Need help to fix 2007 Macbook that keeps crashing

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Need help to fix 2007 Macbook that keeps crashing

I have a Late-2007 Macbook (the plastic one) which runs 10.7.5. For the past month and a half, I will be on my computer and suddenly everything stops working. Webpages stop loading, I can't switch or quit out of programs, etc. Then suddenly, my computer crashes. When it crashes, the whole computer goes black but you can hear that it's still on. To turn the computer back on, I have to hold down the power button to shut the computer off completely. When I turn it back on, everything works as normal. This has been happening about once every two or three days, except once or twice it has gone a week without crashing. I verified and repaired the computer's harddrive using the disk utility application, however that did not help. Also, it's happened when I had open a number of different programs so it doesn't appear that it could be an application causing it to crash (for example, it's crashed while I've used Google Chrome and another time when I've used Firefox so that doesn't seem to be the issue) Has anyone had this problem and/or know a possible solution?

Thank you in advance!

MacBook (13-inch Late 2007), Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Apr 7, 2013 10:36 AM

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Answer 1

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SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Apr 7, 2013 11:51 AM in response to shak77

You should reset the SMC first

Shut down the computer.

Disconnect the MagSafe power adapter from the computer, if it's connected.

Remove the battery.

Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.

Release the power button.

Reconnect the battery and MagSafe power adapter.

Press the power button to turn on the computer.

If you keep having unextected shutdowns I would run the Apple Hardware Test from your original grey install discs.

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Answer 2

shak77 Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 7, 2013 11:56 AM in response to SeaPapp

Hi Mike,

Thanks, just a few quick questions before I do that:

-What is the SMC and where/how do I reset it?

-Is the MagSafe power adapter just the computer charger/plug?

Thanks so much,

David

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Answer 3

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Apr 7, 2013 12:31 PM in response to shak77

The SMC stands for System Managenpment Controller, it's biult into the main logic board so it's nothing you can see or need to. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

Just shut the computer down, unplug everything and remove the battery, press and hold the power button for 5 second, release the power button andreinstall the battery and connect your charger, finally restart the mac. See if that helps.

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Answer 4

shak77 Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 7, 2013 12:51 PM in response to SeaPapp

Oh, I thought resetting the SMC was different than the directions you had below it. I reset the SMC, so I'll let you know if it crashes again.

Thanks so much.

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Answer 5

shak77 Author

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11 points

Apr 17, 2013 4:08 PM in response to shak77

(See below)

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Answer 6

shak77 Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 17, 2013 4:08 PM in response to SeaPapp

Hi Mike,

Unfortunately my computer crashed again yesterday.You were saying I should do some kind of hardware test with a disc. Which disc is that and how do I run the test?

Thank you again so much for your help.

David

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Answer 7

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Apr 17, 2013 6:41 PM in response to shak77

You'll need the original grey install discs that your mac shipped with. I believe the Apple Hardware Test is on disc 2. Run the test in extended mode.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509

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Answer 8

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Apr 17, 2013 6:48 PM in response to shak77

On second thought since you're running Lion you should be able to boot into your recovery partition by holding Command R at start up and running AHT from the Utilities panel.

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Answer 9

shak77 Author

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11 points

Apr 17, 2013 6:52 PM in response to SeaPapp

So when I run the hardware test, what should I be looking for? I know my from going to the Apple Store a while ago that my fan runs faster than it should but is there a specific stat or category that I should be looking to see if it doesn't work in that would be causing it.

Thanks,

David

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Answer 10

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,486 points

Apr 18, 2013 4:51 AM in response to shak77

If AHT finds an error it'll tell you that there was an error but will report it as a cryptic error message. It's never as simple as it could be, but it'll let you know that there IS a hardware fault. If it reports an error you can be confident it's right but it won't always find it if there is a fault. It's free and available but you may have to make a trip to the genius bar for more through troubleshooting.

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