MacBook Pro randomly shuts itself off...

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MacBook Pro randomly shuts itself off...

Hey everyone

First post here... no info exists on the Apple site regarding this problem on PRO machines, so I registered here in the forums...

My MacBook Pro, running OSX 10.4.11 just started shutting itself randomly off DURING use. Not sleep, we're talking a total shutdown! The firmware and all software is updated, the machine is about a year-and-a-half old (out of warranty), but everything should be fine, and I have no idea what to do. I'm freaking out!

Thanks in advance to everyone for your time...

Stef, the creator of Sarah Zero

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Feb 17, 2008 11:09 AM

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Answer 1

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Mac-Medic

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Feb 17, 2008 6:39 PM in response to plughead

Note the exact time the event occurs, and then check your system logs in your Console application for clues to the cause. It may be thermal related.

-Bmer
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Answer 2

plughead Author

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Feb 17, 2008 8:43 PM in response to Mac-Medic

Awesome, MacMedic

Thanks dude, I'll give that a try ASAP...

Here's something REALLY weird... each of the 3 shutdowns so far was while I was using Photoshop CS2... I started using Photoshop CS3 and so far, no shut downs...

Spooky... weird... cool.

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Answer 3

Mac-Medic

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17,301 points

Feb 17, 2008 8:49 PM in response to plughead

Try running SysytemLoad for an extended period of time once. If it shuts down, it's more than likely thermal related. Also, monitor your CPU core temps with smcFanControl.

http://www.bresink.de/osx/SystemLoad.html

-Bmer
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Answer 4

plughead Author

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Feb 19, 2008 12:41 PM in response to Mac-Medic

Hi there MacMedic

My Mac's been fine the past few days and has not shut down until just now... how can I upload a screencap of what console reported? I'm now downloading SystemLoad to see if it finds a problem.

In the meantime, should I try resetting the SMC controller? Article found here:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303319

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Answer 5

Mac-Medic

Level 6

17,301 points

Feb 19, 2008 12:50 PM in response to plughead

Just copy and paste the log--around the time it happened--here. I don't think resetting the SMC will cure it, but it won't hurt to try.

-Bmer
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Answer 6

plughead Author

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Feb 19, 2008 12:58 PM in response to Mac-Medic

OK, here it is...

/Users/plughead/Desktop/Picture 1.png

Message was edited by: plughead

I don't know how to upload a screencap... there's no option in message edit to do so, and neither "drag and drop" nor "copy and paste" is working...

Sorry, confused...

Message was edited by: plughead

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Answer 7

Mac-Medic

Level 6

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Feb 19, 2008 1:03 PM in response to plughead

Just copy and past the logs. You need to use a server if you want to display a graphic.

-Bmer
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Answer 8

plughead Author

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Feb 19, 2008 1:12 PM in response to Mac-Medic

Image uploaded to here... is there a way to display a graphic inline within a thread here?

http://sarahzero.com/zforum_posts/console_log001a.png

So far, SystemLoad has found no problems on both processors with 10% and 50% load generation, respectively... now trying 100%...

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Answer 9

plughead Author

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Feb 21, 2008 10:14 AM in response to plughead

Hey everyone

My MacBook Pro just shut itself down again. Here is the log copy and pasted. Please help!

Mac OS X Version 10.4.11 (Build 8S2167)
2008-02-21 13:04:31 -0500
Feb 21 13:04:32 PDA-Bookie mDNSResponder: Adding browse domain local.
Feb 21 13:04:35 PDA-Bookie ntpdate[120]: can't find host time.apple.com\n
Feb 21 13:04:35 PDA-Bookie ntpdate[120]: no servers can be used, exiting
2008-02-21 13:04:38.603 SystemUIServer[93] lang is:en
Feb 21 13:04:43 PDA-Bookie VersionCueCS2Daemon[211]: warning: VersionCueCS2Daemon not started by mach_init process (parent pid: 1)
2008-02-21 13:04:44.613 SecurityFixer[210] No insecure startup items found!

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Answer 10

Mac-Medic

Level 6

17,301 points

Feb 21, 2008 4:13 PM in response to plughead

That's not really giving me a lot of information. I believe the problem is hardware related though--most likely thermal related.

-Bmer
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Answer 11

plughead Author

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Feb 21, 2008 5:19 PM in response to Mac-Medic

Hey MacMedic!

How you doing, my friend?

Sorry the log wasn't helpful, that was all there was to it... but anyway, I just now got back from the Apple Store at Yorkdale Mall here in Toronto... they're going to try to force the computer shut down with High Load & ASD Test... so they've got my MBP for a few days and we'll have to see what the final solution to the problem is...

Luckily I still have my G4 tower in the meantime...

Thanks to you and everyone who followed this thread, I'll be sure to let everyone know how things turned out once everything is all fixed up so that hopefully others can benefit from this experience...

: )

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Answer 12

Mac-Medic

Level 6

17,301 points

Feb 21, 2008 5:44 PM in response to plughead

The best thing to do if you plan on keeping a new Mac over a year, is to buy AppleCare.

-Bmer
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