Serious Problems with my MacBook

WheresMyCamera?

For the record this isn't my first computer or even my first mac.

Since yesterday my MackBook has just started shutting down instantly. First time it happened I was in the middle of writting an email mail and the system just went off with only the sleep light on. It didn't even take a second to power down, the screen just went blank and suddenly the sleep light was doing it's normal slow flashing pattern.

First I thought, weird, turned it back on then about 10-15minutes later it did the same thing, only this time it completely turned off just a suddenly as before only no sleep light.

It did the very same today only when I tried to turn it on again it wouldn't power up after the second shutdown. Just now after leaving it for about 2 hours I tried again to turn it on and it took about 5 attempts to get the machine to boot up fully without going dead. My Battery registers as having a full charge and I've tried it while having it plugged into the mains too. Each with the same effects.

The MacBook was bought near the end of march from an Apple store in the US so it's really not that old. I don't download anything really. No torrents, mp3's, movies just use it mainly for photography and net.
It's the most current 2.4ghz Black MacBook and I recently upgraded the RAM to 4gb

One other thing the readout now says the battery is not charging even though all the connections seem fine. And on one of the start ups I had a new screen which looked like a 'smokey/opaque' version of my desktop with a loading bar going horizontaly across the screen (it reminded me of windows safe mode)

Anyone got any ideas? As I can't make it to an Apple store for the next while.

Thanks.

babypink

is it running on battery or mains when this happens......the random blackout?

WheresMyCamera?

It has happened in both situations. It now is not reconsizing the battery at all. (Not Charging) is indicated where the remaining battery life would be located.

In the Power heading of my System Profiler I get the following which does indicate that a battery is dead however by pressing the button on the back of the battery I can see it has five green lights. All connections on the battery are free of durt/dust.

Also, this battery problem has only started this evening. That's after the first few sudden shut down incidents. So even though the MacBook is now not powering up from the battery it was still having the same problems when it was earlier. It's now just added another problem with the battery, for good measure! :rolleyes:

The machine is 97 days old.

Battery Information:

Model Information:
Serial Number: DP-ASMB016-3859-d4e
Manufacturer: DP
Device name: ASMB016
Pack Lot Code: 0002
PCB Lot Code: 0000
Firmware Version: 0110
Hardware Revision: 0500
Cell Revision: 0102
Charge Information:
Charge remaining (mAh): 0
Fully charged: No
Charging: No
Full charge capacity (mAh): 0
Health Information:
Cycle count: 73
Condition: Check battery
Battery Installed: Yes
Amperage (mA): 0
Voltage (mV): 12336


I've also tried resetting the System Management Controler and Resetting the PRAM, although I don't think this actually done anything as I didn't hear the startup sound twice as per apple's support site.

babypink

i would try resetting the Computer's SMC (systems management controller) as follows and make sure software update has installed all available updates:


1. If the computer is on, turn it off.
2. Disconnect the AC Adapter and remove the computer's battery.
3. Press and hold down the power button for 5 seconds and then release the button.
4. Reconnect the battery and AC Adapter.
5. Press the Power button to restart the computer.

if the problem persists, ring Apple. Your warranty will be honoured here.

WheresMyCamera?

Just edited my last post to say I had already done as much. Thanks for the help. Guess I'll just have to wait til I get to an Apple store. The nasty thing is if this had happened yesterday morning I could have brought it to the London super store and had it checked out. But now I'm a few hours from there and touring the country so it'll be a week or so before I get near a store.

WheresMyCamera?

Just an update. Went into the Mac store in London. Managed to get squeezed into an apointment and got my problem with mac solved.
Battery was defective and the replaced it there on the spot.
Everything's working again. Well happy.

A

Phototoxin

Congrats.. now if they can develop scratch resistant laptops apple will be greater than the pope