Randomly Turns Off

On 7/10 mine decided to start shutting down too. One thing I found helpful at least to me is the 'last' command in a terminal window. It clearly shows when the system crashed and how long it was up when it crashed. The genius at the mac store wasn't as impressed. They wanted to keep it until they saw it crash for themselves. I took it back home and decided to at least try to reseat the memory. So far it's been working about 5 hours but I still don't have full confidence in it yet.

Also, the shutdown cause of -82 in the system.log happens when I do a normal shutdown also. That didn't seem like a very good indicator of my problem.

White Macbook Mac OS X (10.4.7) 2.0GHz | 2GB RAM | 100GB 7200RPM HD

Machine Name: MacBook
Machine Model: MacBook1,1
CPU Type: Intel Core Duo
Number Of Cores: 2
CPU Speed: 2 GHz
L2 Cache (shared): 2 MB
Memory: 512 MB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MB11.005F.B00
Serial Number: 4H618
SMC Version: 1.4f8

I want to thank everyone for their posts on this issue. I purchased my MB on May 17th, 10.4.6, seriel # 4H618, and within the first couple days noticed that it ranmomly turned off on me. I have experienced it very intermittently over the last couple months and thought maybe it was a battery problem. I did the update for 10.4.7 recently (can't rmember exactly when) and as of this last Thursday, 7/6, evening, it has been doing the random shutting off a lot. It happens with the AC, w/o the AC, and I have tried resetting the battery and nothing has worked.

I ended up calling Apple Care on Friday morning after it repeatedly shut off on me and they didn't know how to handle my problem. They suggested that I call my local Apple store, which is 2 hours away for me, and ask if they could run diagnosic tests on it to see if it is a hardware issue. If I was unable to obtain help from them to call back to Apple Care and then they would send me a box to ship it in but also explained that if they are unable to duplicate the problem, they will send it back to me unrepaired. My local store referred me back to Apple Care and said it would be best for me to send it in since they would probably end up doing that anyway if they couldn't get it to duplicate the problem. So, I called Apple Care back, with my case number, and they ended up emailing me instructions to run a disc utility and also to run my install disc to check for errors. I am supposed to do this and call them back with the results before they send me a box to ship in my computer.

I had not done this yet because this happended while on vacation. But, after reading some of the posts here, I fear to do anything that may cause my problem to get worse. Should I go ahead and run them anyway?

I agree that I can usually get the computer to come back up after holding down the power button for several seconds until you hear the loud long beep. Im just frustrated that I spent all this money on my first MAC that is barely two months old, and am now feeling like I have to try to figure out a problem that I have to prove I am having.

Can someone tell me how to find the log info that has been talked about in other entries that reports the errors? I want to have as much info re my computer problems as possible before I call Apple Care again and ask for a box. Thank you!

Add me to the growing list of Macbooks randomly switching off.

Build 4H621.

It only happens when the machine is cold, taking several attempts to get it to start and stay running for more than a minute. After a few attempts and once it warms up though it doesn't do it. It'll run for hours without switching off.

As far as I can tell it started getting worse after the 10.4.7 update, so I came on here to see if others were having the same 'software' problem and whoa, they are! And it seems to be a hardware problem. So maybe something in the new update is addressing the flaw in the logic board more than the previous version? I don't know anything about the tech stuff though.

What I do know after reading this thread is that I'm not even going to bother doing any resets or diagnostics or anything else they will make me waste my time over. Replacing the entire motherboard is like replacing the engine in a new car, it's no longer a new car but a refurbished one. I paid for a new computer, not a refurbished one. I'm going to ask for a full replacement or my money back. And never buy a Rev 1 ever again.

Thanks for sharing and passing on all your information everyone.

I had the same problem with my black Mac Book. I brought it to the store (King of Prussia) two days ago. Luckily, the problem happened when the Mac Genius took at look at the notebook. They are now replacing the logicboard (at least that is what the repair description on my confirmation printout says).

When you go to the Apple Store, be sure to first call Apple Care and describe the problem - get the case number they create, and hand that the Mac guy. It makes it much easier to "persuade" the store people that the issue truly exists! 😉

Serial number of that black computer is: 4H621...


I have a second MacBook - the entry-version in white, which I did not update to 10.4.7. That system has been working without problems.

By the way, also print out a copy of this support forum discussion and give it to the Mac Genius. Don't let that person dupe you by saying they can't fix it if it can't be reproduced. They just need to run more tests on it, if their other tests aren't adequate to pick up the problem.

In my previous post, it should have read "pursue", not "persue", of course.

Add me too
Macbook white 2X2 + 2go ram
4H6201
Build 8J2135

since yesterday it turned off around 18 times. sometimes while doing nothing. sometimes while booting. sometimes i would only hear the DVD-r powerup noise.

got a few troubles last month. 2 or 3 kernel panics. never seen that before on any mac i owned

here's my log
Jul 13 15:32:58 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: -82
Jul 13 18:37:29 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: -82
Jul 13 18:56:30 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: -82
Jul 14 08:03:04 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: -82
Jul 14 08:17:10 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: -82
Jul 14 11:06:02 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: -82
Jul 14 11:18:40 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: -82
Jul 14 12:18:02 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: -82
Jul 14 12:27:14 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: 0
Jul 14 12:28:26 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: 0
Jul 14 12:40:41 localhost kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: 0

i did the hardware test with success

Reading how much got their unit back from apple care and still malfunctioning i don't know if i'm gonna send it now ... It seems no one really knows what's happening.

Printing this page and sending it with the MacBook is a good idea i think.

it's stable since a few hours now. i'm typing on it.

I have this exact same problem. I got my Macbook around three weeks ago, and it just started behaving like this yesterday. For some odd reason, it works perfectly right now. It usually turns off by itself during the morning.

The problem is, My serial is 4h623 -- supposedly the macbook without any issues thus far. I'm afraid that their replacement macbook/logic board would act up again after a couple weeks' use. And of course, I'm paranoid that the macbook would suddenly decide to work perfectly while the tech people have them under observation.

I called Apple and was infromed to try and "Reset the PMU" by removing the battery and holding down the power button. This did not fix the problem. It is now happening more than before I did this.

It happens when:
1. The machine is cool or hot.
2. With or without the battery.
3. With Air Port enabled or disabled.

I guess I will have to call them again.

Ok, this is where I am at so far:
1. Removed MySQL and Parallels from the starup folder.
a. I'm going to go for 24 hours of heavy use to see if it happens.
b. If it happens again, I'll move to step 3.
2. Run full test suite on the hardware. Here is how you do it:
a. Insert Disk 1 of the orginal setup disks.
b. Reboot holding down the "D" key when the screen goes black.
c. When the diag. screen comes up run the quick test and the Extended tests

3. If all else fails, I'm going to try and reinstall the orginall OS that came with the machine. Most of these problems started when I installed 10.4.7.

Hopefully this works, I will update my progress.

Thanks,
Henry

I just took my Macbook in yesterday after 4 consecutive shutdowns for no apparent reasons. My serial is 4h623.

I put back the stock hard drive and memory chip.. brought it into Apple Store for the Genius to check it out. He did a few tests and saw that I have Boot Camp installed and told me that he couldn't do anything unless that was removed. I showed him all my system.logs and shutdown codes... still he said he couldn't test it and told me to come back. I was a bit disappointed.. and told him that i'll remove boot camp right there. After I did that and rebooted.. he took off to do something in the back room.. low and behold the Macbook shutdown again. I waited for the genius to come back to check the log. He took the computer to the back room and came back after 10min. Said the same thing.. sorry, can't find anything... we need to do more tests. I was more disappointed especially after i produce the same problem after removing boot camp. And i asked if they get any cases like this.. and he said "no". I couldn't believe it.. it was one of the business stores in southern california!! Anyways, i didn't mention the forum/bulletins posted here cuz i know from experience they don't even care.

I've only had the computer since 7/7/06... i can't beleive they won't admit that it was a logic board problem and just give me a replacement since it's w/in 14 days. i wonder how many days they'll need to "test" my computer now. very disappointed at Apple.

They printed me a receipt.. and on the receipt.. listed Logic Board replacement, HD replacement, and Level 2 tech repair labor.. totalling over $1200.. man, just give me a new computer and admit that it's the logic board!!

Okay.. done venting. =p

I wonder when Apple will officially recognize the
MacLemon problem on their hands?

I think they have. I'm on macbook #2! And it's starting to power off automatically now! Anyway, the first one I had for a whole day before the issues started. But with that one I got the vertical lines on the display, keyboard stopped working AND it would randomly power down.
Day before yesterday, I started getting random power downs on the new one...only a month after I got it...
I called applecare and they had me do a couple of things but nothing worked, SO they said they would replace it. The tech said he wanted my current macbook so they could test my specific config.
To be fair, they are doing what they can to figure out the problem...but this is crazy! Hopefully #3 will be a good one...

Macbook Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Macbook Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Follow up: Apple justed called me.. told me they did the stress test overnight and it did not shut down. I can't believe this. Alright.. gonna go pick it up and see how it is for a few days and let you all know. The only difference is that i removed Boot Camp, put back the stock RAM and HD.

I was able to get it to reproduce every time by doing the following:

Run full test suite on the hardware:
a. Insert Disk 1 of the orginal setup disks.
b. Reboot holding down the "D" key when the screen goes black.
c. When the diag. screen comes up run the Extended test.

Happens about 30 to 50 seconds into the test. Shuts off everytime.

For you people having problems, what 10.4.7 build version are you running?

I done some experimenting installing the updates. I ran the combo updater (215MB) and then checked my System Profiler for the version number. Here is what it showed.

System Version: Mac OS X 10.4.7 (8J2135)

Then I ran the delta version (133MB) and came up with this version after the install.

System Version: Mac OS X 10.4.7 (8J2135a)

I then ran the combo updater again and it reverted back to 8J2135. So obviously, Apple is posting two different build versions.

I'm wondering if there is any common thread between the build version you are running and the shutdown issue?

- Bmer
Mac Owners Support Group
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I don't want to dash your hopes, but it isn't boot camp nor the stock ram/HD. Over 2/3's of the people reporting the problem, such as myself, had it occur with 10.4.6 and the stock hardware. Those pointing the finger at 10.4.7 provide a red herring.