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MacBook random shutdown

lostinthailand said:
I really would like to fix my own macbook shutdown problem if it's at all possible. I know this sounds stupid, but I live in Thailand and I have no faith whatsoever in the applecenter in Bangkok, they will scratch it to bits, probably leave screws and cables out and no doubt take ages..then they will try and tell me that I need to pay to get it back. Sounds unlikely? Well Thailand is not the same as US or any normal country believe me!

So, if anone can give me any tips on how to fix it myself I would be very very grateful, I have all the tools and I'm totally comfortable with taking it apart, I just need to know which bit to insulate or whatever.

Andy..In Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.
Click to expand...

Hi Andy,
I totally sympathize with your Thai situation. I too live in Chiang Mai and have a macbook with RSD. Fortunately I'm currently in the States for a few weeks and I just shipped it to Apple for repair. Man I hope they fix it the first time!

That said, a few weeks before leaving for the States, I stopped in at the Chiang Mai Apple Centre on Sirimungklajarn Road and spoke with the general manager. I can't rememeber his name, but he is also having RSD on his MacBook. I have a feeling he is keeping up with the situation quite closely since he's directly affected. He had offered to replace my logic board but this was prior to the "new heatsink/LB" fix and he may be doing the current (and hopefully correct) fix now.

As for their repair credentials, I only have one friend who has had work done there. He had his MacBook Pro's superdrive replaced. He claimed that they did a fine job BUT he mentioned that for some reason they charge 1000 baht for any repair regardless of warranty/apple care (strange! not truly an "apple store"?)

Anyway, it might be worth speaking with the general manager over there about your problem. I don't know how your Thai is, but his English is very good.

Good luck!

Dan
 
After further investigation, Apple has determined that only the heatsink needs to be replaced in MacBooks exhibiting intermittent shutdown.
Click to expand...
That would at least explain why I didn't get a new logic board!
 
Update on my MB repair:

Apple sent my MB to Tennessee, where it was received on the 21st of September and returned to me on the 29th of September, keeping with Apple saying that it would be 5-7 business days.

My symptoms were: RSS, Case discoloration, Whine, Noisy trackpad button

Apple replaced: APP-630-7872 PCB, MLB, 2.0GHZ DC, SMS/KIONI APP-630-7872 PCB, MLB, 2.0GHZ DC, SMS/KIONI APP-333-0587 MOD, 256MB, DDR2 667 SAMSUNG C APP-333-0587 MOD, 256MB, DDR2 667 SAMSUNG C

Now i have no clue what half of those numbers mean. It looks like they replaced my RAM (why, it was totally fine when i shipped it off...), and i guess the "MOD" is the case and the "MLB" is the logic board? Any insight as to what these items are, or where i can look them up would be great.

The case looks as good as when i sent it in (a few minor scuffs on the bottom that are very faint), the discoloration was fixed, the trackpad was fixed but it still whines(more softly than before though)! No shutdowns so far, but i have had it on literally for 60 mins, so we will see.

What bothers me is Arn's last post in this thread, indicating that the heatsink was the issue. Looks like the part number in Arn's post does not appear in the list of parts replaced in mine, or does replacing the logic board replace the heatsink as well?
 
I'm actually really interested in buying a Macbook, but those reviews have worried me a lot :p

If I order my own (through Apple Store US) next week, will it present those failures in a couple of months after use? Or the problem has already been solved at the factory and new Macbooks are ok?

If not, as an estimate, how much should I wait before ordering it?
 
Cool response

My white MacBook (2GHz, normally 2MB) was returned this morning from a repair for random shutdown. This is the second repair.
First time they replaced the logic board. It ran faultlessly from 18th July to 29th August and then the problem returned. During this time, CoreDuoTemp showed operating temps 46-60ºC, reaching the high seventies when stressed.
This time they replaced: motherboard, heat sink, sponge (what is that?), top case and bezel. On starting up CoreDuoTemp showed temperature 7 - 9ºC, rising to 15º when really trying. Now Belfast is not overwarm but this would suggest active cooling. Then tonight I downloaded the OS 10.4.8 update and now CoreDuoTemp is hovering between 32-34ºC - more believable than the earlier readings and truly wonderful if true. It hasn't risen above 34º no matter what I am doing.
I had the impression that the random shutdowns were to do with a faulty temperature sensor. Randomly, when according to CoreDuoTemp, the computer was not really too hot, the fans would come on as if it was overheating and then shutdown would quickly follow.
Anyway, here's hoping that's an end o fthe problem.
 
Yaraher said:
I'm actually really interested in buying a Macbook, but those reviews have worried me a lot :p

If I order my own (through Apple Store US) next week, will it present those failures in a couple of months after use? Or the problem has already been solved at the factory and new Macbooks are ok?


If not, as an estimate, how much should I wait before ordering it?
Click to expand...

I got mine 3 months ago and I've never had the problem. And it's almost burned me a couple of times....
 
In order for apple to ship a RSD macbook from their genius bar, do we have to replicate a shutdown?

Cause my macbook has been doing RSD like mad, but some days it never shuts down.
 
bobber205 said:
I got mine 3 months ago and I've never had the problem. And it's almost burned me a couple of times....
Click to expand...

I guess that's a good news then.. but what about the "almost burned" part :p
I thought most of the heat issues where fixed after they release a patch (which in turn reduce battery life :p).

I'm really ansious about getting my own Macbook, but since I live in Peru, support will be a big issue, so I want to use it at least as I can :)
 
lostinthailand said:
I really would like to fix my own macbook shutdown problem if it's at all possible. I know this sounds stupid, but I live in Thailand and I have no faith whatsoever in the applecenter in Bangkok, they will scratch it to bits, probably leave screws and cables out and no doubt take ages..then they will try and tell me that I need to pay to get it back. Sounds unlikely? Well Thailand is not the same as US or any normal country believe me!

So, if anone can give me any tips on how to fix it myself I would be very very grateful, I have all the tools and I'm totally comfortable with taking it apart, I just need to know which bit to insulate or whatever.

Andy..In Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.
Click to expand...

A small piece of tape between the offending wires and the heatsink should do it. They're the real thin ones that run close to the right hand side of the heatsink.
 
Update #8

MACBOOK RANDOM SHUTDOWN SYNDROME

As previously stated, I bought two macbook recently and both of them have been randomly shutting down. I am very disappointed. Apple won't replace or reimbourse me. I understand from this thread that I am not the only one dealing with this problem.
How many are we ?
If you have this problem with your macbook or macbookpro , can you please send me an email at macbookproblem@mac.com with the complete serial number of your computer, model , date of purchase,outcome and as much information as you want. Let me know if you want me to publish your email in the list.

I plan on publishing weekly stats about number of computer affected. I may contact you by email if there is any info to pass on.

any suggestions welcome.

I had a powerbook 12' before and never had so much problem with a mac before.

NUMBER OF MACBOOK with SHUTDOWN PROBLEM : 128
serial numbers / model / purchase date / email available

4h61017uu9c / 2GHZ white / may 20
4H6180X0VMM / Black MacBook / Day of release / 2G ram
4H61815 EVMM/2Ghz, Black/May 21st /email
4H6181FBVMM / 2.0 GHz Black / 5-22 / email
4h6182 / 2ghz white / june 30
4h619/ white 2ghz/ 2gig 3rd party ram /email
4H619 / Black MacBook 2.0 / late May / email
4H619 / ? / ?
4H619 /White 1.83 GHz /June 15 / email
4H6190 /*1.8 white / june 07
4H6191 / 1.8 white / may
4H6192YBVMM / 2.0GHZ/512MB/80GB/SUPER/BT/AP / June/ email
4H6193VMVMM / black macbook/ may 25th / email available
4h61932 / 2Ghz white / may 24
4H6193N4U9B / /June 22 São Paulo, Brazil/ email
4H6195MWVMM / Black/late May or early June/ABaggLady@comcast.net
4H6195 / 2Ghz white / june 8 /REPLACED
4H6195XHU9B / 1.83GHz 512MB RAM (2*256) / 24-05 /email
4H61959ZVMM / 2Ghz Black / may
4H6196 / 2Ghz black / may
4H6196 / 2Ghz white / may 20
4h6199n2u / ? / ?
4H6199X8U9C / 2.0 White / 20-05 / dane_peterson@mac.com
4H619ASPU9B /1.83 ghz, white /10-06 / email

4H620 / white, 1.83 GHz / 31-05 in SF/ email
4H620 / white, 2GHz, 1GB / ?
4H620 / Blackbook 2.0, 1.25GB RAM / May 24 / mikacooper@mac.com
4H6200UPU9D / 1.8 White / may
4H62002KVMN / Black added a gig of crucial ram / email
4h620025u9c / 2Ghz white / may 23
4H620033VMN /black macbook 2.0ghz / 19-05 /email
4H6201 / white, 2GB / ?
4h6201up / white 2.0 ghz 1gb ram / 5/16 /email
4H62016 White MacBook 2.0 GHz, 1 GB, 120 GB HD / May 18th, 2006 / dahowe@mac.com
4h6202S0VMN / 2ghz black / may 18
4H6202 / 2Ghz black / may 30
4H6203XSU9C/ white 2ghz/ 2gig 3rd party ram - Purchased mid-June
4H6203BW*** /White, 2.0ghz, 2.0gb ram from OWC, 60gb/ email
4H6203YNVMM / 2ghz black / may 25
4H6204CDVMM / ??? / email
4H6204KKU9E / 2.0 1 GB fact / ?
4H62043EUxx / 2GHZ white / may 25
4h6204kku9e / 2ghz white / may 22
4H62045LU9C /* 2 GHz /*may 2006 email
4H6207KCVMM / email
4H6208TGVMM / Black 2.0, 1.25GB / May24 /mikacooper@mac.com
4H621BQSVMM / black / email
4H621 / ? / ?
4H621 / black / case#65194196
4H6210MZU9 / 1.83GHz white 1GB ram / May2006 USA /email
4H6210PEVMN / black 2Ghz / june 28
4H6210UZU / 1.8 white / june 6
4H6211 / ? / europe
4H6211RHU9C / 2 white / june 3
4H6211NGU9E / 2Ghz white / may
4H6212MVU9E / ? / ? / email
4H621276VMM / black / 10-6 in Germany case#67490518 /email
4H62128KVMN / black, 2 GHz, 1GB ram / 26-5 Canada /selkouri@mac.com
4H6212C4 / White 2Ghz / Italy / email
4H6212 / 2ghz white*/*july 4th
4H6212G9VMN - Black; 2Ghz; 1GB Ram-purchased May 2006, Canada
4H6213M / white / end of May
4H6213***** / MacBook 1.83Ghz white / 512MB RAM / 60GB HDD / 06-03-2006, Hong Kong / email
4H6214V6U9B / 1.83 white / email
4h6215ueu9e / ? / ? /email
4H6216UYU9B / 1.8GHZ/60GB/Combo / 13-06 Perth, Australia /email
4H62168SU9E / 2 GHz w/ 2GB RAM / 5/26/06 / dbhaskell@cox.net
4H6217 / 2Ghz black / june 26
4H6218U4G8M / 2 GHZ white / July06
4H6219HFU9C / White / may / email

4H622 / ? / 13-06 / email
4H622EY7VMM /black / Purchased on 6/10/06*/ email
4H622C7YVMN / 2black / june16
4H6220xxxxx / 2ghz white/ 1gb/ 80gb hd/ july /email
4H6220KWVMN / 2Ghz black / june
4H622016U9E / White 2 GHz / 1 GB RAM / 80 GB HD / 31.05 / UK / email
4H62209HU9E / email
4H6221XXXXX / 2.0Ghz MacBook White / USA / email
4H6221NFVMM / 2GHZ black / june 9
4H62211xxxx / 2ghz White, 1GB fact / 2-June australia / email
4H6223QVU9E/ 2.0 GHz/ june/ Europe / email
4H6228STU9C / white, 2 GHz, 2GB ram / 13-06 in Belgium /email
4h6228 / 1.8 white / june 29
4H62286RVMM /white / July 27 2006 / email / REPLACED
4H6229 / black 2Ghz / june 14

4H623 / ? / ?
4H6232TAVMM / black / 6/14 / email
4H6233 / 1.8 white / june 24
4H6233*/ 1.8 white / June 24
4H6233*/ 2Gz black / ?
4H6232ESU9B / 1,83GHz, White. / 18-06 / email
4H6235 / 2Gz black / june 29
4H6235LGU9B /1.8 white/ ?

4H624 / white 2.0 GHz / 2 GB Crucial Tech RAM / 100 GB HD / July/email
4H62413RVMM / Black, 2GB / July*/ email
4H6242DPU9D / white, 1.83 GHz / 14-06 in France / selkouri@mac.com
4H624264VMN / black/May/juliannetheartist@mac.com
4H6243 / 2ghz white / june
4H6244LXVMM / black 2GHz / july-10
4H6248CDU9C / 2.0GHz White / June 3 / newman814@yahoo.com.tw
4H6249CQU9C / White 2.0, 2G ram /Purchase date: 26 June 2006/email

4H625 / 1.8 white / july 10
4H625 / 2 GHz, 2GB ram / USA
4H625 / white, 2 GHz, 2GB ram / USA
4h6257xxxxx / white 2.0 /Houston / email

4H626 / White 2Ghz / France / purchase : 06/2006 / email
4H626/White 2.0GHz/July 1/tgruben@gmail.com
4H6260FQU9C / email
4H626B1AU9C / white 2 GHz/ 07 2006 in Germany / richmilde@web.de
4H6264T9U9D / 1.83 Ghz - 80 Gb - 1 Gb / June 11 /email
4H6264J9U9C / 2 GHz/ email

4H627/2ghz/black/bought in august / email

4H6283UJVMM / (black) 2.0GHZ/512MB/80GB /Late July /email

4H6290 / 2GHz white / july
4H6290J4U9C /White Powerbook/2ghz/2mb/120gb / 7/21
4h629151u9d / Whit 1,8 / 15th July / perwennstrom@hotmail.com
4H62918BVMN /Black 2Ghz / 10-06 Antwerp, Belgium / email
4H6291D4VMN /Black 2GHz 1 GB RAM 120 GB / midjuly /email

4H630767U9E / 2.0 / 2x512 / 100gb / email
4H6307VSU9B / 1.8 white / aug-25

4H631F / 2Ghz white / aug 14
4H631HD8U9B / 1.83 / 31st, Aug,2006 Australia / email
4H631KXTU9B / 1.83Ghz / 19-8 / email
4h631026u9e / poland / email
4H6314LNU9E / 2GHZ white / sept 1st
4h6316 / 2ghz white / aug 15
4H6317RR / 2 GHz, 100G HD, 1 GB / 4-8 / email
4H6333 / 2Ghz white / may 24
4H6331WLVMM / Aug 25 2006 / email
4H6334EHU9C/1.83 ghz white/ 8/24 / email
4H635276VMM / 1.8 white / july 6

some example of the problem:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cWsPzS5eK...book problem
or
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vThy5yF-3...book problem

A lot of users are reporting problems even after repair.

ONE ADVICE: CALL APPLE AND REPORT THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS RANDOM SHUTDOWN ARE NOTED.

I sent one of my macbook for repair on August 28th. Still waiting for it !

Time for action or class-action ?

Thanks
SE, Montreal
Last edited by Torbocto : Today at 07:58 PM.
 
terrymr said:
A small piece of tape between the offending wires and the heatsink should do it. They're the real thin ones that run close to the right hand side of the heatsink.
Click to expand...
36.jpg
 
i got a Macbook about a month ago and faces the same problem on the frequent shutdown.Initially it happens about once in every 3~4 days. The frequency of the shutdown became more often until two days ago the system could'nt boot up at all. Yesterday Apple service center changed the logic board and was working fine until i did a software update.
Now the system could'nt not boot up at all, trying to do so for the past 4 hours but the LCD screen is blank with the back white light.
Any help on this problem is welcome..:mad: :mad:
 
update for MacBook Pro users

For the minority MacBook Pro users with RSS.

I had logic board and bulging battery replaced.

All seems fine for now.
 
What should we do then, if Apple Thailand doesn't work?

khunsanook said:
Hi Andy,
I totally sympathize with your Thai situation. I too live in Chiang Mai and have a macbook with RSD. Fortunately I'm currently in the States for a few weeks and I just shipped it to Apple for repair. Man I hope they fix it the first time!

That said, a few weeks before leaving for the States, I stopped in at the Chiang Mai Apple Centre on Sirimungklajarn Road and spoke with the general manager. I can't rememeber his name, but he is also having RSD on his MacBook. I have a feeling he is keeping up with the situation quite closely since he's directly affected. He had offered to replace my logic board but this was prior to the "new heatsink/LB" fix and he may be doing the current (and hopefully correct) fix now.

As for their repair credentials, I only have one friend who has had work done there. He had his MacBook Pro's superdrive replaced. He claimed that they did a fine job BUT he mentioned that for some reason they charge 1000 baht for any repair regardless of warranty/apple care (strange! not truly an "apple store"?)

Anyway, it might be worth speaking with the general manager over there about your problem. I don't know how your Thai is, but his English is very good.

Good luck!

Dan
Click to expand...

Hi,
I am Thai and also had the RSD problem as well. I got the notebook back since last Thursday which they replaced the logic board for me. So I have my finger crossed. But it strangely true for Thailand and I am so ashamed. Because after I checked my notebook when I received it back, I found out that they took worst care of mine. The cover was so glossy while I got many scratches at the bottom, when I returned to the same store, the store manager, just looked at it and said, it was heavily used since he could tell by the changed to 'yellowish' in the keypad. I was so mad since I bought this notebook about 3 months and I used it during night before I went to bed. Because I have another notebook when I'm at the office.

So it seem the Authorized Reseller that Apple had chose here in Thailand was unprofessional as well as irresponsible of their act.

And now I am so upset of using this apple while I am not sure where else should I turn to. Do you think I can talk or email to any one at the Apple Headquarter? Or they would just dismiss me?

Very upsetting with the services.
Wan
Bangkok, Thailand
 
rapala said:
Now the system could'nt not boot up at all, trying to do so for the past 4 hours but the LCD screen is blank with the back white light.
Any help on this problem is welcome..:mad: :mad:
Click to expand...
Turn it off, wait a second, turn it back on. Right after you turn it back on, hold these four keys at the same time: option-command(apple)-p-r

Keep them held until you've heard the startup sound 4x.
 
aristobrat said:
Turn it off, wait a second, turn it back on. Right after you turn it back on, hold these four keys at the same time: option-command(apple)-p-r

Keep them held until you've heard the startup sound 4x.
Click to expand...

Many thanks, its back up again:) :)
 
1000 Baht isn't that bad, only 25 US dollars or so.

I'd gladly pay it if they can do a good job of it, heck, I'd slip 50 under the table if they can get some Apple branded spare parts out for me through their service channels :D
 
Hmm. just talked to the guy at the service center and apparently I am just getting a new (new) heatsink. whenever it arrives. He said may be wednesday but alas i fear that is overly optimistic may be since even he admited that there is a 'world- wide- shortage' for heatsinks at the moment.

just out of interest, do you think that sending it to apple gets more stuff replaced? because i thought i'd get my top bezel replaced too (even it is not discoloured, it is a week 19, so may be it got the new stuff already? i don't know) and may be the logic board since i thought the two tend to go together.

fingers crossed.

At least it is now offically not my RAM. that makes me extremely happy.
 
Fatties they were at first replacing both the logic board and the heatsink but now they've determined that they only need to replace the heatsink. Someone has posted a bulletin apple supposedly issued were it says that just the heatsink needs replacing now. Its probably in this thread somewhere.

Don't know about the top case and such they will probably replace it if it was mentioned to them.
 
My experience with Macbook random shutdown. Took the Macbook to the Genius Bar in the Apple store in Buffalo NY on Sat. Sept 23rd they had to order parts could be a couple of weeks. Took machine home and used it while waiting for parts having at least one shut down per day. Store called Sun. Oct 1 said parts were in so I dropped it off when the store opened at 10am Mon. Store called at 12 repairs done. They put in heatsink kit with sponge and 1.0 connector(part #885909147205) a $14.95 part. They assured me this will solve the problem. Time will tell. All in all excellent service and fast turn around. It's nice living only 5 min. from the store
 
the real deal

As stated only the heatsink now needs to be changed . but various other conditions also have to be checked . eg. u need to be running 10.4.7
the latest smc update. no third party ram. Last but the most important
the macbook serial number has to be inside the affected list . pm for more info
on the serial numbers or any other details as these are apple confidential.
 
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