Randomly Turns Off

Yeah, they removed my whole post as well!

In short, AFTER I had my logic board replaced, I STILL experienced random shutdown.

So no point in sending it back in AGAIN for repair.. I asked to get my money refunded but I am stuck because I can't send it back without getting my important data backed up (it started this ridiculous behavior before I could do that) and erasing sensitive data.. How am I supposed to do that if it keeps shutting off?!?!

Any ideas? I'd ask if some sort of data recovery service could help.. but shouldn't apple have to foot the bill? I can't afford to pay for that I kind of thing, I've heard it runs hundreds of dollars and upwards!

The genius was no help. He sent me home saying, "I'm sorry I can't help you. Your time here wasn't a waste though, You got that card."

He was refering to the card he gave me with a "special" number to call.

1-800-APL-CARE.

Really? I had no idea it was so top secret?!

So any ideas as to how to get that data off the computer? Could I remove the harddrive and put it into a enclosure of some sort?

As soon as I can get my personal info OFF - I'm returning it! Are there probs with the blackbooks as well? I may get that instead, but maybe I'm just uninformed.

We could test whether this is a thermal damage induced problem with a brief, randomized study. Basically, we gather 20 or 30 volunteers who have NOT had the random shutdown problem occur nor run high CPU usage applications. Then randomize the volunteers into two groups. Group A would simply use their machines as normal. Group B would repeatedly thermal stress their machines by running yes in terminal three times a day for fifteen minutes with a cool down to force dwell time at full temperature and thermal expansion/cooling. At the end of a month, gather stats on the two groups to see if there is a statistically significant difference between the two groups.

Quick thought: I've returned two macbooks and am now on my third (week 28) which is blessedly free of problems and operating perfectly. I realized that when I returned the two macbooks, I forgot to deauthorize them for itunes. If you end up returning your macbook and getting a new one - remember to deauthorize!
I didn't think this was necessary since basically they slipped my hard drive into a brand new computer each time, but yes, apparently it is necessary. Hope to save someone else an irritation.

First of all, I'm not sure how to help you out with the saving of the data... but if it can stay on long enough, you should at least try to burn the info on CDs or e-mail a bunch of your files to yourself or do whatever you can.

Secondly, do you know if you for sure can return it for a full refund after that long? That is really horrible that you waited for a repair and it still isn't even working, but do you know if Apple will let you do that? It seems like they try to make refunds the absolute, last option.

You should try posting about your experience in a new thread. Some people should be able to help you out.

Well, looks like I'm in good company here. Never been burned by Apple before, but this may be a first... much like the 2nd and 3rd degree burns on my legs from the Intel FleshCooker inside my BlackBook.

I'm not happy with the lasting burns (no kidding) on my legs (especially the left thigh) from using this notebook like I always have with my others), but I can get past that and manage to find something to makeshift a barrier between hardware and flesh. But the random shut-downs are totally unacceptable for a $2,200 investment and after reading all these posts I am now fearful that this is a problem that is inherent to an Intel 2 GHz CoreDuo chip wrapped in polycarbonate.

I'll be getting in touch with the closest (extremely distant!) Apple Store to get a replacement... after I back-up all my data onto a firewire drive. This issue is going to cost me a lot of money before it's done, and after reading all the posts here, I am not very interested in a replacement. I don't want another MacBook that randomly shuts down. This is a REAL faith-shaker because there is NO WAY that these products were thoroughly tested before going into production and onto the shelves... you can cook a dinner on this thing, and random shut-downs are so common that this shows a bigger problem with the standards falling in Cupertino.

Just glad it didn't shutdown during this post! Good luck everyone!

Black MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.7) 2 Gb RAM / 80 Gb HD / Leg Burner

If you end up returning
your macbook and getting a new one - remember to
deauthorize!

What does deauthorizing the iTunes do? Why is it so important?

Quick thought: I've returned two macbooks and am now
on my third (week 28) which is blessedly free of
problems and operating perfectly. I realized that
when I returned the two macbooks, I forgot to
deauthorize them for itunes. If you end up returning
your macbook and getting a new one - remember to
deauthorize!

You can deauthorize all your authorized computers from within iTMS (but I think only once a year) with one command.

First of all, I'm not sure how to help you out with
the saving of the data... but if it can stay on long
enough, you should at least try to burn the info on
CDs or e-mail a bunch of your files to yourself or do
whatever you can.

Secondly, do you know if you for sure can return it
for a full refund after that long? That is really
horrible that you waited for a repair and it still
isn't even working, but do you know if Apple will let
you do that? It seems like they try to make refunds
the absolute, last option.

You should try posting about your experience in a new
thread. Some people should be able to help you out.

Well, the problem is that my macbook shuts down before it can finish burning. When I eject the discs they all appear to have gouges in them so there is no hope of salvaging much anyway..

I DID talk to a specialist/supervisor/person-who-claimed-to have-decision-making-authority. After doing the whole song and dance for him he said that it's considered DOA and they WILL refund if I want, PENDING the return of the unit.. but he really tried to persuade me to accept a replacement instead of refunding my money.

The BIGGEST problem is that I am in the midst of midterms this week! I cannot wait for the turnaround of a repair! Or even a refund.. Who does?!? I want apple to document this in a letter so I can at least petition my school to waive the drop course deadline cause I really bombed the test today without my notes.. I'm not even able to back up my info. Never have been because it started acting all wonky from the get go.. I don't think I am being unreasonable.. am I?

Does anyone know if removing the drive and putting it in an enclosure, transferring it to a non-crashbook, then putting it back so I could return it might work? Unfortunately I don't know that much about computers and the geniuses at my local store didn't help either. They tried to sell me another lacie drive when I came in... ugh.

Also - for those of you hoping to get a replacement on the spot at your apple store - the genius told me that they CANNOT take it from you and give you a new one unless it was all stock, and preconfigured.. NO built-to-orders can be replaced by them on site due to inventory controls.. Best they could do is ship it out for you. You'll HAVE to go through apple care. Please call and let them know that you are suffering too.. They need to get off their butts and acknowledge something went seriously wrong with the manufacture of this product and fix it!

I lied. It's now turning off when plugged in too. Sigh I think a visit to the Apple Store is now imminent.

Mine is also turning off randomly. However, I have not been able to recreate it on demand. The last two days I was able to make it turn off right after I booted up after the unit was off overnight. Upon turning it on in the morning, I ran terminal and entered "yes" and then opened up Big Bang Chess. It would realiably turn off 3-4 times in a row. However, later in the day I couldn't replicate this sequence. Does anyone have a procedure that works everytime on their machine? I want to bring it into the store and show the technicians, but I want it to go down while I'm there. I'm going to go in first thing in the morning and hope that my machine fails me again in front of a genius.

Looks like the solution for having a dependable computer is to have Two computers, so when one computer craps out you continue using the backup computer while the crapped out computer is being repaired.

Also, you might consider leasing a computer while yours is being repaired.
Maybe Apple should consider loaning computers to customers whose computers are defective in transition for repair.

Boys, was I happy to find this forum! My MacBook worked like a charm for approx 4 weeks then it shut off once with the jerky hard disk sound... scared me but nothing happened for a couple of days. Then it resumed doing it, and it does this regularly now. It can't be good for system and HD to be shut down briskly like that several times a day!

I have found many indications in this thread that apply to my MacBook:

- Yes, serial number one of the 4H6211....
- tends to occur when Mac is cold, not warm
- PMU reset helps until it goes to sleep once
- happens with my new 120 Gigs as well as with original HD (60 Gigs)- happens also after reformatting the HD and reinstalling the OS (the 10.4.6 version that came with the MacBook; in fact, just while installing...)
- happens with original 2x512 RAM as well as with my 2 x 1G RAM

Difficult to understand why everything worked well for four weeks or so, then this started happening.

This thing *****!!!!! Called the Apple guys here in Europe (Switzerland/Germany) and they are willing to take it in for a "repair" (hopefully, a complete replacement), they are sending the box tomorrow.

I am an Apple fan, but these hardware problems did not happen to me with my previous life Toshibas and Sonys.... when I first bought my 1.8 G5 I received one of those with the "audio problem" and had to have that replaced. Too bad that Apple is unattentive to hardware quality. Sorry, it's true.... - I'd like to sue them for the f....ing time I have lost on this.

I really am sorry for your problems. It took me forever to back up everything on CDs but I had to do it anyway. And if your computer isn't even staying on...

I would suggest you get ahold of your nearest Apple Store and ask them how you can save all of the data on your hard drive from THEIR brand computer that is NOT staying on. Stay firm. They absolutely need to pay whatever it costs to get that information saved - it is not your fault that their computer *****.

In the meantime, I would contact Apple in as many ways as possible about your problem (go here: http://www.apple.com/contact/). Mail a letter describing your frustrating experience (that's what I did), call Customer Service, etc. I believe if all the people having problems that you or I have contact them, they might actually recognize the hassles and issues we are having to go through due to their faulty machine.

if anyone has a found a way of repliacating a shutdown.. Please let us know!

going mad here..

Hi asf99.

Yes, this whole random turn off thing is frustrating. However, I'd have to disagree with the assessment that Apple's products, in general, are bad. I've been buying Apple products since 1996 and have had as many or fewer hardware problems than with many other electronics manufacturers.

However, there is one unfortunate trend I have noticed with Apple. Don't buy "version 1.0" of any of their products without expecting some issues. The MacBook is the first in its product line ("version 1.0"). All the way back to the PowerBook G3 (and probably earlier) Apple has had version 1.0 issues. The first PowerBook G3 (Lumbard, or bronze keyboard) had some hardware issues if I remember correctly. The first iMac had USB problems. The first PowerMac G4 had firmware issues. The first PowerBook G4s had LCD issues. Version 1.0 of Mac OS X had so many bugs it was more like a 1.0 beta. The first PowerMac G5s had heating and fan issues. The first MacBook Pros had various hardware issues (battery bulging, LCD discoloration, etc). The first iPod nanos seemed overly susceptible to scratching.

All those issues were resolved in subsequent revisions, but "version 1.0" is always more like a large-scale beta test for Apple it seems. They probably do this in order to release products as quickly as possible. I'm sure they've calculated that the losses due to higher defects in the first versions are negligible compared to the profit earned. They may not have fully considered the early-adopter customer satisfaction loss though.

Black MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.7) 2 GB RAM, 100 GB hard drive