Apple macbook pro 17 inch mid 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...

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...

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...

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....

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...