MacBook 'Moo' Fix?

MacRumors · 07:07 PM

MacRumors user "netdog" reports that he has successfully been able to get rid of his MacBook's "moo" issue by resetting his Power Management Unit (PMU). The steps he took were:

1. Shutdown and disconnect power.
2. Remove battery.
3. Hold down power button for more than 5 seconds.
4. Reinsert battery and reconnect power.
5. Boot.

Detailed information on resetting the PMU on MacBook and MacBook Pros is available via Apple's Support site. Resetting the PMU should only be considered in last-case scenarios, and should not be done more than once every 48 hours.

Disclaimer: Users should proceed at their own risk, as MacRumors cannot be held liable for damages that may be caused by following the instructions listed above. MacRumors has not independently tested the above procedure as such resources are unavailable, but the tip is rather offered as a courtesy. Users are strongly encouraged to contact their AppleCare support representative and consult Apple's documentation for guidance if following the aforementioned steps.

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macaddict06 · Jun 30, 2006, 04:23 PM

Well, I'm glad someone found a fix, but shouldn't Apple's quality control unit be all over this? It seems like they have taken a very light approach to the new machines since they came out in January and May...makes me think about getting a PBG4 instead of a MBP revB...we'll see what becomes of this.

Pistol Pete · Jun 30, 2006, 04:24 PM

I thought it was already fixed...hope to see some positive responses!

netdog · Jun 30, 2006, 04:28 PM

This information came from Apple online support, just so everyone knows. I am confident that it won't harm anyone's system, and is obviously an Apple feature that they don't document for us. After 3.5 hours, I have heard two Moos. When I called them, it was mooing incessantly, much like in the recent video...on/off/on/off. It was just awful.

lars steenhoff · Jun 30, 2006, 04:32 PM

Yes, this is also what apple instructed me to do over the phone.
It seems to lessen but not completly remove the noise from the cpu.
The software quiet mbp completly removes the noise, at the cost of heat and battery life.

hope the next generation of intel chip will be more quiet.

netdog · Jun 30, 2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lars steenhoff

Yes, this is also what apple instructed me to do over the phone.
It seems to lessen but not completly remove the noise from the cpu.
The software quiet mbp completly removes the noise, at the cost of heat and battery life.

hope the next generation of intel chip will be more quiet.

Now that I have experienced this for myself, I am sure that it was the fan going on and off, and not the chip. My guess is a firmware update will really nail this problem, and I wouldn't be surprised to see one soon.

What was really curious for me is that I had a silent MB bought in the first week of its release. It was only with 10.4.7 that it started to moo, and was doing so like mad. Like I said, I have been pushing the processor quite hard, and have only heard the fan whir twice, which while not as good as it once was, is a HUGE improvement over how it was before I did what Apple suggested.

I am really curious to see if this helps people who had the moo prior to 10.4.7

All that I can say for sure is that it has really helped me.

Fearless Leader · Jun 30, 2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lars steenhoff

...hope the next generation of intel chip will be more quiet.

its not intel's fault your computer is noisy, its apples

nagromme · Jun 30, 2006, 04:43 PM

"Mooooo?"

I haven't heard the "moo" (no Intel Mac for me yet), but that sounds kind of cool

How can I enable the Moo feature if I get a Mac that doesn't have it by default?

Roads0 · Jun 30, 2006, 04:47 PM

I just got my Macbook on Monday and I have no Moo. Actually, I've noticed thta the fan doesn't even come on when it gets really hot. Maybe Apple has fixed the problem with the Macbooks shipping now?

netdog · Jun 30, 2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roads0

I just got my Macbook on Monday and I have no Moo. Actually, I've noticed thta the fan doesn't even come on when it gets really hot. Maybe Apple has fixed the problem with the Macbooks shipping now?

Mine was bought two days after the MB was first released, and it was dead-silent until 10.4.7

QCassidy352 · Jun 30, 2006, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lars steenhoff

Yes, this is also what apple instructed me to do over the phone.
It seems to lessen but not completly remove the noise from the cpu.
The software quiet mbp completly removes the noise, at the cost of heat and battery life.

hope the next generation of intel chip will be more quiet.

If Quiet MBP removes the noise, then you're talking about the "whine," not the "moo." This is a proposed fix for the "moo." Both are problematic for some (i.e. me).

jbouklas · Jun 30, 2006, 05:47 PM

Funny, my MacBook always mooed, and the power adapter whined. As of two weeks ago, my power adapter AND MacBook both whine, and it still moos. The 10.4.7 update did nothing for either of them. Then, I tried to reset the PMU just now- still no help. I have AppleCare, so once I know that they fix the problem, I'll call them about it. I'm already on my second MB- returned my first a week or two after I bought it for an exchange, same problems. So, I'll wait it out.

-Jim

Stella · Jun 30, 2006, 06:04 PM

lol - MMMMMOOOOOOOOOOO!!11oneone

Wonder if these MacBooks can catch Mad Cow disease too ( BSE ) :-)

artifex · Jun 30, 2006, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stella

lol - MMMMMOOOOOOOOOOO!!11oneone

Wonder if these MacBooks can catch Mad Cow disease too ( BSE ) :-)

I think maybe they used the same vendor for the motherboards (sorry, y'all call them logic boards) as Gateway

Macworld's latest issue seems to claim none of these problems are a big deal.
Of course, they also are just now reviewing the MB. Yet another reason for me not to renew my subscription...

solvs · Jun 30, 2006, 06:37 PM

I've heard of this mooing thing, but never actually heard the actual mooing itself. Is it like one of those toys where you pull the thing and it moos when it lands on the cow? Or like one of those baby or dog toys that lets out a mooing noise when you squeeze it?

Now I'm curious.

Lixivial · 07:11 PM

I'll try it, though I've noticed significantly less mooing in 10.4.7, with only one received in an un-air conditioned room. It was a lot quieter than when I initially purchased it.

JackSYi · Jun 30, 2006, 06:51 PM

My MacBook seems quieter after 10.4.7 too.

QCassidy352 · 07:27 PM

No, it did not work for me. Thanks for the try tho, netdog.

On the plus side, my macbook does not heat up to the requisite temperature (about 68 C core temp) very easily at all with 10.4.7, so it's really not much of a problem anyway. Running photobooth used to heat it up that much, but no longer does.

edit: actually... it seems worse now. Not louder, but as I said, after 10.4.7, the moo didn't start until about 68 C. Now, after resetting the PMU, the moo starts at about 65 C, and that makes a big real-world difference in terms of how often I hear it.

D3LM3L · Jun 30, 2006, 07:43 PM

I do feel bad for everyone with a mooing MacBook, but I just broke out in laughter when I heard a clip of it! Anyone else do the same thing when they first heard the sound?

it5five · Jun 30, 2006, 08:22 PM

I'm not that bothered by the moo. I'll just wait until a firmware update or something I guess.

When I first heard it I was really surprised at how lifelike a moo it is.

solvs · Jun 30, 2006, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D3LM3L

I do feel bad for everyone with a mooing MacBook, but I just broke out in laughter when I heard a clip of it! Anyone else do the same thing when they first heard the sound?

Where'd you hear it?

4screen · Jun 30, 2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagromme

"Mooooo?"

I haven't heard the "moo" (no Intel Mac for me yet), but that sounds kind of cool

How can I enable the Moo feature if I get a Mac that doesn't have it by default?

My wife suggests you try and milk it.

QCassidy352 · Jun 30, 2006, 11:35 PM

ugh, I really wish I'd just left well enough alone. My macbook seems to reach 65 C quite easily, but 68 C not nearly so easily. Meaning now I'm hearing the "moo" just doing regular tasks whereas I did not. (I put moo in quotations because mine really doesn't sound like a moo... just like fans ramping up and down over and over. Which is just about as bad, IMO.)

So let me warn you all, try this PMU reset at your own risk.

reallynotnick · Jun 30, 2006, 11:40 PM

The moo is found here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...33167064230159

Seems the fan goes On,Off,On,Off ect ect.

gotohamish · Jul 1, 2006, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reallynotnick

The moo is found here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...33167064230159

Seems the fan goes On,Off,On,Off ect ect.

Is it me, or is there no "mooing" in that clip? I don't get it.

View Poll Results: Does resetting your MacBook's PMU solve the Mooing problem? (MacBook users only)
Yes.	18	11.76%
No.	46	30.07%
My MacBook does not have the Moo.	89	58.17%
Voters: 153. You may not vote on this poll

Jun 30, 2006, 04:20 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	MacBook 'Moo' Fix? MacRumors user "netdog" reports that he has successfully been able to get rid of his MacBook's "moo" issue by resetting his Power Management Unit (PMU). The steps he took were: 1. Shutdown and disconnect power. 2. Remove battery. 3. Hold down power button for more than 5 seconds. 4. Reinsert battery and reconnect power. 5. Boot. Detailed information on resetting the PMU on MacBook and MacBook Pros is available via Apple's Support site. Resetting the PMU should only be considered in last-case scenarios, and should not be done more than once every 48 hours. Disclaimer: Users should proceed at their own risk, as MacRumors cannot be held liable for damages that may be caused by following the instructions listed above. MacRumors has not independently tested the above procedure as such resources are unavailable, but the tip is rather offered as a courtesy. Users are strongly encouraged to contact their AppleCare support representative and consult Apple's documentation for guidance if following the aforementioned steps. Digg this story Last edited by HexMonkey : Jun 30, 2006 at 07:07 PM.

Jun 30, 2006, 04:23 PM	#2
macaddict06 macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: about 3 meters from here. points	Well, I'm glad someone found a fix, but shouldn't Apple's quality control unit be all over this? It seems like they have taken a very light approach to the new machines since they came out in January and May...makes me think about getting a PBG4 instead of a MBP revB...we'll see what becomes of this. __________________ "When a man lies, he murders some part of the world. These are the pale deaths which men miscall their lives " -Cliff Burton

Jun 30, 2006, 04:24 PM	#3
Pistol Pete macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal	I thought it was already fixed...hope to see some positive responses! __________________ iMac 24" 3.06 4GB Ram 512mb Video Nikon D700 Nikon D50 PeterWPhoto iShootSD

Jun 30, 2006, 04:28 PM	#4
netdog macrumors 68040 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London	This information came from Apple online support, just so everyone knows. I am confident that it won't harm anyone's system, and is obviously an Apple feature that they don't document for us. After 3.5 hours, I have heard two Moos. When I called them, it was mooing incessantly, much like in the recent video...on/off/on/off. It was just awful. __________________ We don't see the world as it is. We see it as we are. -Anais Nin Classical Homeopath and Naturopathic Doctor in London

Jun 30, 2006, 04:32 PM	#5
lars steenhoff macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2006	Yes, this is also what apple instructed me to do over the phone. It seems to lessen but not completly remove the noise from the cpu. The software quiet mbp completly removes the noise, at the cost of heat and battery life. hope the next generation of intel chip will be more quiet.

Jun 30, 2006, 04:43 PM	#8
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	"Mooooo?" I haven't heard the "moo" (no Intel Mac for me yet), but that sounds kind of cool How can I enable the Moo feature if I get a Mac that doesn't have it by default? __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment?

Jun 30, 2006, 04:47 PM	#9
Roads0 macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Standing on the Moon	I just got my Macbook on Monday and I have no Moo. Actually, I've noticed thta the fan doesn't even come on when it gets really hot. Maybe Apple has fixed the problem with the Macbooks shipping now? __________________ "If you get confused, listen to Mike Kang play."

Jun 30, 2006, 05:47 PM	#12
jbouklas macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2002	Funny, my MacBook always mooed, and the power adapter whined. As of two weeks ago, my power adapter AND MacBook both whine, and it still moos. The 10.4.7 update did nothing for either of them. Then, I tried to reset the PMU just now- still no help. I have AppleCare, so once I know that they fix the problem, I'll call them about it. I'm already on my second MB- returned my first a week or two after I bought it for an exchange, same problems. So, I'll wait it out. -Jim

Jun 30, 2006, 06:04 PM	#13
Stella macrumors 68040 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada	lol - MMMMMOOOOOOOOOOO!!11oneone Wonder if these MacBooks can catch Mad Cow disease too ( BSE ) :-) __________________ iPhone: The cell phone for communists and censorship

Jun 30, 2006, 06:37 PM	#15
solvs macrumors 601 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: LaLaLand, CA	I've heard of this mooing thing, but never actually heard the actual mooing itself. Is it like one of those toys where you pull the thing and it moos when it lands on the cow? Or like one of those baby or dog toys that lets out a mooing noise when you squeeze it? Now I'm curious. __________________ True love never dies The only thing more dangerous than a woman scorned, is a man with nothing left to lose...

Jun 30, 2006, 06:39 PM	#16
Lixivial macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Between cats, dogs and wanderlust.	I'll try it, though I've noticed significantly less mooing in 10.4.7, with only one received in an un-air conditioned room. It was a lot quieter than when I initially purchased it. Last edited by HexMonkey : Jun 30, 2006 at 07:11 PM. Reason: Removed reference to now-corrected typo

Jun 30, 2006, 06:51 PM	#17
JackSYi macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA	My MacBook seems quieter after 10.4.7 too. __________________ Jack

Jun 30, 2006, 06:57 PM	#18
QCassidy352 Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Boston, MA	No, it did not work for me. Thanks for the try tho, netdog. On the plus side, my macbook does not heat up to the requisite temperature (about 68 C core temp) very easily at all with 10.4.7, so it's really not much of a problem anyway. Running photobooth used to heat it up that much, but no longer does. edit: actually... it seems worse now. Not louder, but as I said, after 10.4.7, the moo didn't start until about 68 C. Now, after resetting the PMU, the moo starts at about 65 C, and that makes a big real-world difference in terms of how often I hear it. __________________ "If Jesus Himself came back to earth and turned water to wine, half of MacRumors would say 'meh, this is red. I wanted white.'" Last edited by QCassidy352 : Jun 30, 2006 at 07:27 PM.

Jun 30, 2006, 07:43 PM	#19
D3LM3L macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Edgewater, NJ	I do feel bad for everyone with a mooing MacBook, but I just broke out in laughter when I heard a clip of it! Anyone else do the same thing when they first heard the sound?

Jun 30, 2006, 08:22 PM	#20
it5five macrumors 65816 Join Date: May 2006 Location: US, unfortunately	I'm not that bothered by the moo. I'll just wait until a firmware update or something I guess. When I first heard it I was really surprised at how lifelike a moo it is.

Jun 30, 2006, 11:35 PM	#23
QCassidy352 Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Boston, MA	ugh, I really wish I'd just left well enough alone. My macbook seems to reach 65 C quite easily, but 68 C not nearly so easily. Meaning now I'm hearing the "moo" just doing regular tasks whereas I did not. (I put moo in quotations because mine really doesn't sound like a moo... just like fans ramping up and down over and over. Which is just about as bad, IMO.) So let me warn you all, try this PMU reset at your own risk. __________________ "If Jesus Himself came back to earth and turned water to wine, half of MacRumors would say 'meh, this is red. I wanted white.'"

Jun 30, 2006, 11:40 PM	#24
reallynotnick macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2005	The moo is found here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...33167064230159 Seems the fan goes On,Off,On,Off ect ect.

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