Serious crashes in 2009 macbook pro

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Level 2

151 points

Serious crashes in 2009 macbook pro

Its been a while since I have been on here. Anyway I've had an ongoing issue where my now aging 2009 MacBook Pro is crashing badly. At first I thought it was some corrupt software so I wiped the HD and reinstalled from TimeMachine. Then after it was crashing continuously I pulled one of the Ram modules and for about 2 months all was good. Now Its back in anger..! Crashes happen with a frozen cursor/lockup and then I get kicked out to the user screen and reboot. On occasion I get the normal apple logo startup screen but with white text scrolling down the left. I'm experienced as a Mac user and have tried various diagnostic tools with no success. Any ideas...??? It might be time to upgrade but I dont really have the money. Does anyone think it might be a HD issue...? Tempted to replace with an SSD.

Thanks in advance

R

Posted on Nov 30, 2015 12:54 AM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Nov 30, 2015 3:52 AM in response to Richie Hatch

If you have been having kernel panics, log and post it per these directions:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201753

Have you run the Apple Hardware Test?

Ciao.

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Answer 2

Richie Hatch Author

Level 2

151 points

Nov 30, 2015 3:03 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Yes I have had some kernel panics. When I check the log is it in the user library folder or the system folder...? There are MANY files in the system one and less in the user one.

I can't for the life of me get the AHT to work. I have run Rember etc with no problems reported.

Thanks in advance

R

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Nov 30, 2015 3:25 PM in response to Richie Hatch

It will be in the Library folder with the 'building' on the folder. Click on the HDD (usually Macintosh HD) icon on your desktop and you should be able to find the Library folder.

Regarding the AHT, have you tried using the original installation disk that has the AHT instructions written on it? An alternative is to download the appropriate AHT for your MBP from here:

https://github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest

Ciao.

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Answer 4

Richie Hatch Author

Level 2

151 points

Dec 1, 2015 12:49 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

I've a LOT of log files in there... any idea which one....????? Sorry.... whilst I'd be used of moving around a Mac this level of stuff is a bit above me.

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Answer 5

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Dec 1, 2015 2:57 AM in response to Richie Hatch

A kernel panic report should have a header such as this:

***panic report***

See if you can find one.

Ciao.

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Answer 6

Richie Hatch Author

Level 2

151 points

Dec 1, 2015 3:53 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

No... theres no panic reports...! I did have this on my screen during one of the crashes..... That of any use....????

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Answer 7

Richie Hatch Author

Level 2

151 points

Dec 4, 2015 3:03 PM in response to Richie Hatch

Still getting crashes and a serious amount of spinning beachballs...! Grrrrrrrrr. Machine is pretty much un-useable. Also my wi-fi keeps dropping out. Very frustrating now!

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Answer 8

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Dec 4, 2015 3:35 PM in response to Richie Hatch

The image you posted is beyond by knowledge base. If I were to guess, it suggests to me hardware problems. Were you able to run an Apple Hardware Test? If possible, download and post an Etrecheck report. That might provide a clue:

http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

I suspect that a visit to an Apple store genius bar for a FREE evaluation will be your best option.

Ciao.

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Answer 9

Richie Hatch Author

Level 2

151 points

Dec 4, 2015 4:02 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thanks for the reply. No.... I can't, no matter what I do, get the hardware test to run. I can't find the original discs that came with the machine either. If there where an Apple Store in Ireland I would visit it. The closest one is in Northern Ireland in Belfast which is a bit of a drive for me. Listen thanks again for your help. A friend is going to give me some spare ram that he has to eliminate the possibilities of that being the problem.

Thanks again

Richie

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Answer 10

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Dec 4, 2015 4:25 PM in response to Richie Hatch

Be aware that the RAM will have to have the correct specifications for your MBP which for a 2009 are: 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM. If the RAM does not have those specifications, you will not accomplish anything.

If you have Lion OSX or newer, have you tried to boot to the recovery partition and run Disk Utility>First Aid? If you have a earlier OSX, use the original install DVD to access Disk Utility.

Ciao.

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Answer 11

my ginger

Level 5

4,904 points

Dec 4, 2015 4:47 PM in response to Richie Hatch

Read this post. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4195156?tstart=0 You could do a reinstall of the operating system and see if it fixers anything. Otherwise you will need to take it to an apple store to be checked.

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Answer 12

Richie Hatch Author

Level 2

151 points

Dec 7, 2015 12:41 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Finally found the original install discs and ran AHT. It found no problems at all! Restarted the machine (after running the test a few times and also running the extended test) and straight away it crashes again. I think I will wipe the HD and reinstall the OS from scratch instead of doing it from TimeMachine. Thanks a mill

Richie

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