Computer randomly goes straight to sleep

Hi g,

Try an SMC Reset: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

greyskiesblack wrote:

Did you post a reply tjk? I do not see it..

???

What do you see???

greyskiesblack wrote:

I've already tried the SMC twice. No go.

Please post what you have tried. You said you did a PRAM reset, nothing about an SMC reset (and I lost my telepathic abilities, so we're out of luck there).

greyskiesblack wrote:

I did the SMC reset twice before I did the PRAM. I booted it up in Safe Mode, but not sure if it really did anything. The random sleep only has happened twice...but I still do not know why. The second time it took more time for the computer to come back on. :/ When it started back up both times it told me my clock was messed up and needed to be fixed or something like that...and to accept something about DNS. Is that normal?

No, this isn't normal. It would be helpful to know what the DNS message was. Time and date are stored on a special capacitor, so I suspect either that capacitor or the SMC is having issues. Run Apple Hardware Test and/or bring the MBP in to an Apple Store for a free "genius" bar appointment.

greyskiesblack wrote:

I have done the Hardware Test (and the extended one) since then and found no errors. I wonder what the problem is. Would the "genius" still be able to found out the problem?

AHT is a lot better than nothing, but there's a lot it doesn't catch. Apple Stores have superior diagnostic tools, so there's a much better chance they'll be able to find something. Unfortunately, what they usually find is something on the logic board, and the repair for anything on the LB is to replace it. $$$

Do you think the disk utility would help?!

It cannot hurt. You can run Repair Permissions while booted normally, and also Verify Disk, but if VD finds something which needs repair you'll need to boot to a different volume (install disc, clone, etc.) in order to run Repair Disk.

It's the only thing I can think of doing now that I haven't done...either that or a complete reinstall of the OS. What do you think?! Does it have anything to do with a video card?

That's a more drastic step, but another form of troubleshooting. If a reinstall is easier for you than having a "genius" look at it, I'd certainly give it a try.

greyskiesblack wrote:

Will other 3rd party services or AASPs do it for less than the ones at official Apple Stores?

There's always someone cheaper . . . but Macs are . . . unique. I wouldn't trust mine to just anybody (actually, I won't trust mine to anyone at all, I try to do the work myself, unless it's under warranty).

I also wonder if it could just be a loose connection in the laptop...that's what I'm hoping anyway, just something that could be easily fixed.

Definitely could be.

I am also hoping it has nothing to do with how the laptop is controlling the temperature. How do you check logs on the Macbook for errors?

Applications > Utilities > Console

Also, just because the Genius says it's the logic board...does it always mean their right about it?

I always put "genius" in quotations marks. They're only human.😉

To do disk utility is there more info about how to do it some where?

First check the S.M.A.R.T. status on your HD: Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > in the panel at left, select the first item in the list/your HD mechanism > look at the bottom of the main window next to S.M.A.R.T. status and see if it says “Verified” or something more ominous like “Failing.”

If S.M.A.R.T. status is "Verified," run Verify Disk > click Verify Disk at bottom of main window. If a message comes up saying you need to repair your disk:

Boot from install disc (insert disc > restart > immediately hold down the c key and keep holding it until you see “Preparing Installation”) > at first screen select the language and click Continue > click on the Utilities Menu in the menu bar > select Disk Utility > select your HD in the panel on the left side (the name of the HD’s manufacturer and the model number, usually the top item in the list) > click Repair Disk at bottom of main window. Run this at least twice, and keep running it until it says “appears ok” twice in a row. If that doesn’t happen, you may need a stronger utility (such as DriveGenius, TechToolPro, DiskWarrior) or if the directory is damaged beyond repair, you may need to reinstall the OS, or you may have a damaged HD which will need to be replaced (repair utilities can only repair the directory structure, not the HD itself). When this is finished, quit Disk Utility, quit the installer, and restart. Once booted normally, go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility and run Repair Permissions.

I'm kind of unfamiliar about it and worried I'll mess it up. Is it easy to mess it up? lol

Pretty tough to mess up, so not to worry. 😉

These are simple ideas, which you may have already investigated, but may be fairly simple to correct. I didn't go through and read every note posted for your issue.

I had a problem with my last MBP not going to sleep when I closed it or waking up while in my attaché (not quite what you are describing). It turned out to be a weak magnet in the lid. My local Apple authorized repair shop replaced the entire lid and solved the problem. Do the issues with yours correlate with moving metal objects near the laptop?

Is your battery bad? I also had to have the battery on my last MBP replaced. Of course, it could go undiagnosed by the Apple tech who is probably concerned about not misdiagnosing and unintentionally replacing a good battery. I would rather it be the battery not able to charge properly than a logic board.

I hope you are able to remedy the issue easily.

DarrellSY

You are welcome.

greyskiesblack wrote:

I asked if you think AASP do it cheaper or are they the same like official Apple Stores prices?

To be honest with you, I don't know. I've read stories here both ways. If there's an Apple Store in the area, I don't understand how they could not be cheaper, otherwise who'd go to them instead of the AS?

I'll see if I can get around to doing the Disk Utility soon and if I can get it all figured out...if not I may be back with more questions. 😉

People come here to learn; some also ask questions, some also try to answer them. That's what this whole thing is here for, so we'll do our best, and when all is said and done, that's all we can do. 😉

Also can you explain more about "booting to a different volume"? What all do you have to do to do that??

Third paragraph explains booting from your install disc, but follow it from the beginning (and really, if you go step by step, in order, I don't see how you could cause a problem):

First check the S.M.A.R.T. status on your HD: Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > in the panel at left, select the first item in the list/your HD mechanism > look at the bottom of the main window next to S.M.A.R.T. status and see if it says “Verified” or something more ominous like “Failing.”

If S.M.A.R.T. status is "Verified," run Verify Disk > click Verify Disk at bottom of main window (wait for it to complete). If a message comes up saying you need to repair your disk:

Boot from install disc (insert disc > restart > immediately hold down the c key and keep holding it until you see “Preparing Installation”) > at first screen select the language and click Continue > click on the Utilities Menu in the menu bar > select Disk Utility > select your HD in the panel on the left side (the name of the HD’s manufacturer and the model number, usually the top item in the list) > click Repair Disk at bottom of main window. Run this at least twice, and keep running it until it says “appears ok” twice in a row. If that doesn’t happen, you may need a stronger utility (such as DriveGenius, TechToolPro, DiskWarrior) or if the directory is damaged beyond repair, you may need to reinstall the OS, or you may have a damaged HD which will need to be replaced (repair utilities can only repair the directory structure, not the HD itself). When this is finished, quit Disk Utility, quit the installer, and restart. Once booted normally, go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility and run Repair Permissions.