Are you having the problem of your Mac not starting up? This is a problem with many older Mac models. The reason why a Mac does not restart or start up is often difficult to determine because no information is displayed on the screen about why a Mac does not start up.
However, there are some tips you can try to ensure that your Mac still works start up. You can read these 8 tips in this article.
These are tips that anyone can apply, regardless of computer knowledge.
Mac won't boot
Connect Mac to power
Is your Mac connected to the power grid? Sometimes a Mac needs more power than the Mac has available to continue booting. Connecting the Mac computer to the power grid can ensure that the Mac restarts.
Although it seems obvious, it is something that many people overlook. A steady power supply is sometimes all it takes to get your Mac booting up. If the Mac still won't boot, let the battery then charge for a few minutes and then try to restart.
Swap power cables
If your Mac has lost power, the problem may not be with the battery but with the power cable. Try a spare cable if you have one lying around. If your cable uses the optional length extender, remove that section and connect the Mac.
The goal is to limit the number of possible shorts or breaks in the power cord.
You should also remove any peripherals such as printers or USB connections when you start up your Mac. Sometimes peripherals can cause an error that prevents macOS from restarting or even prevents the Mac from booting at all.
Power cycle
If your Mac has power but won't boot up (or can't get past the Apple logo), then try the power cycles. To do this, unplug the power cable and press and hold the power button for at least ten seconds. If your Mac is an iMac, unplug it from the power source for at least ten seconds.
This process clears any remaining memory in RAM and allows you to perform a boot. After ten seconds, restart your Mac computer by pressing the power button. A power cycle is one of the easiest troubleshooting steps.
Safe mode
You can also try safe mode in macOS by pressing the power button and then holding down the SHIFT key until it Applelogo appears and the login screen is displayed. Log into your Mac and you should see the text Secure Boot at the top right.
Apple diagnostics
If your Mac still won't boot after these first steps, turn on the built-in diagnostics. Press the power button and then press and hold the D key. Hold these keys until a screen asks you to select your language.
The diagnostic program will then perform a check on your Mac. You will also see the serial number and the version of the diagnostic program installed. This process takes several minutes. After the minutes have passed, you will see a solution or a reference code. You can use this reference code to find more information about the problem or to report the problem to Apple Support Netherlands.
Recovery options
All Macs have a built-in recovery partition that provides access to tools that can fix a wide variety of problems. This partition can boot independently of the rest of the machine, so even if malware or something else takes over most of the Hard Drive unusable, recovery mode can help.
Press the Power button, then hold down Command + R. Wait until it Apple logo appears on the screen and then release the keys. The machine will continue to boot until a “Recovery” menu appears.
This menu gives you the option to restore one time Machine backup, reinstall macOS, find help online, or use Disk Utility.
The first step should be to use the Disk Utility to restore your Hard Drive to scan. Right-click on the drive and choose Run First Aid. This automatically scans for possible problems and fixes anything it finds.
If this doesn't work, you can also try Internet Recovery Mode, which you can enter by holding down the Option + Command + R keys right after pressing the Power button.
If all else fails, you can use this menu to restore your Mac to a previous version from a Time Machine backup.
Reset SMC
The SMC, or System Management Controller, controls many of your Mac's functions, including the ability to wake up when you open the screen. Resetting the SMC is a tool that can correct a number of different problems. There are different ways to do this depending on the type of Mac you have.
If you have a desktop Mac such as an iMac, unplug it and wait 15 seconds. Then plug it back in and wait another five seconds, then restart your Mac. This simple process will reset the SMC.
If you have a Macbook Pro, you will need to press a series of keys at the same time. First, hold down the right Shift key, then the left Option (Alt) key, and then the left Control key for about seven seconds. While holding down these keys, continue pressing the power button.
Once you have done this, release the keys and restart the computer.
For other types of Macbooks, press and hold the left Shift, Control, and Option keys and the power button for about ten seconds. After releasing the keys, restart your Mac.
Read more about the SMC reset here.
Reinstall macOS
If nothing helps at all, you can reinstall macOS via the recovery options as described earlier. The second option in the recovery options is to reinstall macOS. Of course, this only works if you have already reached the recovery options.
However, if your data is corrupt, you may lose access to it anyway. The best option is to perform routine backups via Time Machine to ensure your data is protected no matter the situation.
If it no longer works, please contact Apple Support Netherlands and ask Apple Support to an expert who can help you with the problem.
I hope this helped you. Thank you for reading!