locate pads R5015 on 
logic board just to right of IR/
sleep cable. Short pads to 
power up logic board.  If power 
on key is stuck, keyboard cable 
must be disconnected for 
R5015 to work.  Does system 
power on?  (Reconnect 
keyboard cable to confirm bad 
or intermittent connections.)
YesPower on key works fine, issue 
resolved. 
Power on key works when 
keyboard cable is reseated. 
Power on key appears to 
be stuck, had to remove 
keyboard cable to power on.  
Replace top case for stuck 
power on key
K05
NoNo logic board power on 
when shorting R5015 pads.  
Replace logic board.
M01  
						

							MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 33 2010-06-11
Won’t Start Up
Unlikely cause:  display assembly, speakers, fan, camera, microphone 
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Power but No start up
• No startup chime, some video 
activity, Apple logo, startup 
spin dial
• Startup chime with possible 
beep tones.
• Fan, hard drive spin or optical 
drive reset sound 
• Sleep LED is on , blinking or 
went out
• Caps Lock LED toggles when 
pressed
1. Reset SMC.
2.  Verify startup process passes initial memory 
checks – no beep errors or flashing sleep LED 
indicators. Display activity is starting up. 
3. Clear PRAM. Verify starts up from user drive.
4.  Connect known-good external bootable device 
and press Alt key during startup then select 
external startup device to bring up system for 
diagnostics.
5. Verify presence and status of user hard drive. Use 
Disk Utility to repair drive and file permissions.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Reset SMC and Clear PRAM to 
set default startup device to 
internal hard disk drive (HDD).
YesUser hard drive bootable, 
issue resolved default 
settings.
NoCustomer system not starting 
up, go to step 2
2.  Is system indicating a memory 
error with repeated sleep LED 
1 or 3 flash sequence and beep 
tones if sound is enabled?
YesTroubleshoot memory issues, 
go to step 3
NoContinue with startup 
sequence verification go to 
step 4   
						

							MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 34 2010-06-11
3. Reseat customer memory 
and/or swap in known-
good memory to isolate bad 
memory and replace defective 
parts.    
YesCustomer memory defective 
and replaced. Continue to 
verify startup process.  Go to 
step 4
X02
NoShould known-good memory 
fail in one or more slots, 
replace logic board.
M07
4.  Hold the Alt (Option) key 
during startup and verify there 
is a bootable hard drive shown 
in Startup Manager.  Choose 
customer hard drive.  Does 
start up from this drive work?
YesSystem starting up from 
customer hard drive. Startup 
issue resolved 
NoCustomer hard drive not 
present or does not start up 
from this drive. Continue to 
find bootable device.  Go to 
step 5
5. Insert product OS install disc 
in optical drive. Install disc 
is bootable and should be 
present in Startup Manager.   
Can system start up from OS 
install disc?
YesStarts up from optical drive - 
customer hard drive not yet 
bootable, go to step 8
NoComputer has no internal 
bootable devices.  Test 
external startup devices, go 
to step 6
6.  Boot from a known-good 
bootable copy of product OS 
on a USB drive or network 
server to start up and verify 
internal mass storage devices 
are available using System 
Profiler and Disk Utility.  
YesSystem started up from 
external device and reports 
data regarding internal SATA 
devices. Go to step 7
NoNo startup devices available. 
Replace logic board 
M02
7. Troubleshoot optical drive 
and optical drive cable with 
cable reseat and known-
good part substitutions.  Is 
there a defective optical drive 
component to replace? 
YesCable reseat solved issue. 
Continue to verify hard drive 
issues, go to step 8 
Defective optical drive cable 
found and replaced.  Continue 
to verify hard drive issues, go 
to step 8 
X03
Defective optical drive found 
and replaced. Continue to 
verify hard drive issues, go to 
step 8 
J03
NoReplace logic boardM19  
						

							MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 35 2010-06-11
8. Use Disk Utility loaded from 
OS install disc to verify if hard 
drive is available on device list.  
Is customer hard drive listed in 
Disk Utility?
YesCustomer hard drive available 
for inspections and repair.  Go 
to step 10. 
NoHard drive not present, 
troubleshoot hard drive and 
cable. Go to step 9.
9. Troubleshoot hard drive and 
hard drive SATA cable with 
cable reseat and known-good 
part substitutions. If customer 
hard drive, is there a defective 
hard drive component to 
replace? 
YesReseat of SATA cable now has 
customer hard drive visible in 
Disk Utility, go to step 10
Defective hard drive SATA 
cable found and replaced, 
now has customer hard drive 
visible in Disk Utility, go to 
step 10
X03
Suspect customer hard drive 
defective, attempt OS restore, 
go to step 10
NoKnown-good hard drive and 
known-good hard drive SATA 
cable used, still no hard drive 
present. Replace logic board
M19
10.  Boot system with Shift key 
down. Does it work?
YesGo to software 
troubleshooting article
NoGo to step 11
11. Use Disk Utility to repair 
customer hard drive  and 
repair permissions if system OS 
found on hard drive.  Is hard 
drive bootable after software 
repairs?
YesOS on customer hard drive 
repaired, issue resolved. 
NoHard drive not bootable, 
perhaps missing OS, go to 
step 12
12.  Use Disk Utility to partition 
customer hard drive with one 
GUID partition then restore 
Mac OS from product OS install 
disc.  Is hard drive bootable 
after OS install?
YesCustomer hard drive now 
starts up from new OS image, 
issue resolved 
NoReplace hard drive.H02  
						

							MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 36 2010-06-11
Intermittent Shutdown
Unlikely cause:  hard drive, optical drive
Troubleshooting Shutdown Issues
Before troubleshooting shutdown issues, always do the following:
• Run the available Apple diagnostics to check for cause of previous shutdown(s). Running 
ASD also helps isolate any abnormal value reading from a thermal, voltage, or current 
sensor or from a fan speed meter.
• Collect all available information from the user on shutdown details: periodicity, power state 
when issue happens, running applications, running time before shutdown.
User-related shutdowns
A computer shutdown may be caused by user operation. Shutting down the computer (by 
selecting the Shut Down menu, by pressing the power button for at least 4 seconds, or by 
programming a timed shutdown in the Energy Saver preferences) should not be considered as 
a failure unless the power button or the magnetic sleep sensors are found to be defective.
Suggested steps for troubleshooting:
• Reset SMC.
• Check Energy Saver preferences settings.
• Test top case button and magnetic sleep sensor operation and secure connection to logic 
board.
Activity-related system shutdowns
These shutdowns are linked to system settings, devices drivers, applications, or operating 
system freezes.
• System could not finish the standard shutdown process and had to force shutdown.
• An installed watchdog detected that an application did not respond within the specified 
time. ( This watchdog can be enabled in Mac OS X Server Energy Saver preferences.)
Suggested steps for troubleshooting:
• Check the system logs and activity monitor utility for clues on the freezing process.
• Check for available software and firmware updates for installed device drivers, applications, 
or operating system.
• Start the system from a known-good and up-to-date bootable drive for issue reproduction. 
Power-related system shutdowns
These shutdowns are due to power management, poor connections or defective power 
sources.
• External or battery power source was removed.
• Battery went empty while computer was on.
• Battery went empty while computer was asleep.  
						

							MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 37 2010-06-11
Suggested steps for troubleshooting:
• Reset SMC.
• Check that AC cable, AC adapter and battery connections are secure to logic board.
• Verify battery and power adapter sources using the Battery and Adapter test utility.
Hardware-related system shutdown
These shutdowns are due to temperature, voltage, current, fan speed or other hardware-related 
sensor values going out of range.
• One of the temperature sensors reached a specified temperature limit.
• One of the voltage sensors reached a specified voltage limit.
• One of the current sensors reached a specified current limit.
Suggested steps for troubleshooting:
• Check all sensors connections and values using Apple Service Diagnostics and other 
available Apple Service utilities.
• Confirm correct Apple-branded battery and power adapter are installed.
• Check for abnormal battery temperature.
• Check fan(s) operation.
• Confirm cleanliness of heatsink fins and air flows.
• Confirm heatsink is correctly seated on logic board and thermal material is present.
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Intermittent shutdown
• Powers off during startup
• Powers off with desktop use
1. Collect details from customer on shutdown 
occurrence  and system configuration when it 
happens (on battery, when running for a while, 
frequency of shutdowns, running applications, 
shutdown repeatability). If shutdown can be easily 
reproduced, check next steps:
2.  Verify battery charge status
3. Check AC adapter MagSafe connector and 
connection with system 
4.  Reset SMC and PRAM
5. Start up with shift key down for safe mode
6.  Startup from known-good bootable device
7. Run ASD for sensors + thermal tests   
						

							MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 38 2010-06-11
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Activity related shutdowns: 
Reset SMC and PRAM and 
verify that shutdown issue still 
happens.
YesCheck with known-good 
bootable drive: go to step 2
NoShutdown cause was related 
to SMC or Pram programmed 
shutdown settings or 
corruption, and was resolved 
by reverting them to default 
settings.
2.  Booting from known-good 
bootable drive , verify that 
shutdown issue still happens.
YesGo to Power related 
shutdowns on step 3
No Shutdown events do not 
happen on known-good OS.  
Reinstall Mac OS on customer 
hard drive,  update OS with 
latest version and check if any 
firmware update is available.
3. Power related shutdowns : 
verify that shutdown issue 
can ONLY be reproduced with 
user’s battery and AC adapter. 
YesIntermittent power issue 
means checking user’s 
AC cable for intermittent 
connection, checking user’s 
battery and AC adapter 
health,
No Issue also happens with 
known-good battery and AC 
adapter. Go to step 4 
4.  Reset SMC and PRAM, then 
verify if shutdown symptoms  
does not happen anymore.
YesShutdown cause was related 
to SMC or Pram settings or 
corruption, and was resolved 
by reverting them to default 
settings.
NoShutdown event still occurs. 
Go to step 5.  
						

							MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 39 2010-06-11
5. Check system running on  
battery only.  Use known-good 
charged battery.  
Verify if shutdown/reset/sleep 
issues disappear when known-
good battery is used without 
AC adapter.
YesRecharge customer battery 
and retest. Check for 
customer battery health 
in Apple System Profiler or 
run Battery & Adapter Test 
utility, and replace battery if 
its health is reported bad or 
consumed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
P09
NoSymptoms unchanged - Go 
to step 6 
6.  Check with known-good AC 
adapter source only 
Remove battery and use 
known-good AC adapter. 
Verify if the shutdown/reset/
sleep issues disappear with 
known-good adapter.
YesFaulty user’s AC adapter. 
Replace user’s AC adapter if 
AC cable and duckhead were 
confirmed good.
P14
NoSymptoms unchanged - Go to 
Hardware-related shutdowns 
on step 7
7. Hardware-related shutdowns: 
Run ASD or other latest 
available service utility and 
verify if a sensor failure is 
reported.
Yes-If a temperature or a fan 
sensor failure is reported, go 
to step 8  
 
-If a voltage or a current 
sensor failure is reported 
in ASD w/known good AC 
adapter and batteries, replace 
logic board. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
M23
NoSetup ASD to loop test suite 
for burn in tests and go to  
step 7. if no failure is found 
after burn in tests, return unit 
to customer for no failure 
found.  
						

							MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Startup and Power Issues 40 2010-06-11
8. Verify if a thermal sensor or fan 
failure is reported in ASD or 
other available service utility.
Yes-If fan not running failure, 
check for fan cable seating 
and retest. If same failure 
after retest replace fan with 
known-good fan and retest. 
If issue does not happen with 
known-good fan, replace 
user’s fan. 
 
-If an over temp failure 
reported, check for cause of 
over temp, like obstructed 
vent, dust in heatsink fin, 
clogged fan and retest. If still 
failing replace part where 
sensor is located (logic 
board, battery, or trackpad) 
according to the sensor 
location table . Go to step 9
 
 
 
X22
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
M23 
P17 
K99
NoReplace Thermal module 
Go to step 9
X10
9. Isolate if issue solved 
Verify if shutdown/issue does 
not happen anymore after part 
exchange.
YesIssue fixed
NoReplace logic board with 
corresponding symptom: 
-if for thermal error cause 
-if for other cause
 
 
M18
M08
No Video/Bad Video
Unlikely cause: hard drive, optical drive, top case, battery, power adapter
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Power, but No Video
• Power
• No video
• fan, hard drive spin, or optical 
drive reset sound
• sleep LED is on or went on
• light if Caps Lock pressed
1. Reset SMC. 
2.  Reset PRAM.
3. If no startup chime, verify with known-good 
memory.
4.  Verify with external monitor.
5. Press Alt key on startup..