When my MacBook Pro i7 runs out of batter…

Feb 16, 2011 10:47 PM in response to moccasynth

"fat chance, they won't acknowledge a problem after this long. last mac i buy. the macbooks (at this rate) are going to fall victim to to what's happening to the iphone vs android. now where's a googlebook pro when you want one? "

Wrong, there is a capture process. Half the problem is people do not call AppleCare and report problems like this because they are out of warranty support and will not pay for troubleshooting over the phone. If there are well known issues they need to be brought to the attention of the AppleCare representatives because they are the ones who present this to engineering. When Apple sees a trend like this they have what they call a Capture process where they collect 10-50-100 laptops, send you a new one if an open capture is active so that Apple Engineering can dissect and tear apart the machine and find out exactly what is happening. Until a resolution is found there is not much more that can be done.

Here are your obvious choices:
Reset SMC
Reset PRAM
Software issue? Erase install
Hardware issue? Replace battery, SMC, logic board

As for this being an epidemic of the thousands upon thousands of these being sold, a small group does not equal everyone. As for never buying a Mac again (that's why I quoted) have fun with your windows machines. Enjoy trying to get your wireless drivers working on linux systems. Enjoy the malware and viruses, corrupt registry entries, reinstalling twice a month. In terms of the iPhone vs Droid, iPhone sales are still through the roof and are yet more stable than Droid, I've owned 3 Droid phones and yes I know Linux. Mac's will be here no matter how upset you are about it. Just go buy a PC please, dont come crawling back. I've never owned a better machine besides my rack mount server 🙂

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JD1701

Level 1

4 points

Feb 17, 2011 8:15 AM in response to stevesw

I am having the same issue. Bought my MacBook Pro back in late 2008, and just recently I noticed the battery drains quicker than in the past. Now, when it gets to 80% or sometimes even higher the machine shuts down. How do I stop it from doing this?

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Miksa

Level 1

10 points

Feb 17, 2011 10:32 AM in response to JD1701

Go to System Profiler and click on Power under the hardware tab. Paste all the info here, your battery may be depleted.

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daysean

Level 1

0 points

Feb 24, 2011 12:48 PM in response to stevesw

Looks like this thread has kind of died out. I guess everyone just got tired of no usefull information coming from Apple.

I also have this problem with a Mid 2010 MBP i7, 17inch. At 0% charge level it turns off competely and does not have the blinking sleep mode light come on. This has happened twice now and is why I checked this forum out to see if anyone else had this issue and what the fix was. Guess I am SOL on a fix.

So I will call apple about it. I have the 3 year customer service agreement for support. I will report back what they say since it looks like we need some updated information on this situation.

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daysean

Level 1

0 points

Feb 25, 2011 10:25 AM in response to stevesw

This is my update to yesteredays's entry.
I spoke with Apple Care technician, first and second level. They had no idea and they didn't seem to be aware of the previous issues that others on here have said. I didn't push it as I just wanted to know what they would do.

To make a long story short, the 2nd level technician has asked me to bring the computer into the apple store for them to check the hardware out on the computer. So I have an appointment tomorrow to check it out. He did say that it sounded like it was a possible short in the system.

I will post again on what happened on Saturday.

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Zesn

Level 1

0 points

Feb 26, 2011 12:50 AM in response to stevesw

Hi guys.
Zesn here with my mid-2010 mbp13.
Called applecare to resolve my issue, apparently some don't know their stuffs and have to check the internet, while others know it inside out.

they asked me to reset my p-ram and smc.
I did and the same thing happened, computer didn't go to sleep, shut down, turned on again prompting me for my internet password and an awkward 1st January date, while the other information are left intact.

yesterday i called again, and they told me to re-install my Mac OS X.
i just did it today, and calibrated my battery.
everything is fine,
computer went to sleep immediately after the battery timer hit 0:00.
there wasn't the blinking sleep indicator light though, left me puzzled.
after i attached the power and pressed the on button, everything was there, intact, all my browsers tabs and stuff, all there.

previously, before the re-installation of the OS X, my timer stayed at 0:00 for at least 5 mins! That was absurd.

I'm just puzzled at why the re-installation of the OS solves the problem, meh, it doesn't make sense. Like something went wrong when i got my computer.
My mbp13 is only 2 months old, and when i first got it nobody told me to calibrate the battery.

I didn't know i had to calibrate it the first time i was using it.
Anyway,
problem solved for me, cheers.
I wished they replaced the battery for me though, haha.

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daysean

Level 1

0 points

Feb 26, 2011 1:29 PM in response to stevesw

OK. Just got back from the Apple Store.

All hardware checked out OK.

They said that although everything looks ok and is working within "specs" really?? this is within specs??? They would replace the battery. They said the battery specs were a little on the low side (I didn't ask to clarify). It seemed reasonable to me at this point. They didn't have the batter in stock so I have to go back in when they get it. Probably by Tuesday of next week. I will post another update to see if this solves the issue.

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JD1701

Level 1

4 points

Mar 5, 2011 4:50 AM in response to Miksa

As requested...

Battery Information:

Model Information:
Serial Number: Sony-ASMB012-38cb-637a
Manufacturer: Sony
Device name: ASMB012
Pack Lot Code: 0000
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0110
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0303
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 4477
Fully charged: No
Charging: Yes
Full charge capacity (mAh): 4581
Health Information:
Cycle count: 83
Condition: Good
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 304
Voltage (mV): 12603

System Power Settings:

AC Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 15
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 15
Automatic Restart On Power Loss: No
Wake On AC Change: No
Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
Wake On LAN: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Battery Power:
System Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Disk Sleep Timer (Minutes): 10
Display Sleep Timer (Minutes): 2
Wake On AC Change: No
Wake On Clamshell Open: Yes
Display Sleep Uses Dim: Yes
Reduce Brightness: Yes

Hardware Configuration:

UPS Installed: No

AC Charger Information:

Connected: Yes
Charging: Yes

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JD1701

Level 1

4 points

Mar 12, 2011 3:01 AM in response to Miksa

Miksa,

I have posted the information you requested. Any input?

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Mar 29, 2011 11:33 AM in response to daysean

Hi daysean. Any update related to your situation or the change of battery.
Greetings.

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Apr 3, 2011 12:06 PM in response to stevesw

after a call to 3rd level applecare and a trip to the genius bar the solution is as follows:

1) calibrate battery
2) reset SMC and PRAM
3) do a fresh install of osx,(on an external drve) update to latest (10.6.7 at this time)
4) replace battery if out of spec
5) replace logic boad (seems to have fixed issue)

it is my opinon that this is due to a faulty battery (or battery terminal) on the logic board... but even with that they will still replace the board

great help from this board, Thea at 29th st apple store, and robert abbott at applecare

thanks
-niccolo

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Apr 3, 2011 5:05 PM in response to ry.N

a

Message was edited by: niccolo Aieta

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Jun 1, 2011 7:03 AM in response to stevesw

Sorry, but I think that -despite I thought something else another time- this is a problem at software level, not hardware level. Someone already documented that despite the change of the logic board the problem persisted.

I believe that there might be a glitch in to force SafeSleep mode (whatever deep sleep mode or hibernation) when something is working. In my case, the system recognizes that the battery is 0%, and despite that, if I keep working, the system shuts down without going into SafeSleep. It happens sometimes, not always, but it is quite annoying.

Today I lost 20 minutes of work on a web form that does not store information between intervals. It is very, very, annoying. Apple should make a code review of its operating system and deliver a formal response to this "string".

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Jun 2, 2011 9:03 AM in response to Jorge Castillo S.

I have a 15" MBP, 2010 version. This machines has always, when reached 0% battery, gone into safe sleep and shut down (with no pulsating light). When it is charged back up, you can see the viewscreen starting up from safe sleep mode. So, it must be working.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1757

Also, just read that this kbase got updated to say certain models DO NOT need to be calibrated:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490

maybe this is all working the way it should be and I am trying to calibrate something that doesn't need it. So, when the machine runs to Zero, it's doing what it should according to Safe Sleep definition..

Additional Information

Some portable computers are pre-calibrated and do not require the calibration procedure outlined in this article. These computers use batteries that should be replaced only by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

MacBook

MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010)

MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009)

MacBook Air

MacBook Air (Mid 2009)

MacBook Air (Late 2008)

MacBook Air (Original)

MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010)

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009)

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53GHz, Mid 2009)

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009)

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)

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Jun 2, 2011 2:15 PM in response to powerbook1701

Hi,

Thank for your response. I have a question. I know this behavior and with my MacBook Pro (also Mid. 2010) I have this response when battery reach 0% (then goes to Safe Sleep mode). But in some situations the MacBook Pro just shut down and does not restart as it should do when recovers from Safe Sleep (doesn't appears the bars that you show). Have you noted some circumstances when it works? Have you documents or files in edition without saving? I have noted (I am not sure, it is just a sensation without confirmation) that when I am editing and I have not saved the work, the Safe Sleep works, but I am not sure if the same condition is when doesn't works.

Could Safe Sleep be a condition that works when some document or file have not been saved before battery reach 0%?

Another antecedent. The technician in Geniur Bar, one or two months ago, said me that it occurs commonly (the irregular function of Safe Sleep), and that in his MacBook Pro he have noted the same situation.

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When my MacBook Pro i7 runs out of battery, it powers off.