My MacBook almost melted

[TWLreal]

At 4 PM, I turn the MacBook off via the keyboard shortcut, I make sure it's off like I always do before I close the lid. It's closed, no white light on, good.

At 6:30 PM just 15 minutes ago, I take it out of my bag and notice it's burning hot and then I hear the fans, they're just screaming. My bag is warm, the stuff I had inside with the notebook are incredibly hot to the touch and I feared for the worst for my MacBook. Not because I like it but because I need it this week.

I open the lid while it's on my lap, I can feel how hot it is but I can't turn it on. Then I just disconnect the battery and the fans stop dead.

I booted it right now, without the battery, it's cooling on my desk connected to the wall. There doesn't seem to be any damage to it. Audio and video works, my files are still there. I thought the heat would damage the screen but it's fine so far.

Should I reset the PMU?

 

[paeza]

At 4 PM, I turn the MacBook off via the keyboard shortcut, I make sure it's off like I always do before I close the lid. It's closed, no white light on, good.

At 6:30 PM just 15 minutes ago, I take it out of my bag and notice it's burning hot and then I hear the fans, they're just screaming. My bag is warm, the stuff I had inside with the notebook are incredibly hot to the touch and I feared for the worst for my MacBook. Not because I like it but because I need it this week.

I open the lid while it's on my lap, I can feel how hot it is but I can't turn it on. Then I just disconnect the battery and the fans stop dead.

I booted it right now, without the battery, it's cooling on my desk connected to the wall. There doesn't seem to be any damage to it. Audio and video works, my files are still there. I thought the heat would damage the screen but it's fine so far.

Should I reset the PMU?

Is that CD or C2D

 

[TWLreal]

Core Duo, I had it since July.

I can smell the plastic.

 

[imacintel]

This is not normal. MacBooks get hot, but not his hot. But CoreDuoTemp on it and if it happens again, make sure you take it into AppleCare.

 

[WildCowboy]

This is not normal. MacBooks get hot, but not his hot. But CoreDuoTemp on it and if it happens again, make sure you take it into AppleCare.

They get that hot when they're running insider a closed bag with no way to ventilate.

I've seen a number of other threads on this around here, so it does seem to be a worrisome trend, but I haven't paid close enough attention to retain the details of the aftermath of these incidents.

 

[TWLreal]

If it were sleeping inside my bag, sure.

But I closed the damn thing and it decided to turn on by itself or something triggered the fans.

I am absolutely positive it was off before I closed the lid.

Again, should I reset the PMU or SMC as Apple calls it now.

 

[the Western zoo]

yeah I have a friend who has had this problem too - so if any of you know a solution I would be very interested to hear about it as well... haven't happened to me yet tough...

edit: I'm the one who recommended the MacBook to him, so I feel kind of responsible for his laptop as well as my own... anywho it only happened to him once and he didn't do anything actively to get to go away....

 

[mmmcheese]

My iBook did this once...

When I opened the lid, it was locked up and I had to force reboot it. It's still going strong and my sister has it now.

Only time will tell if there's any damage I suppose. If it didn't shut itself off as a protective measure (thermal panic), then it'll probably be fine.

 

[trogdor!]

I had this happen to a dell laptop of mine. It got so hot it overheated and wouldnt even turn on. I had to wait till it cooled down before I could even use it again.