Why does my MacBook spontaneously crash/restart?

Question

My MacBook is suddenly restarting for no apparent reason.  What follows is a detailed description of the issue and surrounding circumstances, various elements of which may or may not be relevant.Several months ago I noticed my trackpad button had stopped clicking reliably.  About two months ago I realized that the replacement laptop battery I was using (purchased on Amazon as genuine Apple product, but probably not really made by Apple) had begun to swell just enough to press up from the underside of the trackpad and prevent it from functioning properly.  I removed the battery and have been using the machine with AC power so that the trackpad will work right.  I intend to replace the battery with a new one directly from Apple, but given the cost I would like to make sure I can resolve my other issues first.  I have included the above because it was roughly around the time I began using my MacBook without a battery that the symptoms below began.  Using the computer without a battery may or may not be related these issues, but it is the only thing I can think of that changed anywhere near when the problems began.Around this time, the backlight on the built-in display began to regularly (1-5 times per hour of use) shut itself off.  The LCD stays on and can still be seen faintly in ambient light, but the backlight turns itself off as if I had turned the brightness all the way down using the F1 key.  The brightness control itself seems to stay up, however, as the temporary fix I was able to find by researching the issue online is to turn the brightness all the way down (using the F1 key) and then back up again (using F2) and display brightness rises with my pressing the F2 display-brighter button.  This would last anywhere from 1-1000 minutes (approximate) of use before shutting off (backlight) again and I would have to do the same thing.  The length of time until the next shutoff seems to be shorter the brighter I have the display brightness set, but the symptom comes and goes in fits and spurts.  Sometimes I can&#x27;t keep it on more than 15 seconds and I just give up and drag whatever windows I&#x27;m working on to my external monitor (which functions fine throughout - I use the external and built-in displays side-by-side with a mini-DVI to DVI adapter), but other times it will go for a week just fine.  This may or may not be related to my more serious issue below, but it began just in advance of the below and has continued to the present.About the same time I stopped using the battery and started experiencing display backlight shutoffs, my computer began spontaneously crashing and restarting itself.   The first time it happened I was attempting to play a video (MP4 I think) from the hard drive in QuickTime Player.  The video played for a few minutes, and then my computer crashed and began to restart itself.  I let it restart and tried playing the video several more times, even using VLC instead of QuickTime as the player, but each time the computer would play a few seconds to a few minutes before dying and restarting.  In the hours and days that followed, the machine would randomly restart every 1-100 (approximately) minutes of use.  The shutdowns seemed more likely to occur when attempting to play video of any format, local or online, and for a while I couldn&#x27;t even play a YouTube vid without the computer shutting down.  Sometimes the machine would restart to my login screen, but then if I logged in right away it would begin the login process but then die and restart again.  If I waited a while before logging in it seemed to "calm down" and would login successfully.  The restarts were more likely during video playback, but not exclusive to this task.I noticed that the restarts seemed to especially come in "clumps," and that allowing the machine a rest seemed to help.  I also noticed that the fan frequently (but not always) sounded like it was running at full power at the time of restart.  I concluded that the restarts were likely the result of overheating.  I disassembled the machine in order to clean out the fan and heat sink.  I didn&#x27;t find much lint / blockage, but I thoroughly cleaned out what was there and did a cursory look around the internals for anything that might appear to be out of order, but I didn&#x27;t find anything remarkable.  The restarts continued, together with high fan speeds just before, so I downloaded iStat Pro to monitor internal temperatures in my status bar.  I watched temps pretty closely, especially when I heard the fan, but the highest I ever saw was 80 degrees celsius on the CPU die.  I don&#x27;t know a lot about CPU temperature ranges, but from some cursory research it looks like that is way below the cutoff for an automatic shutdown (and besides, it seems like it should shutdown rather than restart for overheating).  I watched to see if the restarts happened at the same temperature every time, but they varied widely, sometimes even occurring below 65 C, with or without high fan noise.The issue persisted and was becoming a real problem for me, and I already had a HDD I was planning to upgrade to, so I decided to do the HDD swap and follow with a clean install of OSX (via download from Apple) rather than migrate from my old drive because I figured that would take care of any software issues.  After I swapped out the HDD and did a clean install it was three days or so until the display backlight cut out as before, and about a week before the first sudden restart, which brings us to the present.  Since that first restart, I&#x27;ve seen another 6 or so in the last 4 hours.  I have also noticed an occasional failure to get past the grey screen on an intentional shutdown (not the sudden restarts) since replacing the HDD and reinstalling OSX, but that only happens on occasion.  The only things I have installed since replacing the HDD other than the OS are MS Office for Mac 2011 (from CD) and then Flash and Silverlight plug-ins for Safari.  I&#x27;ve also transferred over some files from my old HDD using a USB caddy and have opened some documents, but I haven&#x27;t run any applications or installers besides the aforementioned.  I haven&#x27;t been able to transfer everything from the old HDD though, because the old drive (in a USB caddy) drive seems to spontaneously unmount, giving me the "the disk was not ejected properly" message and causing Finder to freeze up with a spinwheel of death and not recover after relaunching finder in the Force Quit dialog.  This seems to lead to the manual shutdown stalling on the grey screen as well (when means I have to use the button to force full shutdown).  This could just be a problem with my caddy though.Here is what I have tried, in total:- Restarted the machine- Disassembled laptop and cleaned out the fan / heat sink- Watched temperatures (no apparent correlation)- Replaced HDD and reinstalled OSX from scratch (by download from Apple)- Ran Apple Hardware Test (no problems found)- Software Update ("your software is up to date")- Checked for System Diagnostic Reports in Console following spontaneous restarts, found none present- Reset NVRAM / PRAM- Reset SMCThose last two resets I did just prior to posting and so far I haven&#x27;t seen the crash/restart, although I have seen the dead backlight.  It hasn&#x27;t been long though so we&#x27;ll see. . .Here is what I am running:MacBook 3,113-inch Late 20072.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 DuoGraphics: Intel GMA X3100 144MBOS X Lion 10.7.54 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAMSeagate STL1000LM014 1TB SSHD (my upgrade)Other:Disk Usage: 22GB out of 1TBNo antivirus installedNo MacKeeper installedkextstat is emptyProcesses:  PID TTY           TIME CMD    1 ??         0:00.48 /sbin/launchd   10 ??         0:00.77 /usr/libexec/kextd   11 ??         0:00.69 /usr/libexec/UserEventAgent -l System   12 ??         0:00.19 /usr/sbin/notifyd   13 ??         0:00.07 /usr/sbin/diskarbitrationd   14 ??         0:00.70 /usr/libexec/configd   15 ??         0:00.09 /usr/sbin/syslogd   16 ??         0:00.16 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonC ore.framework/Versions/A/Support/fseventsd   17 ??         0:00.08 /usr/sbin/distnoted daemon   18 ??         0:01.77 /usr/libexec/opendirectoryd   19 ??         0:00.33 /System/Library/CoreServices/powerd.bundle/powerd   20 ??         0:00.32 /usr/sbin/blued   22 ??         0:00.45 /usr/sbin/securityd -i   24 ??         0:00.96 /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd   33 ??         0:00.10 /usr/sbin/ntpd -c /private/etc/ntp-restrict.conf -n -g -p /var/run/ntpd.pid -f /var/db/ntp.drift   36 ??         0:00.08 /usr/libexec/warmd   37 ??         0:00.08 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework/Versions/A/Resources/u sbmuxd -launchd   40 ??         0:00.02 /usr/libexec/stackshot -t   43 ??         0:00.08 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/GenerationalStorage.framework/Versions/A/Supp ort/revisiond   47 ??         0:05.09 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/Metadata.framework /Support/mds   48 ??         0:00.24 /usr/sbin/mDNSResponder -launchd   50 ??         0:00.93 /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow console   52 ??         0:00.02 /usr/sbin/KernelEventAgent   54 ??         0:00.02 /usr/libexec/hidd   56 ??         0:00.01 /sbin/dynamic_pager -F /private/var/vm/swapfile   61 ??         0:00.04 autofsd   63 ??         0:00.34 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/ApplePushService.framework/applepushserviced   64 ??         0:00.17 /usr/libexec/taskgated -p -s   85 ??         0:00.07 /usr/sbin/netbiosd   87 ??         0:10.46 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/CoreGraphic s.framework/Resources/WindowServer -daemon   88 ??         0:00.02 /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A/Libraries/CVMServer   95 ??         0:00.03 /System/Library/CoreServices/logind  102 ??         0:00.02 /sbin/launchd  104 ??         0:00.25 /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A/Libraries/CVMCompiler 1  106 ??         0:00.37 /usr/sbin/coreaudiod  108 ??         0:00.02 /sbin/launchd  116 ??         0:00.11 /sbin/launchd  119 ??         0:00.47 /usr/libexec/UserEventAgent -l Aqua  120 ??         0:00.14 /usr/sbin/distnoted agent  122 ??         0:00.43 /usr/libexec/xpchelper  127 ??         0:04.22 /Applications/TextEdit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit -psn_0_20485  130 ??         0:16.36 /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/Safari -psn_0_32776  131 ??         0:02.46 /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/MacOS/Dock  132 ??         0:00.30 /System/Library/CoreServices/talagent  133 ??         0:03.83 /System/Library/CoreServices/SystemUIServer.app/Contents/MacOS/SystemUIServer  134 ??         0:01.12 /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/MacOS/Finder  140 ??         0:00.51 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/ATS.framewo rk/Support/fontd  142 ??         0:00.42 /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A/Libraries/CVMCompiler 1  143 ??         0:00.08 /usr/libexec/lsboxd  144 ??         0:00.04 /usr/sbin/filecoordinationd  146 ??         0:00.07 /usr/sbin/cupsd -l  147 ??         0:00.02 /usr/sbin/pboard  149 ??         0:00.38 com.apple.dock.extra  155 ??         0:00.23 /usr/sbin/ocspd  156 ??         0:02.35 /usr/libexec/activitymonitord  157 ??         0:23.68 /System/Library/StagedFrameworks/Safari/WebKit2.framework/WebProcess.app/Conten ts/MacOS/WebProcess /System/Library/StagedFrameworks/Safari/WebKit2.framework/WebKit2 -type webprocess -servicename com.apple.WebKit.WebProcess-130-0x10cc85280 -localization en_US -client-identifier com.apple.Safari -ui-process-name Safari  159 ??         0:00.45 /System/Library/Services/AppleSpell.service/Contents/MacOS/AppleSpell  160 ??         0:00.12 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CFNetwo rk.framework/Versions/A/Support/cookied  164 ??         0:00.03 /usr/libexec/warmd_agent  169 ??         0:00.10 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/IMCore.framework/imagent.app/Contents/MacOS/i magent  170 ??         0:01.32 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/HelpData.framework/Versions/A/Resources/helpd  176 ??         0:00.09 /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesH elper -psn_0_77843  179 ??         0:00.11 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/FindMyMac.framework/Resources/FindMyMacd  186 ??         0:00.90 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/Metadata.framework /Versions/A/Support/mdworker -s mdworker -c MDSImporterWorker -m com.apple.mdworker.pool.0  187 ??         0:00.02 /sbin/launchd  189 ??         0:00.44 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/Metadata.framework /Versions/A/Support/mdworker -s mdworker -c MDSImporterWorker -m com.apple.mdworker.pool.0  190 ??         0:00.02 /usr/sbin/distnoted agent  192 ??         0:00.03 automountd  193 ??         0:00.09 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/Metadata.framework /Versions/A/Support/mdwrite  194 ??         0:00.11 /usr/libexec/xpchelper  203 ??         0:00.03 /usr/libexec/launchdadd  204 ??         0:00.24 /System/Library/Frameworks/QuickLook.framework/Resources/quicklookd.app/Content s/MacOS/quicklookd  205 ??         0:00.90 /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app/Contents/MacOS/Terminal -psn_0_114716  207 ttys000    0:00.06 login -pf Christopher  208 ttys000    0:00.02 -bash  213 ttys000    0:00.01 ps -APreferences:total 1328-rw-------   1 501  20  -             712 Jan 21 00:07 .GlobalPreferences.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:36 .GlobalPreferences.plist.lockfiledrwx------  42 501  20  -            1428 Jan 25 17:51 ByHostdrwxr-xr-x   3 501  20  -             102 Jan 22 01:11 Macromediadrwxr-xr-x   3 501  20  -             102 Jan 24 13:39 Microsoft-rw-------   1 501  20  -            1768 Jan 25 12:56 MobileMeAccounts.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:38 MobileMeAccounts.plist.lockfile-rw-r--r--   1 501  20  -            8819 Jan 21 00:02 QuickTime Preferencesdrwxr-xr-x   5 501  20  -             170 Jan 20 20:42 SDMHelpData-rw-------   1 501  20  -             837 Jan 25 17:51 com.apple.ActivityMonitor.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 25 17:43 com.apple.ActivityMonitor.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             198 Jan 25 13:02 com.apple.AddressBook.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.AddressBook.plist.lockfile-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:38 com.apple.AddressBook.sync.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -              95 Jan 20 21:38 com.apple.AddressBookSourceSync.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:38 com.apple.AddressBookSourceSync.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             131 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.BezelServices.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.BezelServices.plist.lockfile-rw-r--r--   1 501  20  -             350 Jan 25 17:47 com.apple.BluetoothAudio.plist-rw-------   1 501  20  -            6433 Jan 25 13:12 com.apple.Console.LSSharedFileList.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 25 13:07 com.apple.Console.LSSharedFileList.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -            2011 Jan 25 17:50 com.apple.Console.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 25 12:57 com.apple.Console.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -            1678 Jan 25 12:56 com.apple.FontRegistry.user.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 25 12:56 com.apple.FontRegistry.user.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             770 Jan 25 13:22 com.apple.Image_Capture.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 13:23 com.apple.Image_Capture.plist.lockfile-rw-r--r--   1 501  20  -           16384 Jan 24 22:00 com.apple.LaunchServices.QuarantineEventsV2-rw-------   1 501  20  -             375 Jan 25 12:56 com.apple.LaunchServices.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:36 com.apple.LaunchServices.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             119 Jan 24 13:23 com.apple.PTPCamera.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 13:23 com.apple.PTPCamera.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             623 Jan 25 17:14 com.apple.PreferenceSync.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 21:37 com.apple.PreferenceSync.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             101 Jan 21 13:14 com.apple.PubSubAgent.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 21:07 com.apple.PubSubAgent.plist.lockfile-rw-------@  1 501  20  -             133 Jan 20 23:22 com.apple.Safari.RSS.plist          com.apple.quarantine              38 -rwxr-xr-x@  1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 23:22 com.apple.Safari.RSS.plist.lockfile          com.apple.quarantine              38 -rw-------@  1 501  20  -            3947 Jan 25 17:47 com.apple.Safari.plist          com.apple.quarantine              38 -rwxr-xr-x@  1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 23:22 com.apple.Safari.plist.lockfile          com.apple.quarantine              38 -rw-------   1 501  20  -           11489 Jan 25 17:47 com.apple.ServicesMenu.Services.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.ServicesMenu.Services.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             177 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.SetupAssistant.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:36 com.apple.SetupAssistant.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             390 Jan 25 13:15 com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 25 13:15 com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             173 Jan 25 17:39 com.apple.SystemProfiler.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 25 17:33 com.apple.SystemProfiler.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -           15423 Jan 25 17:51 com.apple.Terminal.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 25 16:22 com.apple.Terminal.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -            4057 Jan 25 17:47 com.apple.TextEdit.LSSharedFileList.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 13:21 com.apple.TextEdit.LSSharedFileList.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -            2228 Jan 25 17:28 com.apple.TextEdit.SandboxedPersistentURLs.LSSharedFileList.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 22 13:43 com.apple.TextEdit.SandboxedPersistentURLs.LSSharedFileList.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -              81 Jan 25 17:16 com.apple.TextEdit.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 22 14:02 com.apple.TextEdit.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -            3618 Jan 21 23:32 com.apple.appstore.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 21 23:32 com.apple.appstore.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -            1024 Jan 22 01:04 com.apple.diskimages.fsck-rw-------   1 501  20  -            7292 Jan 25 17:47 com.apple.dock.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.dock.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             787 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -           12375 Jan 25 17:47 com.apple.finder.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.finder.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             182 Jan 24 19:42 com.apple.frameworks.diskimages.uiagent.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 22 01:04 com.apple.frameworks.diskimages.uiagent.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             393 Jan 25 16:39 com.apple.help.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 21 00:02 com.apple.help.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             229 Jan 25 13:53 com.apple.iApps.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 21 00:08 com.apple.iApps.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -              95 Jan 25 17:47 com.apple.iCal.helper.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.iCal.helper.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -            1950 Jan 25 12:56 com.apple.iCal.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:38 com.apple.iCal.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -            1058 Jan 25 16:39 com.apple.iPod.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 21 00:03 com.apple.iPod.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -           14702 Jan 21 00:08 com.apple.iTunes.eq.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 21 00:08 com.apple.iTunes.eq.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -          121565 Jan 25 16:39 com.apple.iTunes.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 21 00:02 com.apple.iTunes.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -              61 Jan 25 13:22 com.apple.iTunesHelper.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 25 13:22 com.apple.iTunesHelper.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             457 Jan 25 13:21 com.apple.internetconfigpriv.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 21 21:48 com.apple.internetconfigpriv.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -            1104 Jan 25 12:56 com.apple.loginitems.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 21 00:02 com.apple.loginitems.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             205 Jan 25 17:51 com.apple.loginwindow.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:38 com.apple.loginwindow.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             138 Jan 22 01:10 com.apple.quicklookconfig.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 22 01:10 com.apple.quicklookconfig.plist.lockfile-rw-r--r--   1 501  20  -           20514 Jan 21 00:02 com.apple.quicktime.plugin.preferences.plist-rw-------   1 501  20  -           18328 Jan 25 17:50 com.apple.recentitems.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:39 com.apple.recentitems.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  compressed    326 Jan 20 20:36 com.apple.scheduler.plist-rw-------   1 501  20  -              63 Jan 20 20:36 com.apple.screensaver.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:36 com.apple.screensaver.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -           10038 Jan 25 17:47 com.apple.sidebarlists.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:38 com.apple.sidebarlists.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -              54 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.spaces.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.spaces.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             194 Jan 21 23:32 com.apple.storeagent.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 21 23:32 com.apple.storeagent.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             127 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.symbolichotkeys.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.symbolichotkeys.plist.lockfile-rwx------   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.syncserver.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             347 Jan 25 16:10 com.apple.systempreferences.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.systempreferences.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -              82 Jan 25 17:47 com.apple.systemuiserver.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.systemuiserver.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             585 Jan 20 20:39 com.apple.ubd.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:38 com.apple.ubd.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             370 Jan 20 20:37 com.apple.universalaccess.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:36 com.apple.universalaccess.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -           11908 Jan 25 13:21 com.microsoft.Word.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 13:35 com.microsoft.Word.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -            1461 Jan 25 13:42 com.microsoft.autoupdate2.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 13:30 com.microsoft.autoupdate2.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -              92 Jan 24 13:39 com.microsoft.error_reporting.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 13:39 com.microsoft.error_reporting.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -          163200 Jan 25 13:21 com.microsoft.office.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 13:39 com.microsoft.office.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -              81 Jan 24 13:34 com.microsoft.office.setupassistant.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 13:34 com.microsoft.office.setupassistant.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -              81 Jan 24 13:39 com.microsoft.outlook.database_daemon.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 13:39 com.microsoft.outlook.database_daemon.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -              59 Jan 24 13:34 com.microsoft.outlook.office_reminders.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 13:34 com.microsoft.outlook.office_reminders.plist.lockfile-rw-------@  1 501  20  -             151 Jan 24 22:03 com.microsoft.silverlight.plist          com.apple.quarantine              59 -rwxr-xr-x@  1 501  20  -               0 Jan 24 22:03 com.microsoft.silverlight.plist.lockfile          com.apple.quarantine              59 -rw-------   1 0    20  -             109 Jan 22 01:13 com.solidstatenetworks.awkhost.plist-rwxrwxrwx   1 0    20  -               0 Jan 22 01:10 com.solidstatenetworks.awkhost.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             562 Jan 21 00:02 loginwindow.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 loginwindow.plist.lockfile-rw-------   1 501  20  -             122 Jan 25 17:47 pbs.plist-rwxr-xr-x   1 501  20  -               0 Jan 20 20:37 pbs.plist.lockfileOne final note - when the system spontaneously restarts, it doesn&#x27;t properly shutdown as it would if I initiated a restart, it just suddenly dies, black screen, and then I hear the startup tone and it begins to restart.Obviously this is an older machine and I&#x27;ve gotten a lot of good use out of it, but I still need it and don&#x27;t have the budget right now to replace it so any help you can offer would be much appreciated.  I&#x27;m pretty much stymied.Please let me know if anything is missing / unclear!