John Cowan

Q: MacBook Pro shutting down randomly and difficult to restart

MacBook Pro 17" early 2009, 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

750GB ST9750420AS hard drive, 8GB RAM

Yosemite 10.10.5

 

Randomly shutting down - eg when sleeping, sometimes will shut down rather than wake - sometimes will simply shut down on its own (both happened when only power cable and ethernet connected). Sometimes when, for example, accessing iPhoto library on USB connected disk, as soon as Photos tries to start up - shut down. Sometimes when left at night (not sleeping) it's off in the morning.

 

Then can be hard to restart. For example, this morning...

 

Was sleeping overnight, pressed space bar - shut down

Refused to start a number of times (sometimes just a slight noise from the hard drive, then nothing, sometimes the grey screen and the Apple logo for a few seconds, then nothing).

Tried selecting Recovery Disk instead of Macintosh HD. Same as above.

Tried connecting usb cloned boot disk. Same again.

Reset SMC (have done this many times in the past, by the way). Same again.

Reset NVRAM (also done many times in the past). A much longer attempt to start up this time - progress bar under Apple logo almost half way, then shut down.

Reset SMC and NVRAM. Started!

 

The hard drive is a bit clicky and I have a replacement SSD drive on order, but I suspect this may well not be the problem. I live a few hours drive from the nearest Apple Centre so can't just pop in to ask the Genius Bar. Also it is my work computer, so can't really afford to be without it. Many years of software and files on board (although well backed up) so reluctant to erase disk and re-install. Trouble is though, if I fit the new drive and clone the existing one, will I be cloning the problem too!

 

Any thoughts?

Posted on Sep 15, 2016 3:30 AM

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Q: MacBook Pro shutting down randomly and difficult to restart

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  • by The LEGOers,

    The LEGOers The LEGOers Sep 15, 2016 4:23 AM in response to John Cowan
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2016 4:23 AM in response to John Cowan

    Have you attempted to use your computer while you wiped it of data before restoring from your time machine? If it works maybe your files is corrupt and you will have to restore the files without the settings. If that doesn't work, I believe you have to go to the Genius Bar to check as it might be a hardware problem.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Sep 15, 2016 4:33 AM in response to John Cowan
    Level 9 (52,374 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2016 4:33 AM in response to John Cowan

    Run an Apple Hardware Test:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257

     

    Note that an error free AHT is not conclusive.

     

    Download and post an Etrecheck report:

     

    http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

     

    Ciao.

  • by John Cowan,

    John Cowan John Cowan Sep 15, 2016 6:44 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (103 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 15, 2016 6:44 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    I did run an Apple Hardware Test (from my original Install Disk 2). It showed no problems.

     

    I have now run an Etrecheck report, as follows:-

     

    EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)

    Report generated 2016-09-15 13:58:49

    Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

    Runtime 6:03

    Performance: Below Average

     

    Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

    Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

     

    Problem: Other problem

    Description:

    Macbook pro randomly shutting down and having difficulty restarting. SMC and NVRAM resets often needed.

     

    Hardware Information: ⓘ

        MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)

        [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

        MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro5,2

        1 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

        8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

            BANK 0/DIMM0

                4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

            BANK 1/DIMM0

                4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

        Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

        Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

        Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 24

     

    Video Information: ⓘ

        NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB

            Color LCD 1920 x 1200

        NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT - VRAM: 512 MB

     

    System Software: ⓘ

        OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 (14F1912) - Time since boot: about 3 hours

     

    Disk Information: ⓘ

        ST9750420AS disk0 : (750.16 GB) (Rotational)

            EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 715.67 GB (119.98 GB free)

            Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB

            10.6.8 (disk0s4) /Volumes/10.6.8 : 32.98 GB (17.37 GB free)

     

        HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GS21N   ()

     

    USB Information: ⓘ

        Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

        LaCie Rugged Mini USB 3.0 1 TB

            EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Mac Clone 1 (disk1s2) /Volumes/Mac Clone 1 : 999.21 GB (23.63 GB free)

            Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB

        Apple, Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

        Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

        Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

            Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

     

    Configuration files: ⓘ

        /etc/hosts - Count: 23

     

    Gatekeeper: ⓘ

        Mac App Store and identified developers

     

    Unknown Files: ⓘ

        /Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.NavService.plist

            /Applications/Navionics World/NavService.app/Contents/MacOS/NavService -runMode ifneeded

        One unknown file found. [Check files]

     

    Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

            /System/Library/Extensions

        [not loaded]    com.Analog.iokit.ADSLEthernetController (1.0.4 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.Analog.iokit.ADSLUSBModem (2.0.2 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.TMM.iokit.udslusb (3.0.2.2.6 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.avira.kext.FileAccessControl (1.0.0d1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.devguru.driver.SamsungComposite (1.2.61 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboard (6.3 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouse (6.3 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.tascam.usb2audio.driver (2.00 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

        [not loaded]    jp.co.roland.RDUSB0009Dev (1.1.1 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

     

            /System/Library/Extensions/MicrosoftKeyboard.kext/Contents/PlugIns

        [not loaded]    com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboardBluetooth (6.3 - 2008-06-11) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboardUSB (6.3 - 2008-06-11) [Support]

     

            /System/Library/Extensions/MicrosoftMouse.kext/Contents/PlugIns

        [not loaded]    com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseBluetooth (6.3 - 2008-06-11) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseUSB (6.3 - 2008-06-11) [Support]

     

            /System/Library/Extensions/TASCAM_US1xx.kext/Contents/PlugIns

        [not loaded]    com.tascam.usb2audio.driver_TIGER (2.00 - 2009-12-15) [Support]

     

            /System/Library/Extensions/ssuddrv.kext/Contents/PlugIns

        [not loaded]    com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMControl (1.2.61 - SDK 10.6 - 2013-02-14) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMData (1.2.61 - SDK 10.6 - 2013-02-14) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.devguru.driver.SamsungMTP (1.2.61 - SDK 10.5 - 2013-02-14) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.devguru.driver.SamsungSerial (1.2.61 - SDK 10.6 - 2013-02-14) [Support]

     

    Startup Items: ⓘ

        ADSLAutoConfig: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ADSLAutoConfig

        ParallelsDesktopTransporter: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ParallelsDesktopTransporter

        RetroRun: Path: /Library/StartupItems/RetroRun

        Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

     

    System Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [not loaded]    6 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    145 Apple tasks

        [running]    61 Apple tasks

     

    System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

        [not loaded]    46 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    135 Apple tasks

        [running]    81 Apple tasks

     

    Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [not loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-10-05) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.CS4ServiceManager.plist (2009-03-14) [Support]

        [failed]    com.apple.NavService.plist (2012-02-10) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.intego.backupassistant.agent.plist (2012-10-24) [Support]

        [running]    com.trusteer.rapport.rapportd.plist (2016-07-18) [Support]

        [running]    com.wdc.raidmanagerstatusmenu.plist (2013-11-11) [Support]

        [loaded]    org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2016-05-05) [Support]

     

    Launch Daemons: ⓘ

        [failed]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-04-05) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.versioncueCS4.plist (2009-03-15) [Support]

        [running]    com.backblaze.bzserv.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.bombich.ccc.plist (2011-02-19) [Support]

        [running]    com.bombich.ccchelper.plist (2014-12-23) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.cyberghostsrl.CyberghostPrivilegedHelper.plist (2014-12-30) [Support]

        [running]    com.fawkes.RipCore.plist (2008-08-13) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-02) [Support]

        [running]    com.intego.BackupAssistant.daemon.plist (2012-10-24) [Support]

        [running]    com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd.plist (2016-07-18) [Support]

        [running]    com.wdc.WDRAIDDriveService.plist (2013-11-11) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.westerndigital.WD-Drive-Manager-Installer.plist (2014-10-16) [Support]

        [loaded]    org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2016-05-05) [Support]

     

    User Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [failed]    NavService.plist (2014-02-15) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-10-05) [Support]

        [failed]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2016-02-13) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2010-03-17) [Support]

        [running]    com.amazon.music.plist (2014-12-11) [Support]

        [running]    com.backblaze.bzbmenu.plist (2016-09-14) [Support]

        [failed]    com.zeobit.MacKeeper.Helper.plist (2014-08-02) [Support]

        [running]    org.Navionics.NavService.plist (2016-07-05) [Support]

     

    User Login Items: ⓘ

        MicrosoftMouseHelper    Application  (/Library/PreferencePanes/Microsoft Mouse.prefPane/Contents/Resources/MicrosoftMouseHelper.app)

        MicrosoftKeyboardHelper    Application  (/Library/PreferencePanes/Microsoft Keyboard.prefPane/Contents/Resources/MicrosoftKeyboardHelper.app)

        Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

        CCC User Agent    Application  (/Applications/Carbon Copy Cloner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/CCC User Agent.app)

        fuspredownloader    Application Hidden (~/Library/Application Support/.FUS/fuspredownloader.app)

     

    Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

        Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-07) [Support]

        Default Browser: 600 - SDK 10.10 (2015-07-17)

        Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 2.3.4.1 (2010-06-15) [Support]

        OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.6 (2013-03-22) [Support]

        AdobeAAMDetect: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-10-05) [Support]

        FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.213 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-07) [Support]

        NavIn: NavIn 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.0 (2013-01-18) [Support]

        Silverlight: 4.0.50401.0 (2011-02-13) [Support]

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-02)

        Flash Player: 21.0.0.213 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-07) Outdated! Update

        iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2011-02-19)

        eMusicRemote: Unknown (2009-03-11) [Support]

        AdobePDFViewer: 9.5.5 (2013-05-20) [Support]

        npNavLaunch: NavLaunch_x86_64 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-02-15) [Support]

        Scorch: 5.2.5 (2009-03-10) [Support]

        eMusic: Unknown (2008-09-11)

        JavaAppletPlugin: 15.0.1 - SDK 10.7 (2014-10-06) Check version

     

    User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

        CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (2013-04-26) [Support]

     

    Safari Extensions: ⓘ

        DuckDuckGo - DuckDuckGo - http://duckduckgo.com (2015-07-10)

     

    Audio Plug-ins: ⓘ

        TASCAM_US1xx: Unknown (2009-12-15) [Support]

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

        Adobe Version Cue CS4 (2009-03-15) [Support]

        APE Manager (2009-03-11)

        Backblaze Backup (2016-07-11) [Support]

        Déjà Vu (2009-03-11) [Support]

        Flash Player (2016-04-05) [Support]

        Flip4Mac WMV (2010-06-15) [Support]

        MacFUSE (2010-01-29) [Support]

        Microsoft Keyboard (2009-03-13) [Support]

        Microsoft Mouse (2009-03-13) [Support]

        Perian (2011-02-13) [Support]

        Trusteer Endpoint Protection (2016-08-07) [Support]

     

    Time Machine: ⓘ

        Skip System Files: NO

        Mobile backups: ON

        Auto backup: YES

        Volumes being backed up:

            Macintosh HD: Disk size: 715.67 GB Disk used: 595.69 GB

        Destinations:

            MyBook [Local]

            Total size: 999.85 GB

            Total number of backups: 74

            Oldest backup: 06/11/2015 14:56

            Last backup: 14/09/2016 10:30

            Size of backup disk: Too small

                Backup size 999.85 GB < (Disk used 595.69 GB X 3)

     

    Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

             7%    WindowServer

             1%    kernel_task

             1%    mtmfs

             0%    Google Chrome Helper(6)

             0%    fontd

     

    Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

        1.08 GB    Google Chrome Helper(6)

        677 MB    kernel_task

        262 MB    Google Chrome

        246 MB    mds_stores

        188 MB    mdworker(6)

     

    Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

        1.30 GB    Free RAM

        6.70 GB    Used RAM (3.06 GB Cached)

        0 B    Swap Used

     

    Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

        Sep 15, 2016, 09:57:15 AM    Self test - passed

        Sep 13, 2016, 06:22:19 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/NavService_2016-09-13-182219_[redacted].cpu_res ource.diag [Details]

            /Applications/Chart Installer/NavService.app/Contents/MacOS/NavService

     

    Any clues there?

     

     

  • by John Cowan,

    John Cowan John Cowan Sep 15, 2016 7:22 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (103 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 15, 2016 7:22 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Also, and this might not be relevant, I have a 2TB WD drive usually connected via firewire which I use for Time Machine backups. This has often disconnected itself, resulting in an error message to say that the drive was not properly disconnected. Sometimes Time Machine has hung up or taken over most of the CPU trying to back up, resulting in a hot computer (although never a shut down). I'm wondering if this might have corrupted something?

     

    I have also run Disk utility both to repair the disk (resulting in "disk appears to be ok") and to repair the permissions, when I always seem to get the same or very similar result, even if the permissions have just been repaired -

    Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”Permissions differ on “Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Resources/Safari.help/Contents/Resources/inde x.html”; should be lrwxr-xr-x ; they are -rwxr-xr-x .

    Repaired “Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Resources/Safari.help/Contents/Resources/inde x.html”

    Group differs on “Library/Printers/InstalledPrinters.plist”; should be 80; group is 0.

    Permissions differ on “Library/Printers/InstalledPrinters.plist”; should be -rw-rw-rw- ; they are -rw-r--r-- .

    Repaired “Library/Printers/InstalledPrinters.plist”

    Warning: SUID file “System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent” has been modified and will not be repaired.

    User differs on “private/var/db/displaypolicyd”; should be 0; user is 244.

    Group differs on “private/var/db/displaypolicyd”; should be 0; group is 244.

    Repaired “private/var/db/displaypolicyd”

    Permissions differ on “Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/SafariForWebKitDevelopment”; should be -rwxr-xr-x ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .

    Repaired “Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/SafariForWebKitDevelopment”

    Permissions repair complete

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Sep 15, 2016 11:03 AM in response to John Cowan
    Level 9 (52,374 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2016 11:03 AM in response to John Cowan

    I suggest that you delete the Avira and Tusteer products from your MBP.  Go to the developer websites for uninstall instructions.   You also have some Mackeeper files that should be eliminated.  You may have to install Mackeeper and then uninstall it to rid all elements from your MBP.

     

    Have you tried a safe boot?

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

     

    What are the results?

     

    Do I understand that you cannot get into the recovery partition?

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

     

    The Etrecheck report indicates that the HDD is not performing well.

     

    WD HDD /enclosures/software has often been found to be problematic.  I would take out the bare drives and install them in functional generic enclosures.

     

    Ciao.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Sep 15, 2016 1:05 PM in response to John Cowan
    Level 8 (49,226 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2016 1:05 PM in response to John Cowan

    Uninstall "Trusteer" according to its instructions. The following may be helpful:

     

    https://www.trusteer.com/support/uninstalling-rapport-mac-os-x

     

    Uninstall "Avira" according to its instructions. Use no other technique, procedure, or utility to uninstall it.

     

    Like all ill-conceived "anti-virus" garbage its uninstaller is not completely effective. The following files and folders will remain and require manual removal:

     

    ~/Library/Application Support/Avira

    /Library/Application Support/Avira

    ~/Library/Saved Application State/com.avira.uninstall.savedState

    ~/Library/Saved Application State/com.avira.controlcenter.savedState

    /var/log/com.avira.helper.watchdox.log

     

    Do you know the reason that Mac's Hosts file appears to have been modified? If you don't, please read Fixing a hacked /etc/hosts file. It won't cause random shutdowns though.

     

    Additional factors including hardware faults may be present, or may be contributing to that particular problem. Read below to determine the cause for the shutdowns.

     



    Wait until the Mac shuts down unexpectedly, then examine your system.log file to identify the numeric code associated with the shutdown. Read below.

     

    Find the Console app - it is in your Utilities folder and looks like this

     

    Screen Shot 2013-10-15 at 1.28.39 AM.png

     

    You can find it by selecting Utilities from the Finder's Go menu.

     

    Open Console.

     

    If the log list column on the left is not already displayed, show the log list by selecting Show Log List from Console's View menu.

     

    Locate system.log in the list and select it. Many date and time-stamped entries will appear, hundreds of them, and you must find the entries relevant to your Mac's problem.

     

    To do that type the words shutdown cause in the Filter field at the upper right of the Console window.

     

    That will cause all log entries to be hidden, except for the entries containing those words. There will be a numeric code associated with the log entry starting with "Previous shutdown cause". What is that code?


  • by John Cowan,

    John Cowan John Cowan Sep 15, 2016 2:08 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (103 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 15, 2016 2:08 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Thank you. Will delete those apps and try safe mode in the morning. Am I right in thinking that the Recovery Partition is the same as the Recovery Disk. In which case I can usually get into it (to Repair Disk with Disk Utilities, for example), but just not this morning!

  • by John Cowan,

    John Cowan John Cowan Sep 15, 2016 2:11 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (103 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 15, 2016 2:11 PM in response to John Galt

    Thank you for all that advice, which I shall be actioning tomorrow am. In the meantime, I used the Console as instructed and this is what it revealed...

     

    Sep 14 14:32:48 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128

    Sep 14 15:03:21 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128

    Sep 14 15:30:46 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128

    Sep 14 15:35:09 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128

    Sep 14 15:38:30 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: 0

    Sep 15 09:55:52 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128

    Sep 15 09:57:53 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: 0

     

    I'll let you know how I get on.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Sep 15, 2016 4:04 PM in response to John Cowan
    Level 8 (49,226 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2016 4:04 PM in response to John Cowan

    Sep 14 15:38:30 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: 0

     

    That is odd because I have never seen that code appear on a portable. On a desktop Mac, it will be associated with an unexpected loss of power, as though its power cord were suddenly disconnected or if its internal power supply inexplicably shut down.

     

    On the other hand portable Macs always have power. Even if you were to let its battery run down completely, beyond the usual "ten minute warning", your MacBook Pro will initiate an orderly shutdown upon reaching a critically low, yet still non-zero, state of charge.

     

    To abruptly remove power on a portable Mac would require physically disconnecting its battery, or – as may be the case with yours – a fault in its power supply causing the same result.

     

    Two questions:

     

    • Were there any external devices such a USB keyboard or hard disk drive connected to the Mac when it shut down?
    • That battery is reported to have only 24 cycles, is that right? If Apple installed it recently, then their one year warranty applies. (I hope it was Apple that replaced it.)

     

    The challenge with intermittent problems such as this is that they never seem to occur when you take a Mac in for diagnosis. Apple might perform an inspection and conduct certain tests only to declare it perfectly sound. To preclude that outcome, please remove the two useless utilities I explained earlier, since they are not capable of providing any benefit and their presence will only complicate troubleshooting.

     

    Then, I suggest starting your Mac in "Safe Mode" and leaving it in that mode overnight. Disconnect anything connected to it. If the same shutdowns occur, then you will have gained valuable information to discuss the problem with Apple. If the problem is isolated to the battery or DC-in board it might not be very expensive to repair.

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Sep 15, 2016 8:04 PM in response to John Cowan
    Level 7 (23,640 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 15, 2016 8:04 PM in response to John Cowan
    Tried connecting usb cloned boot disk. Same again.

    Please clarify this statement. 

     

    Does this mean you booted off the external clone and encountered the same exact symptoms?

  • by John Cowan,

    John Cowan John Cowan Sep 16, 2016 1:23 AM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (103 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 16, 2016 1:23 AM in response to leroydouglas

    Thank you for your question. Yes, I tried booting off a usb connected clone and got exactly the same symptoms. See also my reply regarding the battery.

  • by John Cowan,

    John Cowan John Cowan Sep 16, 2016 2:20 AM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (103 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 16, 2016 2:20 AM in response to John Galt

    Hi John

     

    Thank you very much for your continued interest.

     

    I normally use the mac connected to mains power and to an external monitor and keyboard. The first time this unexpected shutdown occurred was some months ago when I put it to sleep, disconnected and moved it. When I tried to wake it, it shutdown. But restarted ok. When I put it to sleep again, reconnected it to the mains and all its peripherals and then tried to wake it, it again shutdown. Then it started ok. It has got steadily worse since then and, at times, difficult to restart.

     

    To answer your questions, the shutdowns can occur with or without peripheral USB and/or Firewire devices connected.

     

    The battery, hmm. Back in March 2013, the original battery swelled up so much that the trackpad no longer worked. So I replaced it (myself) with a (supposedly) new Original Battery Macbook Pro 17" A1297 A1309 AKKU APPLE laptop 95WH new bought from eBay. The current details for that battery (from About This Mac) are as follows:-

     

    Battery Information:

     

      Model Information:

      Serial Number: 9G90404T14M0A

      Manufacturer: DP

      Device Name: bq20z951

      Pack Lot Code: 0

      PCB Lot Code: 0

      Firmware Version: 42

      Hardware Revision: 1

      Cell Revision: 119

      Charge Information:

      Charge Remaining (mAh): 11370

      Fully Charged: Yes

      Charging: No

      Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 11370

      Health Information:

      Cycle Count: 24

      Condition: Normal

      Battery Installed: Yes

      Amperage (mA): 0

      Voltage (mV): 8280

     

    But, even though the Mac is usually connected to the mains, 24 cycles does appear to be a bit low for a three and a half year old battery. So maybe therein lies the problem?

     

    Is there any way I can further test the battery or the DC-in board myself?

     

    When the unexpected shutdown does occur, it is instantaneous and accompanied by a quiet "chink" noise, exactly as one might expect from a power cut.

     

    See also my reply to leroydouglas - exactly the same can happen if I try to boot from a USB clone.

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Sep 16, 2016 7:18 AM in response to John Cowan
    Level 7 (23,640 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 16, 2016 7:18 AM in response to John Cowan

    John Cowan wrote:

     

     

     

    Is there any way I can further test the battery or the DC-in board myself?

     

    When the unexpected shutdown does occur, it is instantaneous and accompanied by a quiet "chink" noise, exactly as one might expect from a power cut.

     

     

     

    Did you run the Apple Hardware Test as suggested by OGELTHORPE above—AHT  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509

     

    Not definitive by any means, but may kick out an error code and yes it can give you info on the battery and DC-in board.

     

    The only chink noise would be a spinning HD, I suspect the SMS

    Mac notebooks: About the Sudden Motion Sensor - Apple Support

  • by John Cowan,

    John Cowan John Cowan Sep 16, 2016 7:53 AM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (103 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 16, 2016 7:53 AM in response to leroydouglas

    Hi Leroy

     

    Thanks for coming back again. Yes, I've done the Apple Hardware Test and it said everything was fine. The chink does sound like the SMS as referred to in your link, but would the SMS still work if the power had been interrupted?

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