MacBook Pro shutting down randomly and difficult to restart

Just had my old MacBook Pro back from macbook-repairs.co.uk (can't recommend their service highly enough). The logic board needed "1.05V circuit fix (failing capacitor and mosfet causing random shutdown)" which has now been done for a very reasonable price and it is as good as new again. Well, better actually, owing to the SSD. Again thank you to everyone who contributed help and advice.

I did run an Apple Hardware Test (from my original Install Disk 2). It showed no problems.

I have now run an Etrecheck report, as follows:-

EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)

Report generated 2016-09-15 13:58:49

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 6:03

Performance: Below Average

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Problem: Other problem

Description:

Macbook pro randomly shutting down and having difficulty restarting. SMC and NVRAM resets often needed.

Hardware Information: ⓘ

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro5,2

1 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 24

Video Information: ⓘ

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB

Color LCD 1920 x 1200

NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT - VRAM: 512 MB

System Software: ⓘ

OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 (14F1912) - Time since boot: about 3 hours

Disk Information: ⓘ

ST9750420AS disk0 : (750.16 GB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 715.67 GB (119.98 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

10.6.8 (disk0s4) /Volumes/10.6.8 : 32.98 GB (17.37 GB free)

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS21N ()

USB Information: ⓘ

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

LaCie Rugged Mini USB 3.0 1 TB

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Mac Clone 1 (disk1s2) /Volumes/Mac Clone 1 : 999.21 GB (23.63 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Apple, Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Configuration files: ⓘ

/etc/hosts - Count: 23

Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

Unknown Files: ⓘ

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.NavService.plist

/Applications/Navionics World/NavService.app/Contents/MacOS/NavService -runMode ifneeded

One unknown file found. [Check files]

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.Analog.iokit.ADSLEthernetController (1.0.4 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

[not loaded] com.Analog.iokit.ADSLUSBModem (2.0.2 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

[not loaded] com.TMM.iokit.udslusb (3.0.2.2.6 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

[not loaded] com.avira.kext.FileAccessControl (1.0.0d1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungComposite (1.2.61 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboard (6.3 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouse (6.3 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

[not loaded] com.tascam.usb2audio.driver (2.00 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

[not loaded] jp.co.roland.RDUSB0009Dev (1.1.1 - 2016-09-13) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions/MicrosoftKeyboard.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboardBluetooth (6.3 - 2008-06-11) [Support]

[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboardUSB (6.3 - 2008-06-11) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions/MicrosoftMouse.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseBluetooth (6.3 - 2008-06-11) [Support]

[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseUSB (6.3 - 2008-06-11) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions/TASCAM_US1xx.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.tascam.usb2audio.driver_TIGER (2.00 - 2009-12-15) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions/ssuddrv.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMControl (1.2.61 - SDK 10.6 - 2013-02-14) [Support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMData (1.2.61 - SDK 10.6 - 2013-02-14) [Support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungMTP (1.2.61 - SDK 10.5 - 2013-02-14) [Support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungSerial (1.2.61 - SDK 10.6 - 2013-02-14) [Support]

Startup Items: ⓘ

ADSLAutoConfig: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ADSLAutoConfig

ParallelsDesktopTransporter: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ParallelsDesktopTransporter

RetroRun: Path: /Library/StartupItems/RetroRun

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] 6 Apple tasks

[loaded] 145 Apple tasks

[running] 61 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[not loaded] 46 Apple tasks

[loaded] 135 Apple tasks

[running] 81 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-10-05) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.CS4ServiceManager.plist (2009-03-14) [Support]

[failed] com.apple.NavService.plist (2012-02-10) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[loaded] com.intego.backupassistant.agent.plist (2012-10-24) [Support]

[running] com.trusteer.rapport.rapportd.plist (2016-07-18) [Support]

[running] com.wdc.raidmanagerstatusmenu.plist (2013-11-11) [Support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2016-05-05) [Support]

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[failed] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-04-05) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.versioncueCS4.plist (2009-03-15) [Support]

[running] com.backblaze.bzserv.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]

[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist (2011-02-19) [Support]

[running] com.bombich.ccchelper.plist (2014-12-23) [Support]

[loaded] com.cyberghostsrl.CyberghostPrivilegedHelper.plist (2014-12-30) [Support]

[running] com.fawkes.RipCore.plist (2008-08-13) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-02) [Support]

[running] com.intego.BackupAssistant.daemon.plist (2012-10-24) [Support]

[running] com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd.plist (2016-07-18) [Support]

[running] com.wdc.WDRAIDDriveService.plist (2013-11-11) [Support]

[loaded] com.westerndigital.WD-Drive-Manager-Installer.plist (2014-10-16) [Support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2016-05-05) [Support]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[failed] NavService.plist (2014-02-15) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2015-10-05) [Support]

[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2016-02-13) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2010-03-17) [Support]

[running] com.amazon.music.plist (2014-12-11) [Support]

[running] com.backblaze.bzbmenu.plist (2016-09-14) [Support]

[failed] com.zeobit.MacKeeper.Helper.plist (2014-08-02) [Support]

[running] org.Navionics.NavService.plist (2016-07-05) [Support]

User Login Items: ⓘ

MicrosoftMouseHelper Application (/Library/PreferencePanes/Microsoft Mouse.prefPane/Contents/Resources/MicrosoftMouseHelper.app)

MicrosoftKeyboardHelper Application (/Library/PreferencePanes/Microsoft Keyboard.prefPane/Contents/Resources/MicrosoftKeyboardHelper.app)

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

CCC User Agent Application (/Applications/Carbon Copy Cloner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/CCC User Agent.app)

fuspredownloader Application Hidden (~/Library/Application Support/.FUS/fuspredownloader.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-07) [Support]

Default Browser: 600 - SDK 10.10 (2015-07-17)

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 2.3.4.1 (2010-06-15) [Support]

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.6 (2013-03-22) [Support]

AdobeAAMDetect: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-10-05) [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.213 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-07) [Support]

NavIn: NavIn 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.0 (2013-01-18) [Support]

Silverlight: 4.0.50401.0 (2011-02-13) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-02)

Flash Player: 21.0.0.213 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-07) Outdated! Update

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2011-02-19)

eMusicRemote: Unknown (2009-03-11) [Support]

AdobePDFViewer: 9.5.5 (2013-05-20) [Support]

npNavLaunch: NavLaunch_x86_64 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-02-15) [Support]

Scorch: 5.2.5 (2009-03-10) [Support]

eMusic: Unknown (2008-09-11)

JavaAppletPlugin: 15.0.1 - SDK 10.7 (2014-10-06) Check version

User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (2013-04-26) [Support]

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

DuckDuckGo - DuckDuckGo - http://duckduckgo.com (2015-07-10)

Audio Plug-ins: ⓘ

TASCAM_US1xx: Unknown (2009-12-15) [Support]

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

Adobe Version Cue CS4 (2009-03-15) [Support]

APE Manager (2009-03-11)

Backblaze Backup (2016-07-11) [Support]

Déjà Vu (2009-03-11) [Support]

Flash Player (2016-04-05) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV (2010-06-15) [Support]

MacFUSE (2010-01-29) [Support]

Microsoft Keyboard (2009-03-13) [Support]

Microsoft Mouse (2009-03-13) [Support]

Perian (2011-02-13) [Support]

Trusteer Endpoint Protection (2016-08-07) [Support]

Time Machine: ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: ON

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 715.67 GB Disk used: 595.69 GB

Destinations:

MyBook [Local]

Total size: 999.85 GB

Total number of backups: 74

Oldest backup: 06/11/2015 14:56

Last backup: 14/09/2016 10:30

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 999.85 GB < (Disk used 595.69 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

7% WindowServer

1% kernel_task

1% mtmfs

0% Google Chrome Helper(6)

0% fontd

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

1.08 GB Google Chrome Helper(6)

677 MB kernel_task

262 MB Google Chrome

246 MB mds_stores

188 MB mdworker(6)

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

1.30 GB Free RAM

6.70 GB Used RAM (3.06 GB Cached)

0 B Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

Sep 15, 2016, 09:57:15 AM Self test - passed

Sep 13, 2016, 06:22:19 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/NavService_2016-09-13-182219_[redacted].cpu_res ource.diag [Details]

/Applications/Chart Installer/NavService.app/Contents/MacOS/NavService

Any clues there?

Also, and this might not be relevant, I have a 2TB WD drive usually connected via firewire which I use for Time Machine backups. This has often disconnected itself, resulting in an error message to say that the drive was not properly disconnected. Sometimes Time Machine has hung up or taken over most of the CPU trying to back up, resulting in a hot computer (although never a shut down). I'm wondering if this might have corrupted something?

I have also run Disk utility both to repair the disk (resulting in "disk appears to be ok") and to repair the permissions, when I always seem to get the same or very similar result, even if the permissions have just been repaired -

Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”Permissions differ on “Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Resources/Safari.help/Contents/Resources/inde x.html”; should be lrwxr-xr-x ; they are -rwxr-xr-x .

Repaired “Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Resources/Safari.help/Contents/Resources/inde x.html”

Group differs on “Library/Printers/InstalledPrinters.plist”; should be 80; group is 0.

Permissions differ on “Library/Printers/InstalledPrinters.plist”; should be -rw-rw-rw- ; they are -rw-r--r-- .

Repaired “Library/Printers/InstalledPrinters.plist”

Warning: SUID file “System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent” has been modified and will not be repaired.

User differs on “private/var/db/displaypolicyd”; should be 0; user is 244.

Group differs on “private/var/db/displaypolicyd”; should be 0; group is 244.

Repaired “private/var/db/displaypolicyd”

Permissions differ on “Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/SafariForWebKitDevelopment”; should be -rwxr-xr-x ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .

Repaired “Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/SafariForWebKitDevelopment”

Permissions repair complete

Thank you. Will delete those apps and try safe mode in the morning. Am I right in thinking that the Recovery Partition is the same as the Recovery Disk. In which case I can usually get into it (to Repair Disk with Disk Utilities, for example), but just not this morning!

Thank you for all that advice, which I shall be actioning tomorrow am. In the meantime, I used the Console as instructed and this is what it revealed...

Sep 14 14:32:48 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128

Sep 14 15:03:21 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128

Sep 14 15:30:46 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128

Sep 14 15:35:09 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128

Sep 14 15:38:30 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: 0

Sep 15 09:55:52 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128

Sep 15 09:57:53 localhost kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: 0

I'll let you know how I get on.

Thank you for your question. Yes, I tried booting off a usb connected clone and got exactly the same symptoms. See also my reply regarding the battery.

Hi John

Thank you very much for your continued interest.

I normally use the mac connected to mains power and to an external monitor and keyboard. The first time this unexpected shutdown occurred was some months ago when I put it to sleep, disconnected and moved it. When I tried to wake it, it shutdown. But restarted ok. When I put it to sleep again, reconnected it to the mains and all its peripherals and then tried to wake it, it again shutdown. Then it started ok. It has got steadily worse since then and, at times, difficult to restart.

To answer your questions, the shutdowns can occur with or without peripheral USB and/or Firewire devices connected.

The battery, hmm. Back in March 2013, the original battery swelled up so much that the trackpad no longer worked. So I replaced it (myself) with a (supposedly) new Original Battery Macbook Pro 17" A1297 A1309 AKKU APPLE laptop 95WH new bought from eBay. The current details for that battery (from About This Mac) are as follows:-

Battery Information:

Model Information:

Serial Number: 9G90404T14M0A

Manufacturer: DP

Device Name: bq20z951

Pack Lot Code: 0

PCB Lot Code: 0

Firmware Version: 42

Hardware Revision: 1

Cell Revision: 119

Charge Information:

Charge Remaining (mAh): 11370

Fully Charged: Yes

Charging: No

Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 11370

Health Information:

Cycle Count: 24

Condition: Normal

Battery Installed: Yes

Amperage (mA): 0

Voltage (mV): 8280

But, even though the Mac is usually connected to the mains, 24 cycles does appear to be a bit low for a three and a half year old battery. So maybe therein lies the problem?

Is there any way I can further test the battery or the DC-in board myself?

When the unexpected shutdown does occur, it is instantaneous and accompanied by a quiet "chink" noise, exactly as one might expect from a power cut.

See also my reply to leroydouglas - exactly the same can happen if I try to boot from a USB clone.

Hi Leroy

Thanks for coming back again. Yes, I've done the Apple Hardware Test and it said everything was fine. The chink does sound like the SMS as referred to in your link, but would the SMS still work if the power had been interrupted?