A Self fix, hopefully this is the cause of your troubles, too…
So, a few times I noticed that my MacBook would shutdown somewhat randomly. It was usually when I was moving the computer from my lap to a table or visa versa. Last week, I ran into my apartment, grabbed my computer and went to class. I sit down at the beginning of a 4 hour lecture and my computer won’t turn on at all. The sleep light comes on, but the caps lock/num lock lights won’t light up. I tried with and without the battery, doing all the special reflashy-type things, and nothing was working. I added 2GB of Crucial memory in late July. (Crucial was recommended by a Genius at the Apple Store). I wondered throughout the day, what if my RAM wasn’t in far enough? I read someone saying something about “pushing until your fingers hurt” to get it in all the way. I went home, opened her up and tried it. I pushed until my fingers hurt, and I could feel the RAM go in further…the computer started up fine and has never had problems since.
PUSH UNTIL YOUR FINGERS HURT WHEN YOU INSTALL NEW RAM!!! I think this is the problem for many macbooks. Really, until your fingers hurt. Let me describe more: I’ve played string bass for 12 years. I hardly have fingerprints anymore. The pads on my fingers are thick as hell with hyperkaratosis. I weigh 270lbs and I workout constantly. My fingers still hurt. PUSH UNTIL THEY HURT. I hope this helps.
September 22nd, 2006 at 3:54 pm
yeah I noticed that also, but the problem remained with the shutdown…………
September 22nd, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Thanks, but that is not the problem causing RSS.
September 22nd, 2006 at 4:36 pm
The genius said my 3rd-party RAM didn’t look like it was properly seated. He took them out and put them back in again and nothing changed. He also suggested I put in the original RAM. Did that and nothing changed. My fingers were hurting both times. I thought that they might be slipping out over time, but the shutdowns regularly occur when my Macbook is cold, with the same frequency after swapping the RAM. And I can prevent it by starting it in safe mode (holding the power button at startup to limit it at 1GHz). So I think it has more to do with the processor and heat sink.
September 24th, 2006 at 12:08 am
Thanks for the advice but i think in my case it made things worse. My macbook was working great for about 3 months then yesterday it started shutting down.. After every reboot it would shutdown in aprox. 20 seconds. So i tried pushing in the RAM as hard as i could then it wouldn’t boot at all and the LED on the front was blinking as if something was wrong. Now i definately have to take it in to get fixed.. =(
September 24th, 2006 at 8:50 am
It tried yesterday and remarkably enough: up to now it seems to work.
I got the first RSS after transporting my MB by plane and train and ever since it produced itself once a day, a few minutes after warming up.
Took it to the Apple Store for repair but they couldn’t garantee me I would get my MB back within a month! Which would have been problematic, as I’m emigrating to the other side of the world.
The Hurting Fingers Fix might be nothing more than a temporary workaround, but if it keeps my MB usable for a few more weeks I am more than happy.
September 25th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
As much as this might seem like a workaround that actually helps, I do not find it acceptable in any form. There’s an issue and they have to face it. Love Apple and their products, but if they have to take a hit from this mishap, so be it.
This was starting to happen so much that I was able to record 1 of several shutdowns. This i was one of the short ones:
Witness The Calamity
BTW, I was on the phone for 1h08mins12secs with Apple care today, and they claimed that they could not replace my lap!!? yea, right. Now, I have to see about arguing with some manager @ store level about getting this fugazi laptop replaced… Dear Apple, I have no times for arguments. This is my 3rd hardware failure in 3 laps. Even the Product Specialist agreed that this was unacceptable… I’m just tired now.
H!