IMac starting to shut off - as if power has been disconnected?
Hello,
My iMac has never given me any trouble before, and I really don't download much from the internet. I mainly use my iMac for e-mail, web-browsing, and the iLife programs. The only thing I have downloaded recently is the newest iTunes update.
Anyway, recently my computer has started to simply shut-off from time to time. I am talking about a HARD shut down, as if someone simply unplugged the computer. Instant black screen, and loss of power! I have to push the power button to start the computer back up, and of course I have lost anything I was working on.
Does anyone have a clue as to why this might be happening? I included all of my computer's details in my profile, so I think you should see it. I hope it is something that could be fixed, I am really not in a position to buy a new computer right now.
Thanks,
Lincoln
I have a 27" iMac purchased last December. Recently it was doing something similar to the above complaints in this thread. It would suddenly shut down about 2 minutes or less after booting. After several of these shutdowns, I trotted into a local Genius Bar. I thought it was a power supply problem. The Genius was able to boot off of some trouble shooting external hard drive to check for any system hardware problem. I think that check came up negative.
Then he went into Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility and ran "Permissions Repair". After that program ran for about 8 minutes, the computer was rebooted and it's been fine for about 10 days now. Go figure.
While I don't know if it's good advice or not, the Genius told me I should run "Permissions Repair" monthly.
Since I'm coming up on one year with my warranty, I bought Apple Care in case something else happens with my MBP.
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My iMac Late 2006 started randomly shutting off about a couple months ago. It would normally turn right back on and work fine. Now I cannot get it to turn on at all. I've tried many different power outlets, and I tried resetting all the power stuff with no results. On a rare occasion, it will turn on after pressing the power button over a hundred times. The Apple Store told me the iMac is vintage and they cannot fix it.
I want to know what the issue could be. Apple said it might be either the power supply or the logic board. Has anyone else experienced this? If its the power supply then I will go ahead and fix it but fixing the logic board won't be worth it.
What should I do?Given the vintage of your machine, the problem could be anything.
Power supply issues have a specific profile. Your machine suddenly turns off. You reboot, and it works a while, but lasts a shorter amount of time. Reboot it, and the time will decrease. In this case, the only option is to get the power supply replaced.
Logic board has a wide variety of symptoms, depending on the model of your computer. Your issue is not inconsistent with logic board problems.
As RRFS counsels, getting a new computer will be more cost-effective than repairing the old one. Be sure to back your data regularly, of course. -
I have an iPhone 5 that just started to shut off by itself. Any suggestions why?
Hi there wy lassie,
You may find the troubleshooting steps in the article below helpful.
iPhone: Hardware troubleshooting
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2802
Will not turn on, will not turn on unless connected to power, or unexpected power off
Verify that the Sleep/Wake button functions. If it does not function, inspect it for signs of damage. If the button is damaged or is not functioning when pressed, seek service.
Check if a Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) is activated or there are signs of corrosion. Learn about LCIs and corrosion.
Connect the iPhone to the iPhone's USB power adapter and let it charge for at least ten minutes.
After at least 30 minutes, if:
The home screen appears: The iPhone should be working. Update to the latest version of iOS if necessary. Continue charging it until it is completely charged and you see this battery icon in the upper-right corner of the screen . Then unplug the phone from power. If it immediately turns off, seek service.
The low-battery image appears, even after the phone has charged for at least 20 minutes: See "iPhone displays the low-battery image and is unresponsive" symptom in this article.
Something other than the Home screen or Low Battery image appears, continue with this article for further troubleshooting steps.
If the iPhone did not turn on, reset it while connected to the iPhone USB power adapter.
If the display turns on, go to step 4.
If the display remains black, go to next step.
Connect the iPhone to a computer and open iTunes. If iTunes recognizes the iPhone and indicates that it is in recovery mode, attempt to restore the iPhone. If the iPhone doesn't appear in iTunes or if you have difficulties in restoring the iPhone, see this article for further assistance.
If restoring the iPhone resolved the issue, go to step 4. If restoring the iPhone did not solve the issue, seek service.
Issue not resolved
My issue is still not resolved. What do I do next?
Contact Apple Support
-Griff W. -
My iMac (2007) keeps shutting off when in Full Screen mode (DVD, iTunes Visualizer, etc.) This only happens when I have an external monitor hooked up HDMI. Help?
Try using another connection such as VGA or DVI to see if the problem repeats itself.
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I have a 2009 MacBook Pro which I have upgraded a few things on. I have updated to Yosemite and am having problems with getting my laptop to come out of sleep mode, and to start when shut off. Any ideas of what this might be or how to correct it? Is this more probably a hardware issue or software?
Try these in order testing your system after each to see if it's back to normal:
1. a. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
b. Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
2. Restart the computer in Safe Mode, then restart again, normally. If this doesn't help, then:
Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the Utilities menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
3. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
4. Reinstall Yosemite: Reboot from the Recovery HD. Select Reinstall OS X from the Utilities menu, and click on the Continue button.
Download and install the 10.10.1 update.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
because it is three times faster than wireless.
5. Reinstall Yosemite from Scratch:
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
How to Clean Install OS X Yosemite
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
because it is three times faster than wireless. -
Why does my iMac display keep shutting off? Computer still running in the background. I've tried unplugging and restarting, to no avail. The computer is well out of warranty - about 7-8 years old, running 10.6.8
Checked.... the settings had not been inadvertently changed, but I did move the scroll and reset them back to the original. Hasn't shut off again.... yet. Will re-post with follow-up one way or the other. Thanks.
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My MacBook Pro starts and shuts off after loading for sometime
My MacBook Pro starts and shuts off after loading for sometime
Try starting in Safe mode by holding down the Shift key while booting. Safe mode takes a while to load the OS. After that, restart the computer normally.
If that does not work, start up in Recovery by holding down the Command and R keys. In the window that opens, choose Disk Utility at the bottom and verify and repair your disk. Repair permissions while you are there. -
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IMac intel randomly shuts off. Can't figure out why.
Hello,
I have an Intel based iMac purchased in 2012 running on a 2.9GHz Intel Core i5 with 8GB of RAM.
Over the past 4 months the computer randomly shuts off with no warning. The only way to power it back up is to reset the SMC, but then it will eventually shut off again.
I have tried:
-changing plugs
-changing power strips
--brought to Mac service desk where they said nothing is wrong with the machine
-replaced power cord
-checked temps
-increased fan speeds
-unplugging hardware
-restoring to factory settings
None of this was worked. It still continues to shut down seemingly at random. It shuts down when I'm actively using it, when it is on but idle, and when it is in sleep mode. It shuts down at random times of the day, it's happened in the morning, afternoon, evening and middle of the night.
I am running the most recent version of Mavericks.
I have read through many threads on similar topic but nothing I've seen so far works.
Can anyone help or does anyone have any suggestions on what to do?
This is really frustrating and making it very difficult to finish projects.
Please help!!!Hey Kappy,
thanks for your help with this.
Looked into the kernal panic and not sure if that's what is happening. There is no "restart screen". And no other options when the computer eventually is re-booted. The computer shuts off without any warning, and when you reboot it behaves as it would if there was an unexpected power outage.
Is there anything in the console that would indicate kernal panic?
the console just before a shut down today looked like this:
10/8/14 4:26:06.219 PM com.apple.internetaccounts[316]: *** Entitlement com.apple.private.iaaccounts is missing.
10/8/14 4:26:06.219 PM Finder[274]: *** remoteObjectProxyWithErrorHandler failed: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4097 "Couldn’t communicate with a helper application."; {
10/8/14 4:26:06.817 PM com.apple.IconServicesAgent[237]: main Failed to composit image for binding VariantBinding [0x113] flags: 0x8 binding: FileInfoBinding [0x421] - extension: plist, UTI: com.apple.property-list, fileType: ????.
10/8/14 4:26:06.818 PM quicklookd[1125]: Warning: Cache image returned by the server has size range covering all valid image sizes. Binding: VariantBinding [0x203] flags: 0x8 binding: FileInfoBinding [0x103] - extension: plist, UTI: com.apple.property-list, fileType: ???? request size:64 scale: 1
10/8/14 4:26:06.827 PM com.apple.IconServicesAgent[237]: main Failed to composit image for binding VariantBinding [0x221] flags: 0x8 binding: FileInfoBinding [0x341] - extension: rtf, UTI: public.rtf, fileType: ????.
10/8/14 4:26:06.827 PM quicklookd[1125]: Warning: Cache image returned by the server has size range covering all valid image sizes. Binding: VariantBinding [0x403] flags: 0x8 binding: FileInfoBinding [0x303] - extension: rtf, UTI: public.rtf, fileType: ???? request size:64 scale: 1
10/8/14 4:26:07.102 PM com.apple.IconServicesAgent[237]: main Failed to composit image for binding VariantBinding [0x425] flags: 0x8 binding: FileInfoBinding [0x117] - extension: h, UTI: public.c-header, fileType: ????.
10/8/14 4:26:07.103 PM quicklookd[1125]: Warning: Cache image returned by the server has size range covering all valid image sizes. Binding: VariantBinding [0xa03] flags: 0x8 binding: FileInfoBinding [0x903] - extension: h, UTI: public.c-header, fileType: ???? request size:64 scale: 1
10/8/14 4:30:13.000 PM kernel[0]: Limiting icmp unreach response from 414 to 250 packets per second
Then it happened again only 10 minutes later, this time the the computer logged this before shutdown:
10/8/14 4:33:01.654 PM Dock[161]: Failed to mmap file. The file has zero length.
10/8/14 4:33:01.654 PM Dock[161]: Failed to mmap file. The file has zero length.
10/8/14 4:33:01.654 PM Dock[161]: Failed to mmap file. The file has zero length.
10/8/14 4:33:01.655 PM Dock[161]: Failed to mmap file. The file has zero length.
10/8/14 4:33:01.790 PM com.apple.IconServicesAgent[193]: Failed to mmap file. The file has zero length.
10/8/14 4:33:02.173 PM xpcd[169]: restored permissions (100600 -> 100700) on /Users/FleaDog/Library/Containers/com.apple.soagent/Container.plist
10/8/14 4:33:02.205 PM WiFiKeychainProxy[199]: [NO client logger] <Nov 10 2013 18:30:13> WIFICLOUDSYNC WiFiCloudSyncEngineCreate: created...
10/8/14 4:33:02.205 PM WiFiKeychainProxy[199]: [NO client logger] <Nov 10 2013 18:30:13> WIFICLOUDSYNC WiFiCloudSyncEngineRegisterCallbacks: WiFiCloudSyncEngineCallbacks version - 0, bundle id - com.apple.wifi.WiFiKeychainProxy
10/8/14 4:33:02.472 PM xpcd[169]: restored permissions (100600 -> 100700) on /Users/FleaDog/Library/Containers/com.apple.ShareKitHelper/Container.plist
10/8/14 4:33:02.487 PM accountsd[220]: assertion failed: 13F34: liblaunch.dylib + 25164 [A40A0C7B-3216-39B4-8AE0-B5D3BAF1DA8A]: 0x25
10/8/14 4:33:02.837 PM xpcd[169]: restored permissions (100600 -> 100700) on /Users/FleaDog/Library/Containers/com.apple.CalendarAgent/Container.plist
10/8/14 4:33:02.864 PM com.apple.SecurityServer[15]: Session 100012 created
10/8/14 4:33:04.294 PM accountsd[220]: /SourceCache/Accounts/Accounts-336.9/ACDAuthenticationPluginManager.m - -[ACDAuthenticationPluginManager credentialForAccount:client:handler:] - 230 - The authentication plugin for account "[email protected]" (17E9DBEA-E159-472D-886B-9C5CC94EA1B9) could not be found!
10/8/14 4:33:04.295 PM accountsd[220]: /SourceCache/Accounts/Accounts-336.9/ACDAccountStore.m - __62-[ACDAccountStore credentialForAccountWithIdentifier:handler:]_block_invoke389 - 857 - No plugin provides credentials for account [email protected]. Falling back to legacy behavior.
10/8/14 4:33:04.472 PM apsd[192]: Unrecognized leaf certificate
10/8/14 4:33:05.919 PM com.apple.time[151]: Interval maximum value is 946100000 seconds (specified value: 9223372036854775807).
10/8/14 4:33:06.143 PM com.apple.imfoundation.IMRemoteURLConnectionAgent[229]: ERROR: __CFURLCache:CreateTablesAndIndexes version create - database is locked. ErrCode: 5.
10/8/14 4:33:06.143 PM com.apple.imfoundation.IMRemoteURLConnectionAgent[229]: __CFURLCache:RecreateEmptyPersistentStoreOnDiskAndOpen: create tables and index failed.
10/8/14 4:33:07.258 PM com.apple.dock.extra[227]: <NSXPCConnection: 0x7fc062456680>: received an undecodable message (no exported object to receive message). Dropping message.
10/8/14 4:33:07.732 PM com.apple.SecurityServer[15]: Session 100015 created
10/8/14 4:33:08.320 PM com.apple.time[151]: Interval maximum value is 946100000 seconds (specified value: 9223372036854775807).
10/8/14 4:33:08.798 PM com.apple.NotesMigratorService[235]: Joined Aqua audit session
10/8/14 4:33:10.485 PM gamed[218]: CKSoftwareMap: Registering with Daemon
10/8/14 4:33:12.051 PM parentalcontrolsd[240]: StartObservingFSEvents [849:] -- *** StartObservingFSEvents started event stream
10/8/14 4:33:20.633 PM KeyboardSetupAssistant[196]: writeKeyboardType <50484-1133-0> 40
10/8/14 4:33:55.000 PM kernel[0]: Limiting icmp unreach response from 414 to 250 packets per second
10/8/14 4:34:03.852 PM com.apple.SecurityServer[15]: Session 100007 created
10/8/14 4:34:06.000 PM kernel[0]: firefox (map: 0xffffff801fc24780) triggered DYLD shared region unnest for map: 0xffffff801fc24780, region 0x7fff87e00000->0x7fff88000000. While not abnormal for debuggers, this increases system memory footprint until the target exits.
10/8/14 4:34:12.459 PM firefox[248]: stat on /Users/FleaDog/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/h76z5rok.default/sessionstore.js: No such file or directory
10/8/14 4:34:13.000 PM kernel[0]: Limiting icmp unreach response from 421 to 250 packets per second
Is there anyway to test the RAM to see if that is the problem before it is replaced?
As I stated in the OP, the computer has already been to Mac Support and they said all was well with the machine, would they have tested the RAM?
thanks again for your help with this. -
Toshiba satalite L305D starts then shuts off. Need help.
Basically the computer will start then about 10-20 sec later will shut off. No display what so ever. Doesnt seem like the computer is getting to POST.
Ive done my research, im just looking for some things to try.
Things Ive tried.
* Changed power adapter.
* Attached VGA to external monitor.
* Holding the power button for 60 sec without battery and AC (refresh trick)
* Replaced the entire Motherboard ( yep even that didnt work)
* Removed and Re-applied thermal paste to CPU and Heatsink.
At this point Im thinking its either the CPU not getting good air flow, or just dead or possibly a CMOS problem. I also tried to remove the CMOS battery, but its Soldered on.
Any help would be appriciated. Also, buying a new computer is not an option.might be an air flow issue with over heating. might try to take apart the computer and give it a cleaning for dust build up. the other issue is the battery for the cmos could be shot i have had another computer that had this issue before and wouldn't start as well the cmos battery is should be sodered in, like you said. what i did is desoder it and replaced it with another sililar battery from another laptop i wasnt using i'm sure you can purchase one from amazon as well or ebay; and sodering the new on into place. hope this helps.
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My iMac is constantly shutting off.
I am ready to chuck my iMac out the window! It has been constantly / randomly shutting off for at least 4 months. I have taken it in twice. Once they did a quick scan and nothing came up. Took it home and for about 2 weeks it worked. Then it started again. I can be doing something like this where I am typing this question or not even touching it and it just shuts off. If I unplug the cord from the back of the monitor and wait approximately 10 minutes it will turn back on for a small while. Once it starts shutting off it does it a lot more. It is so frustrating when my daughters are trying to do their homework and can't just sit down and type a paper without it taking hours to get done. When I took it back in they had it for at least 3 days and it never shut off and all their tests showed nothing. i brought it home and it worked for about two weeks with no problem. They suggested I try a new outlet. I have tried three new outlets and it doesn't work. One person on the phone actually suggested that I try it at someone else's house. How obsured, what is the point if I can't use it at my house. I think it is possibly the cord is bad, they don't, but they are willing to switch it out, (hopefully without a cost), but I have to get back up there to the store to do this. My iMac is only a year and a half old. However, it won't be under warranty now. It is so frustrating to buy an expensive new computer to only have more problems then I have ever had with another computer. Also, you can't get any help without packing it up and heading into the store or it costing you money. I am definitely reconsidering ever buying a Mac product again. In addition, one day I realized I was missing 50,000 photos and I called for help and their expert was unable to help me, basically said they were gone and suggested a $100 software that may recover them. Well, I managed to google and find out how to repair my iphoto library and got them all back. It was my fault not having them all backed up, but ridiculous that they were gone when I had nothing to do with it. I think it was because the computer keeps randomly shutting off. Once I got them back, I ran out and got a external hard drive, but have yet to back them up because everytime I try to transfer them the computer shuts off and I have yet to get more than one folder done. Another reason I don't want to take my computer back in to be looked at. I really only use my computer to download my photos and read my emails. I am not downloading anything that should ruin my computer. Just wondering if anyone else out there is having these issues and if they have found a solution. Apple apparently seems to be clueless.
If you have more than one user account, you must be logged in as an administrator to carry out these instructions.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It makes no changes to your data.
Please triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
syslog -k Sender kernel -k Message CSeq 'n Cause: -' | tail | awk '/:/{$4=""; print}' | pbcopy
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.
Launch the built-in Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window by pressing the key combination command-V. I've tested these instructions only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, you may have to press the return key after pasting.
Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) to appear below what you entered.
The output of the command will be automatically copied to the Clipboard. If the command produced no output, the Clipboard will be empty. Paste into a reply to this message.
The Terminal window doesn't show the output. Please don't copy anything from there. -
I could use some guidance on troubleshooting steps to isolate this problem. My Mac was stored for about 3 years in its box in an AC controlled environment. Now we want to get some files from it - it started up and ran for about 10 minutes then shut off suddenly. It would not restart. Unplugged the cord after waiting about 15 minutes and it started again ran for 5 minutes and shut off (not shutdown just off like it was unplugged). The next day tried again and it started for about 10 seconds before shutting off. The first two times it started it asked to set the date and time so the pROM battery must be dead.
What steps should I take to troubleshoot? I've done the following:
1. try a different power cord
2. try the keyboard button and the button in the back
3. vaccum the power supply a little (not very well) it is not super dirtyCan you feel the power supply fan's flow of air out the back of the computer's case? What you've described can occur when a failing or dead fan doesn't maintain a tolerable temperature within the power supply. When it gets hotter than it should, a thermal trip kicks in and turns off the computer to prevent any permanent damage. The fact that you can restart the computer after a cooling down period, only to see the computer shut down again after a brief period, is symptomatic of power supply fan failure. Check the fan's ouput, and if it's only producing a weak flow of air, you should open up the computer's case and try blowing out any internal dust from the power supply/cooling fan. You'd be surprised to see how much dust gathers on the backside of the fan blade itself, even though the power supply looks relatively clean from the outside. I'd recommend using a can of compressed air and not a vacuum cleaner internally, because the vacuum cleaner's plastic attachments acquire a static charge. With the cover off, turn ON the computer and visually observe the fan's movement. If it runs intermittently or not at all, you should disassemble the power supply and replace it. Some users have gotten more life out of old/weak/noisy fans by spraying the shaft with WD40 or an equivalent product, to lubricate the worn sleeve bearing. The results of this procedure are mixed, because in cases of fan failure, the cause is often a weak magnetic field that's inadequate to spin the blade.
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Start screen starts then shuts off
hew screen turns on white with logo ... then a bar on the bottom starts to fill then shuts off without warning
How old is the Time Capsule? What model number?
Anything over 3-4 years and the power supply is pretty much gone on most models.
Take the Time Capsule to an Apple Store....if you have one near you...to let them take a look and discuss your options with you.
Otherwise, contact Apple Support.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57
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