SMC keeps resetting upon startup

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Level 1

6 points

SMC keeps resetting upon startup

Last week my battery abruptly died (condition replace now), which is a seperate problem, but I read the problem might be software related. One recommendation was to reset the SMC. Which I did. Not only did it not fix the battery issue, but now it continues to reset every time I startup my laptop.

To be specific, before I reset SMC, I would hit the power button, hear the power sound and the screen would flash grey almost immediatley. Now when I hit the power button, the sleep icon flashes white four or five times, then the power sound and the grey sceen. Anyone else experience this or have a fix? Thanks!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 4GB

Posted on Feb 9, 2013 4:27 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 10, 2013 9:24 AM in response to gotfilm123

the sleep icon flashes white four or five times

If you mean the power-on/Sleep indicator is flashing, that is indicative of a MEMORY problem.

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Answer 2

gotfilm123 Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 10, 2013 12:04 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Yeah, the power-on/sleep indicator is what I was referring to. However, is it not possible that the blinking is also an indicator of the SMC being performed?

I find it odd that this has never happened before then suddenly I perform the SMC and the light begins blinking repeatedly before start-up. Is there any application I can use to test my memory? And if my memory is faltering, wouldn't i have seen a noticeable decline in performance? Thanks for the help Grant!

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Answer 3

Feb 10, 2013 2:18 PM in response to gotfilm123

Apple Hardware Test

Mac OS X 10.6: If you hear beeps [or startup light flashes] when your computer starts up

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Answer 4

gotfilm123 Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 13, 2013 11:29 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant. Performed the full hardware test last night. Memory seems fine. Battery is dead. I'm now guessing the blinking sleep indicator is referring to that issue.

From what I've read, the sleep indicator blinking rapidly is also accompanied by more beeping sounds at start-up if it's a memory issue. Mine isn't starting up with any unusual beeps. Hopefully I'll just replace the battery and that will be that. Thanks again.

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