This has happened to me on 2 different systems (Macbook and Windows desktop PC), and I couldn’t find any useful information online. Maybe this will help someone avoid the trial-and-error testing I had to do.

Symptoms

Computer doesn’t boot, doesn’t even get to BIOS screen. No error indications. On Macbook, none of the startup key combinations did anything.

Cause

Disc in CD/DVD drive… seriously. Was a written DVD in the Macbook, and a music CD on the PC.

Haven’t got a clue why these particular discs in these particular computers caused them to seemingly freeze during the boot process, have never seen the issue before.

Resolution

Remove the discs, problem solved. This was not quite so simple a process with the Macbook however.

Macbooks don’t have the ‘paperclip manual ejection hole’ thingy that seems to be standard on every other CD drive. Possibly this was left out as it ruined the sleek design of the Macbook :rolleyes:

However, when the case over the DVD drive flexes it touches the spinning disc and you can hear the disc rubbing (you usually notice this if you pick up the Macbook while it is accessing a disc). If you squeeze hard enough the disc stops spinning, the Macbook automatically ejects it out and the boot process continues.

Hooray!