Chosen Solution
The subject is a 2006 Macbook that wasn’t used in over a year. Doesn’t respond in any way to the power button. Battery appears to charge correctly (and battery indicator on the back says the battery is charged). I first tried to reseat the ram and harddrive. I then removed the top and tried to jumpstart the machine using the power pads on the logic board. No noise or movement of the fan at all. At this point, I assume the logic board is dead. I’m not sure I’m willing to pay $200 for a new board for such an old computer. However. I’m wondering if the problem could just be the PRAM battery. Could a dead PRAM battery keep the computer from starting? Is there another possibility that I’ve overlooked?
It’s a bit of work but its worth the try. A fully dead PRAM battery can prevent your system from booting up. Here’s the IFIXIT guide to follow: MacBook Core Duo PRAM Battery Replacement
