Help! My MacBook is restarting itself frequently and unpredictably.

[cbayer]

It does not close anything prior to doing this and sometimes shuts down again while it is starting back up.

Sometimes I can be on it all day and it never happens. Then it will happen after I have had it up for only an hour or two.

Full disclosure: I spilled some tea on it a few months ago. This appeared to have primarily affected the screen, which seems to have sugar crystals now permanently embedded into it, but is otherwise fine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[struggle4progress]

1. Did you run through the standard fixes in the manual, like resetting PRAM or running

the hardware test?

[cbayer]

2. No, I haven't. When you say manual, do you by using the the help manual?

This is the problem with having a computer that works flawlessly for years. I don't even know where to look for answers!

I don't have a paper manual, so if you could guide me to the instructions for doing what you suggest, I would greatly appreciate it.

:hi:

[struggle4progress]

3. First see if you can download a manual online for your specific make/model

And look in the Problem Meet Solution section

There's a standard list of things to try if you're having problem with your mac

I have no idea if the remedies depend on make/model

[cbayer]

4. Will do, and will get back to you with results. Thank you so very, very much.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. If a cold restart doesn't work (using PRAM or S)

to restart, then I strongly suggest an exorcist. The Catholic Church has reopened their training of exorcist professionals about 10 yrs ago, and makes them available in emergencies.

[cbayer]

6. Thanks! I have restarted to reset the PRAM and ran a diagnostic program which

detected and repaired permissions. Now, I don't know what that means, but so far, so good.

Still open to an exorcism, though!

:hi:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. glad to hear it might be working.

I am still in wonder over my iPad2. I downloaded my entire office on it, and find myself taking it everywhere.

[struggle4progress]

7. Another possible issue: power

Is your battery good? Is the power adaptor OK?

Iffy battery + wonky power adaptor might cause problems

[cbayer]

8. Battery seems good. Still runs on full charge for about three hours.

The computer was getting really, really hot for a while. I did some research and looked at my CPU usage. The computer was trying to find a remote printer and was using almost 100% of my CPU to do it. I had no idea that this was happening.

I am wondering if the extreme heat (this went on for almost 2 months) may have caused this problem.

[struggle4progress]

9. Heat can screw stuff up. Memory, for example, gets wonky on one of my macs when

it's hot. I monitor temps and (when hot) crank up the fan with the third party app smcFanControl

Make sure there's not a gang of dust bunnies blocking your vents

[guyton]

10. could be thermal

You could run 'smcfancontrol' (google it to download) and check to see if the fans in it are working. The system will shut down very quickly if it thinks that it's over heating.

Might also want to check /var/log/kernel.log (or /var/log/system.log if you have a pre-snowleopard system) for "Previous Shutdown Cause" codes.

But the bottom line is that its tea bath has probably come home to roost.

[NYC_SKP]

12. Sounds like you may have the problem solved.

Good advice given. I'm pretty sure there isn't an Apple store right outside your door but it would be a good idea to set up a free diagnosis at the nearest Apple Store next time you know you'll be near one.

They've twice given me new iPhones after warranty expired.
On my black macbook they replaced the battery and the entire top and keyboard AFTER warranty expired by more than a year.
And much more.

Genius bar, nothing like it!

:hi: