Memory problems, system hangs or does not enter 'sleep' mode

Question

Since my MacBook automatically upgraded itself (Software Update) to 10.5.7 about a month ago I've had nothing but problems with it.
I keep getting 'low memory' warnings, or the 'please wait' twirling symbol displays for ages whilst something happens in the background, or the system occasionally hangs for no apparent reason. Sometimes it reboots without warning.
But the most irritating aspect of the problems I'm experiencing is that when I put it into Sleep mode and subsequently want to wake it up, I notice that the cooling fan is in overdrive (so clearly not asleep at all) and then upon opening the cover I get a blank screen (nothing 'wakes up'). Or so it appears. But actually upon closer inspection I can see my last used screen display in very faint outline somewhere in the darkness of the screen. The only way out of this scenario is to hold the on/off button until the machine shuts down, wait a few moments and then boot from scratch.
From reading other comments in this forum there seem to be some real problems with 10.5.7, so I suspect I'm not alone in experiencing the problems I've described above.
I'd be interested to know whether people think I should take my MacBook to my local Apple Store to get them to have a look at a fix of some kind, or perhaps there is something I could be doing myself?

Answer 1

Hi,
*"But the most irritating aspect of the problems I'm experiencing is that when I put it into Sleep mode and subsequently want to wake it up, I notice that the cooling fan is in overdrive (so clearly not asleep at all) and then upon opening the cover I get a blank screen (nothing 'wakes up'). Or so it appears. But actually upon closer inspection I can see my last used screen display in very faint outline somewhere in the darkness of the screen. The only way out of this scenario is to hold the on/off button until the machine shuts down, wait a few moments and then boot from scratch."*
Try a href=http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411> Resetting the SMC
*"Since my MacBook automatically upgraded itself (Software Update) to 10.5.7 about a month ago I've had nothing but problems with it"*
For the record, no computer can just update it's system software on it's own. When Apple has updates available you must type in your admin password at the prompt in order to "Accept" the terms. The software cannot be installed without your knowledge.
Next... anytime you do software updates of any kind, run Disk Utility (Applications/Utilities) and repair disk permissions. Launch Disk Utility. Select MacintoshHD in the panel on the left, select the FirstAid tab. Click: Repair Disk Permissions. When it's finished from the Menu Bar, Quit Disk Utility and restart your Mac.
Try booting from your install disk and verify whether or not the hard disk has errors.
Insert the installer disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu (Panther and earlier) or Utilities menu (Tiger and later) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel. It should say: Verified)
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
When you are finished with DU, from the Menu Bar, select Utilities/Startup Manager.
Select your start up disk and click Restart
If you cannot boot from your install disk, try booting in Safe Mode
Check available disk space.
Right or control click the MacintoshHD icon. Click Get Info. In the Get Info window you will see
Capacity and Available. Make sure you always have a minimum of 10% to 15% free disk space at all times.
Carolyn
Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit