My 2017 MacBook Air (A1466) had been working normally for nearly ten years. While it was powered on, I connected it to an older Samsung TV using a USB 2.0-to-HDMI adapter. The screen flickered briefly, worked for a few minutes, and then the laptop shut down completely. Now it shows no signs of booting: no fan noise, heat, or illuminated Apple logo. The MagSafe charger stays green, and after letting the battery drain slightly it turned orange and appeared to charge normally. I already tried an SMC reset and may try disconnecting and reseating the battery. Could connecting the TV or adapter have damaged the logic board, or might the Mac still be running with the display output routed somewhere else? I'm comfortable working on laptop hardware and would like to troubleshoot it before replacing it.
2 Answers
First, confirm whether the entire Mac shut down rather than only the built-in display. Sometimes a system continues running while sending video to the external screen, which can make it look dead. Since the Apple logo is no longer illuminated and you’ve confirmed it isn’t merely a display issue, that explanation seems less likely here. The adapter or TV could have caused an electrical fault, but it’s difficult to prove without testing the board and power rails.
At almost ten years old, the Mac has already had an unusually long and successful run. A normal MagSafe light only confirms that the charger is detecting and supplying power; it doesn’t prove that the logic board is able to start the computer. You can try disconnecting the battery, testing with only the charger connected, and inspecting the adapter, ports, and board for damage. If there’s still no fan spin or startup response, professional board-level diagnosis may cost more than the machine is worth, so replacement could be the practical option.
That makes sense. I’ll try the battery and hardware checks while I save for a replacement. It has served me well, so even if it’s finally finished, it was a good run.
I checked that first. It definitely isn’t just the display—the Apple logo is dark and the machine shows no other signs of life.