Firmware update and Random “Startup” Syndrome?
I have a week 31 Macbook that started exhibiting mild RSS symptoms about six weeks ago. After reading that others were originally receiving unsatisfactory results from Apple’s repair attempts, I decided that I would stick it out for awhile and see what developed. For me, avoiding the problem was as simple as never letting the computer go cold. So my MacBook was plugged in and ran constantly, with the occasional reboot after updating software.
I installed the SMC firmware update that was released last week in an attempt by Apple to address the problem without having to replace the heatsink. However, since installation, I’ve noticed a curious phenomenon that works in the opposite direction of the original problem.
When the lid is not closed and my computer is off, my MacBook now boots itself when the power cable is attached to the computer and I plug the cable into an outlet. To the best of my knowledge this never happened prior to the firmware update.
Granted, this problem is probably better than the alternative, but still not acceptable given what one pays for a MacBook. I plan on contacting AppleCare US later today to inquire but would be curious to know if others have had similar experiences with their MacBooks post-firmware update.
November 1st, 2006 at 10:34 am
A week 37 MacBook… depending on when you got the unit, I’d say 6 weeks ago is about 1 or 2 weeks after getting the unit. Sounds fishy. People normally think of the shortest time/date from an event happening. I’d think you’re more likely to remember that the thing’s busted after a week or 2 of getting it, than remembering that it happened six weeks ago.
I just checked the calendar and:
- Week 37 is September 10 to 16, 2006.
- Six weeks ago is September 17 to 23, 2006.
That’s actually the week after manufacturing. I would have asked for an immediate exchange for a new unit being so close to manufacturing date. Of course it depends on when you got the unit. There’s a span of 7 weeks between Week 37 and now.
Sorry, I’m starting to become skeptical because all of these “reports” sound too exaggerated.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:43 pm
Sorry, that’s a typo. It should say week 31. In my haste this morning I guess I missed that in the proofreading. I got the computer in the first week of August. Thanks for alerting me to the error.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Sorry for the accusatory tone on my end. =) Good luck on your problem.
November 1st, 2006 at 6:37 pm
No worries. My mistake.
November 2nd, 2006 at 12:14 am
I’m an Apple repair technician and I can tell you that the auto-power on is at least somewhat “normal”. It has always happened with the MacBooks and MacBook Pros, but only when there is no battery.
November 2nd, 2006 at 5:17 am
well as a consumer i can tell you my macbook pro does it and it has a battery and it still shutsdown since the alleged fix
November 2nd, 2006 at 9:45 pm
Thanks Monokax. That’s interesting. My computer’s battery works fine and the computer will run off of it. I tried resetting the PMU but that didn’t seem to change anything. The computer booted itself again this morning after plugging it in and opening the lid, probably within 5-10 seconds.
I called AppleCare just now, and the problem has indeed been resolved. Apparently when I installed the firmware upgrade, the computer also elected to put itself on a schedule by which it would boot itself every day at 8:55 a.m. which, coincidentally, is about 10 minutes before I wake up every day and probably right around the time the computer was first booted after the firmware update. Presumably now that the box is unchecked the problem will be resolved.
So I’m good to go, but hopefully if any other Macbook users find this to be a glitch after installing the firmware update, they might find this and be able to handle the problem without assistance.
November 2nd, 2006 at 9:49 pm
apple is back to the valve era
you must wait 30 minutes until your macbook gets warm and it’s fully satisfied with rebooting to start using it.
i have plenty of time to spend during my day, so it’s absolutely fine.
sarcastic ?
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:06 pm
apple not fixed. shutdown not cured. did you all give up?
November 4th, 2006 at 6:06 pm
Hi Everybody, just a short comment.
I had the “MRS” issue till yesterday.
I updated to osx 10.4.8, then downloaded the SMC version 1.4f12, and that fixed the shutdown problem on my macbook serial:4H6303A6…
good luck!
EM
November 7th, 2006 at 12:45 am
Its to bad that mac employees act like none of these things riley happen witch they do. Then to come to this site and act like some one else and say the opposite. I had two black books ln less one month. The first one could not even import a CD. 5 phone calls later and about 8 hours of trying to fix it no luck. Then the real fun starts try to return it HA Ha Ok dogy jump. Well I finally got another new book, great. Well this one seemed ok for about one day then started doing every thing and more that all of have discribed. In the end both had failing hard drives thats what I was told. not to mention the some what looking burn mark,on my 80 year old kitchen table……… Thats great, my first real macs turn out to be just A hot black book.