Macbook shuts off randomly

Hi, i've had my macbook for about 6-7 months now which i bought from a friend. It's been working flawlessly up until about a month or two ago.. I've been getting random shut downs without warning from it. When i try to turn it back on it shuts back down. After about 3-4 trys of this ridiculous game it boots. Usually working throughout the day, but occasionally it shuts off again during my web browsing just 10-15 minutes after i turned it on.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

Maybe it's overheating? Where are you usually using it? As in, what surface is it on?

Download the iStat nano widget and let us know what your temps are.

"Proper" temperatures should be around:

CPU A 55-70
Heatsink A 50-60
Heatsink B 50-60
Enclosure Bottom 30-40
Northbridge 1 50-60
Northbrige 2 50-60

 

I usually use it on my bed or lay it down on my carpet.

The temperatures are

CPU A- 68
Heatsink A- 63
Heatsink B- 66
Enclosure Bottom- 33
Northbridge 1- 57
Northbridge 2- 59

 

I'm 99% sure that's the problem right there. When you use a computer on a surface like that the blanket or carpet will actually cover up the holes on the back and the heat will build up.

I was able to use my old ThinkPad R51 in bed all the time, but I can't with my MacBook because it gets so much hotter.

If you want to use it in bed get a tray or one of those usb fan mats to put under it. It should solve the problem. If you are using the laptop on a table, it is always flat. When you put it on a blanket or mattress or carpet, it gets depresed a bit into the material and can't blow air as well. The reason why the computer shuts down is so that the high temps don't ruin the computer.

If you want to be sure, run a CPU intensive app like iMovie, BONIC or a decent game on a table for an hour and check the temps, then do the same on the carpet or on the bed.

 

oh ok... I thought it was something wrong with my battery, because i read somewhere apple recalled a bunch of their batteries or something because it had the same problem as me..

 

http://www.apple.com/support/macbook_macbookpro/batteryupdate/

Apparently they fixed that with firmware through the Software Update.

If it keeps shutting off on a table call Apple and they can probably do a repair for free if you mention the "recall"

 

Ok thanks for your help. I'll keep that in mind.

 

yeah the bed and carpet are most likley your problem, make sure you have all the updates installed. If that doesnt fix the problem take it to an authorized apple repair center or apple store.

 

A friend of mine had this problem and ended up having the logic board replace.... It sounds more like it is the bed in you case though

 

today i was in my university library watching a movie on my mac and it randomly shut off again. It's sitting on a table. It took me about 5-7 tries to get it to actually boot. I might have to take it to the apple store and see whats up because this is ridiculous.

 

Yeah, it sounds like there's something wrong there...

I run my MacBook in the office where it's a good 24-25° C, running at full CPU load with BOINC, cpu temps at 80° + and it has never shut off on me.

Demand a free repair!

 

I am now going to say it is your logic bored if it did this while it was on a table...

 

I am now going to say it is your logic bored if it did this while it was on a table...

 

ok, i'll try and bring that up with the apple person when i bring it in. How much am i looking to spend for this logic board?

 

they should fix it for free... if you have apple care or if you havent had it for more than a year

 

Well i dont know if my friend had apple care or not. I bought it from her, so i'm guessing they won't fix it for me for free.

 

If it is over a year old and it dosent have apple care it will cost about 200 maybe less to fix...

 

Well if it wont be covered i would say your looking at 300-500 for the repair (im an apple authorized repair and service center, so i do it every day) BUT they did have some problems with the macbooks shuting down and restarting, so it may be covered. there is a web site called www.macbookrandomshutdown.com read up on the issuses there. but definitely take it in for service

 

How old is it???

 

Where can i see how old the laptop is?