Random Shut Down of MacBook

[ncook06]

Like the title says, my MacBook has developed a tendency to lose power. It has done this 4 times, twice with power adapter plugged in, twice without. Battery has been anywhere between 43% and 82% full. I have tried repairing permissions and resetting power management.

Every time, I have been using my Airport - one streaming video, one loading new page, one loading the HD Talladega Nights trailer, one while printing. Three times, when I try to turn the computer back on, it will begin, making the gong-ish sound for a split-second, then shutting off.

To fix it in this case, I must hold the power button down for about 5 seconds (battery in). It will start squealing, then the LED will flash very fast. I release the power button, and turn it on as normal.

I figure it's either something really small (run a quick fix), or really big (replace computer).


HELP!!!!!

 

[Xander562]

this is quite a common occurrence throughout the intel Laptop Product line. it's the Battery, you have a faulty one, try calling applecare. Apple has started a recal on Macbook PRO batteries but not macbook. Call applecare/ go to an Apple Store, they should replace it.

 

[witness]

I'm waiting for a replacement for my MacBook, but it's on 3 weeks back order

I guess that I'll just have to keep it tethered to a mains socket for a few weeks

 

[Donz0r]

The first response is wrong. The battery problem was with the Macbook Pros. The Macbook Random Shutdown problem has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BATTERY. There are many threads in the Apple Discussions and a couple in these discussions also. Just search "Random Shutdown".

Most people are finding that the problem is a faulty Logic Board. Take it to an apple store or call Apple care. My macbook is being repaired right now (i'm typing this on a pc <eww> ) because of the random shutdowns. The EXACT same thing that's happening to you is happening to many MANY macbook owners. Completely RAndom shutdowns, then it won't turn back on after many tries. Some people have gotten new macbooks, most have gotten logic board replacements, some have gotten nothing. (apple tests the macbook and it never shuts down for them since it's completely random so they just give it back to you)

It depends on what kind of person you get at the Genius Bar when you go to the Apple STore. Although Apple has not officially acknowledged the problem, most people know it's going on. I just said mine was randomly shutting down and the "Genius" knew immediately what I was talking about so he sent it in to get the logic board replaced.

Contact Apple Care. (It's not the battery, apple isn't sure what's causing it so they're just replacing the Logic Boards, unfortunately people that have had their logic boards replaced have reported the shutdowns to continue.)

Look at the Super Long thread about this exact problem in Apple Support Discussions.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2761238&#2761238

 

[JRM PowerPod]

I just handed my BLKMAC to get repaired for the same thing. It started two days ago and got worse and worse until today where it took about 10 turns of pressing the power switch before it got past the chime. So called up Apple they sent me to the repair guy.

I turn up tell him the problem as i'm trying to get it to randomly shut down i managed to open every program on my 2 month old MacBook and it didnt want to die. I guess that's where the random bit comes into play. As i'm about to leave another guy walks in with his BLKMAC with another problem then a guy walks in about 30 secs later with a laptop bag, said to him 'mate you got a BLKMAC too?" "Nah but i do have a white one" I had to laugh, then just as i'm leaving a guy troddles through the door with a 20" iMac, my comedy didnt rub off well on him.

I hope i get it back soon. Until then the 12" 'Indestructable' PowerBook is back i action. It feels so weird to use it.

 

[JRM PowerPod]

Another thing, Apple's quality is up s^*# creek.

My last two macs have had problems, my Quaddie was stuffed when i got it. They replaced the logic board, all 4GB memory and still couldnt work out what was wrong, then they replaced the graphics card, then they replaced the cpu's. Ever since it has worked brilliantly.

But once upon a time i walked around with my mac telling everyone it was bullet-proof. Now i dont think i can unfortunately. Both my MacBook and Quaddie are brilliant machines when they work but, they dont have the same reliability that i use to associate with macs like the titanium powerbook, my aluminium (rev 'd' mind you)

There seem to be alot of problems around and this particular one with the macbooks is just beginning to pop up.

How many others are there?

 

[beloved84]

my macbook is horrible, but still very cool .... when working

 

[7on]

I'm getting the random shut downs too

 

[miles01110]

Like DonZor said- it is a faulty logic board. Call Apple to have them fix it.

 

[Magnus Reftel]

There's a lot of discussion about this on the MacBook support forum. See guykuo's thread for instance. You will most likely have to get the computer repaired.

 

[7on]

I just called, they had me reset the PPRAM and delete the Power preferences. I got a case number too, so if it happens again I'll be ready.

 

[spazattack674]

Random Shutdowns

My macbook has been doing this too, jsut recently it started. I am currently on hold with apple, but I was wondering if anyone as any tipsfor fixing this, because i would rather not have to send my computer away as i have a mac-only file on it that I am working with, and need my macbook.

 

[maxrobertson]

I've read that this happens if you install 3rd party RAM and don't restart the PRAM. Try taking it out, holding command-option-p-r at startup, putting it in and repeating.

 

[7on]

I've read that this happens if you install 3rd party RAM and don't restart the PRAM. Try taking it out, holding command-option-p-r at startup, putting it in and repeating.

nope, no new RAM. I only use Apple RAM™.

 

[Chobit]

I also have a macbook that's been doing this. Much more frequently now. It didn't happen once during my first month (and I use it for work, at least 6 hours every weekday). Now its happening about once a day, and today its happened 3 times after the machine was running. I say after the machine was running because it took me 15 minutes to get the machine to boot without turning off in the middle. this is NOT a battery problem, I thought it might be and started it up with no battery, and it still happened. Its a great machine otherwise.

An observation, i don't think this has ever happened while running only on battery power.