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User profile for user: merel_94
merel_94 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Help! Computer shuts down and restarts every few hours for no reason

Dear all,


I have basically tried everything on the website already...

My computer keeps shutting down and restarting because of an unknown problem. This has been going on for 2 whole weeks, every single night but also during the day.

I have re-installed Big Sur several times, I completely resetted the computer and everything. Did the Mac Diagnostic as well. No problems were found. I also made a new User, didn't work. Used safe mode various times, didn't make a difference. The Mac OS software is up to date, don't know how to check if other apps are up to date that are not from Apple. I can't seem to find the answers on the website.

Still after a few hours, just when I leave my computer for some time it somehow shuts down and it has trouble to restart again.

I think I have a software problem but I have no idea which problem exactly. Anyone that knows how I can fix this?

Many many thanks to someone who can help me out!


Have a nice day!


Best regards,

Merel

Posted on Mar 14, 2021 1:56 PM

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User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,020 points

Posted on Mar 16, 2021 1:33 AM

Your computer is in pretty good shape.


Let's try this:


Also, how is overall performance on the Mac?


Cheers,


Jack

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User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,020 points

Mar 16, 2021 1:33 AM in response to merel_94

Your computer is in pretty good shape.


Let's try this:


Also, how is overall performance on the Mac?


Cheers,


Jack

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User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,020 points

Mar 14, 2021 2:41 PM in response to merel_94

Hi there,


I believe we need to proceed with an EtreCheck report. EtreCheck is a useful app to diagnose and identify issues, both hardware and software. It is trusted by many users. Please follow the steps outlined below:


  1. Navigate to: https://etrecheck.com and get the free version of EtreCheckPro.
  2. Download it. It is a free and trusted app. It is often recommended here on Apple Support Communities. 
  3. Open EtreCheck, and before running the report, be sure to check “Allow full Drive Access” at the bottom of the EtreCheckPro window.
  4. Run the report, and put it in a post, as seen here - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250000211. We will then examine the report for issues in your Mac.


Also run Apple Diagnostics -  Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support Please post the Reference code when done.


Please post results of both!


Cheers,


Jack

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User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,020 points

Mar 17, 2021 12:10 AM in response to merel_94

The next step really is an erase and reinstall of macOS Big Sur. However, in order for this to work, you need to have an external storage device that you can copy data. To backup, "copy and pate" or "drag and drop" files you want to save. Do not use Time Machine. This will just restore issues.


When you are ready to erase and reinstall, follow this guide:


  1. Verify all your data is backed up to an external hard drive using "copy and pate" or "drag and drop".
  2. Sign out of your Apple ID in System Preferences > Apple ID > Overview > Sign Out.
  3. Shut down the Mac.
  4. Turn on the Mac, and immediately press and hold Option + Command + R until you see a spinning globe.
  5. Once you are in macOS Recovery, verify you are connected to WiFi in the top right corner.
  6. Go to Disk Utility.
  7. Select "View" in the toolbar > "Show All Devices".
  8. Select your main hard drive. This will either be "APPLE SSD...", "APPLE HDD...", or "Fusion Drive".
  9. Click Erase, and input the following exactly: (If you cannot select erase on the main hard drive, erase the "Container".)
  10. Name: Macintosh HD
  11. Format: APFS
  12. Scheme: GUID Partition Map (if shown)
  13. Click Erase
  14. Quit Disk Utility
  15. Go to the reinstall macOS app.
  16. Follow the prompts, and install on Macintosh HD.
  17. Once done, setup your Mac, again, and once setup, drag and drop or copy your files back to the iMac.


I hope this helps, and I think this should solve your issue.


Cheers,


Jack

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User profile for user: merel_94
merel_94 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Mar 16, 2021 2:14 AM in response to Jack-19

Dear Jack,


Thank you for these possible solutions. I have resetted PRAM and used Disk Utility for all parts. Hopefully this will resolve the issues. I have booted into Safe Mode a lot of times before, but that didn't help after restarting again. I did notice that in Safe Mode the computer didn't restart due to a problem and just stayed ON, which is different from the normal mode, but it didn't tell me about what software problems could be causing it. I also tried making a new fresh account on the computer, but even then it shut down randomly during the day.

Hopefully the first two steps of your answer were enough to solve the problems. Overall, my computer works fine, sometimes a bit slow and I see the beachball many times a day. It sometimes has trouble loading Word, which I have to force stop sometimes to get it going again. Other than that and the random shutting down and restarting, it works as it should work I guess.


I'll let you know if the problems with the shutting down/random restarting keeps happening, but hopefully it won't.


Have a nice day!!


Best regards,

Merel

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User profile for user: merel_94
merel_94 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Mar 17, 2021 12:04 AM in response to Jack-19

Dear Jack,


Unfortunately, the problems don't seem to be solved. The computer was fine during the day, but during the night my computer restarted because of a problem. This morning I saw a black screen and in various languages that a problem had occurred. Do you know anything else that I can do to get rid of this problem? It has been two weeks now since this problem first started and it is getting a bit annoying, also because I am always afraid some data has been lost because of these crashes...


Best regards,

Merel

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User profile for user: merel_94
merel_94 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Mar 17, 2021 12:15 AM in response to Jack-19

Dear Jack,


Thanks for the very quick reply!

I will try this!

However, I don't know how I can store all my data and files if Timemachine is not allowed anymore. Does this mean my Timemachine backup is invaluable to use because of this problem?

I'll think of another solution to store my data then and try to erase the whole computer.


Best regards,

Merel

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User profile for user: merel_94
merel_94 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Mar 20, 2021 1:41 PM in response to Jack-19

Dear Jack,


Hope you are well.

Is there any other way to fix this problem? I am trying to make a copy of 150GB of content from my computer to Icloud but it has only uploaded 3 GB in circa 8 hours. And my computer just shut down again during the uploading process. I have no idea how I can work with this computer because it shuts down so abrupt and at random moments. And I need to make a copy of my content (worth 150GB) because I can't work without it. How can I make sure that the uploading process to iCloud is going faster or more smoothly?

My computer is only 2 years old and this problem really is getting on my nerves, besides the fact that my computer has been slow for months. I want to completely delete my computer and start fresh but I cannot just delete 150GB worth of data that I need of course....


Hope you have any other ideas.


Best regards,

Merel

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User profile for user: merel_94
merel_94 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Mar 21, 2021 1:50 PM in response to Jack-19

Hi Jack,


I spent the whole afternoon resetting my computer just like you said. Unfortunately, the computer starts restarting again and again after the whole reset. Every time I put the computer on sluimerstand/sleep mode (I don't know the English word, it's Dutch), the computer has a problem. I didn't even put back any files or content. I just reset everything and started out fresh and still the problem keeps occurring.

I have no clue what to do next and I am really so disappointed by this. My computer is only 2 years old and it just doesn't work properly....


Please help me out or refer me to someone who can help me. I really need help!


Best regards,

Merel

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Help! Computer shuts down and restarts every few hours for no reason

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