MacBook random shutdown

[Donz0r]

It's happening to a boatload of people
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=544012&tstart=0

...including me. In this forum some people were told by apple that it was a logic board problem. Some got new macbooks, some got new logic boards.


I just want a new one without these problems (mine's starting to stain too)

 

[Katharine]

It's happening to a boatload of people
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=544012&tstart=0

...including me. In this forum some people were told by apple that it was a logic board problem. Some got new macbooks, some got new logic boards.


I just want a new one without these problems (mine's starting to stain too)

I was going to mention that on the Apple discussion board this is mentioned often. I had a similar problem where mine was only doing it during sleep. I sent it to Apple on Monday for repair and they are waiting for the parts but the main logic board had to be replaced. It has nothing to do with ram. I would call Apple and get it looked at. Good luck!

 

[mox358]

I have an 800mhz G4 iMac that did this whole random shutdown thing a couple of times after I installed 10.4.7. This computer pretty much runs 24/7/365, and has been since I got it. It did the restart thing twice, but after that its been fine. So this is not just limited to Intel stuff. I'm personally thinking its in 10.4.7.

 

[Katharine]

Mine did it the first several times BEFORE the update so I don't think it is 10.4.7 related.

 

[remedya]

MLB replaced on my Week 18 MacBook

I picked up my repaired MacBook yesterday. The MLB has been replaced. So far it seems to be running OK. I have also put back the 2gb A-DATA RAM. The repair was done neatly.

 

[beloved84]

I picked up my repaired MacBook yesterday. The MLB has been replaced. So far it seems to be running OK. I have also put back the 2gb A-DATA RAM. The repair was done neatly.

how long was yours gone for? mine has been with applecare for 10 days so far...still haven't gotten it back

 

[QCassidy352]

mine just did this for the first time today - very scary. I guess I'll just keep using it and see if it happens again. I certainly can't reproduce it... yet. Does this problem get worse with time?

I'll add this to my list of problems, which now includes:
- whining
- mooing
- discoloration (fixed by apple)
- this weird one
- and now random shut-downs

Getting somewhat annoyed with apple at this point...

 

[flyguy451]

Add me to the list of people experiencing this problem. In my case it is definitely not heat related. I can be doing nothing more than web browsing in a nice cool airconditioned room and see a spontaneous shutdown.

 

[QCassidy352]

just happened again, while on espn.com. GRR! This macbook feels more and more like a lemon every day! I don't know what to do about this...

 

[the7dwarfs]

I have also been getting this problem and after a few calls to apple I decided to take it to my local store. Luckily it cut out in the shop and so they took it in for testing.

I got a call a few days later saying it had passed all its tests and hadn't cut out on them, they said they had reset a few things and hopefully the problem had gone away. It cut out 4 times that night. I took it back the next day and the guy reccommended I format my hard drive and reinstall 10.4.6.

I got home turned my laptop on and the screen went grey only rather than an apple logo appearing it started filling up with multicoloured lines running vertically down the screen, it is still doing this, I assume its the graphics card thats playing up now because I can still ping the computer and view files hosted on it . I am currently awaiting a courier to pick the thing up.

 

[QCassidy352]

ugh, that's not an encouraging story, the7dwarfs. I hope like hell they don't give me a hard time about this. This macbook is verging on lemon status with all the problems it's had.

Frankly I wish I had my ibook back at this point.

 

[JAT]

It is a faulty logic board. My wife's MB (1.83, stock config) started with the random shut offs, then eventually would not turn on at all. Got the board replaced, received back last Wed. Within 2 days, it was apparent that the lid-closing-switch was not operating properly, the MB wouldn't sleep/wake when closing/shutting the lid. Although sleep did work properly with software commands. Brought it back into the same store 3 days (Sat) after getting it back. Demonstrated the problem, Genius went to check it out, came back with it giving the multicolored-vertical-lines problem mentioned above. He said they will have to replace the logic board again, and they will check the lid switch.

When I got it back (Wed), it also had a loose section on the upper right of the lid, where the bezel and faceplate around the LCD were not fastened correctly. It did not have this problem before going into the shop the first time. I showed him this, too. When I get it back the 2nd time, I will be checking as much out as possible before exiting the store.

I'm not going to start bashing Apple, but my wife certainly is. And me, since I prefer Apple and bought this for her.

 

[gemsung]

same problem

I have the same problem -my macbook shutdown randomly.
some time the computer runs several days properly but some time shut down just I started the computer, whenever it shutdown, the computer can't restart rightway, after many times of power button pressing, it may work again. Today I call apple service and then sent it to a center repair shop. Hope my computer will come back soon.

I remember this problem happened after updating to 10.4.7 (later version, with -a in the version No.), at first I updated to 10.4.7 (earlier version, without -a in the versioin No.), there was no problem.

 

[QCassidy352]

to update my story:

Yesterday morning my MB shut off as I started work. I rebooted, and upon reaching the desktop, it shut off again. I tried to restart it, but several presses of the power button would just make it chime, then turn off again.

I took it to the apple store. They told me it was a 10.4.7 issue, and that the initial release of the update was bad, but that installing the later combo update would fix it. I told them many people had this problem even without 10.4.7 (see the apple discussion forum), but they insisted we try that.

It was priceless - upon reaching the desktop after the reinstall, the macbook instantly shut off again. They tried resetting the PRAM, but eventually conceded it was a hardware issue. When they told me they would have to send it in for repair, I said that was unacceptable unless they could give me a loaner (I need it for work). At that point, they just offered to give me a new one.

So after swapping in my RAM and HD, I was on my way with a replacement macbook. I hope it doesn't start having this problem a couple of months down the line...

 

[Maxwell Smart]

Well, my macbook has ben having the exact same issues and even had the "colored lines" on the phone with the tech guy before he told me to reset the PRAM and get rid of it. Unfortunately, the problem keeps coming back and does the random reboots, next time it happens I'm calling up apple with the support number and hopefully getting somewhere.

 

[QCassidy352]

take it in to a store, if you can. I find it's much harder for them to blow you off when you're standing in front of them with the clearly malfunctioning laptop.

 

[Maxwell Smart]

Just wanted to let everyone know. I called the support line for a second time, and gave them my previous support number talking about the problems. The guy was friendly and transferred me to a "Product Specialist - Doug" Doug then told me that this is a problem that apple recently became aware of and my computer was an affected model (something to do with the serial number). He then offered to collect my computer as an engineering sample (overnighted). And the second they get it, they are going to send me a brand new replacement machine, so I guess it worked out pretty well .

 

[QCassidy352]

Doug then told me that this is a problem that apple recently became aware of and my computer was an affected model (something to do with the serial number).

very interesting - so this is an acknowledged problem now? At least, according to "Doug." Very good information for others to have. I wonder what range of serial numbers had this problem.

Glad it worked out well for you.

 

[Maxwell Smart]

If I recall correctly (I am pretty sure) It is 4H616+ and I have 4H619. Good luck.

 

[JAT]

If I recall correctly (I am pretty sure) It is 4H616+ and I have 4H619. Good luck.

Wouldn't that mean week 16 and later? IOW, every single MB made? Mine is also 619, purchased at my local store the 3rd day they were out. It has had 2 logic board replacements and my wife tells me it still shuts off occasionally. These boards are just plain bad. There needs to be an actual revision.

 

[exabytes18]

How's the heat? Pentiums will shut the machine down if it exceeds spec. Maybe the update changed the fan opertions to the point your computer is overheating.

Not sure where you got Pentiums from since this is far from one, but nevertheless, the processor will only hang until it reaches an acceptable operating temperature. This does not cause the computer to shut down.

 

[jrichter]

10.4.7 shutting down MacBook Pro

This also happened to me after doing the OS X update.. Drives me crazy as it just shuts off unless my laptop is plugged into AC! ... the battery always shows a full charge! ... This never happened while running 10.4.6. I have a very early MacBook Pro CoreDuo 2 GHz system.


Jerry

 

[Scarlet Fever]

same probs here... sadly...

I've taken it back twice, and on both occasions, neither I nor the people at the shop could replicate the problem, so ive had to take it back home. It did it first 2 weeks ago, and it shut down about 7 times. Perfect, untill last weekend, where i had ~10. I had 2 yesterday.

Im calling Apple support tomorrow after school. I nearly had a perfect MacBook!

 

[aleni]

it was the logic board.

my friend has this prob too. random shutting down. it happened after he installed 10.4.7.

the first thing we thought, it was 10.4.7 causing the prob. but my macbook is installed with 10.4.7 and it ran flawlessly without any pain in the arse.

my friend tried reinstalling 10.4.6 and bumP! random shutting down still occured.

he took it to apple and they changed the logic board. after changing the logic board, the macbook wont start up. it started upt though with the chime sound, but the screen is just pure blank with the light/dim on.

then apple tried booting it off the external hard disk with 10.4.6 installed. it booted up just fine, and then they took the 10.4.6 external hard disk off and tried starting up the computer again, bang! it worked. never had any probs since.

my friend's macbook is being produced one week earlier than mine.

 

[philjames]

i've got mine in to get repaired, it is so frustrating when it does turn off. Apple Aust said they wouldn't comment when i asked how many had the problem and i new this was because a lot of people have the problem.