Macbook won't restart or shut down

How do I get my computer to restart or shut down? I've tried going from the apple icon and from the power button, etc. Should I remove the battery? Or is there something I'm missing?
Thanks!

Lyssa,
Have have tried to shut down my MacBook by using a different administrator account but it still hangs up with a screen that has the wallpaper and a movable mouse pointer but nothing else.
The only way I can get the machine to shut down is by holding down the on/off button.
When I do that, I get this unhealthy sounding "bink" noise.
This has be a problem for me for the last 6 or 7 months now.
As a result, I went out and bought an Acer Aspire One model 1410 for $399.
I've been very happy with the purchase.
Not sure I will ever recommend an Apple to anyone again.

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Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Backup your data first since you still have access to it as my FAQ* explains:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
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http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
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Hi, Jerry -
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Steve:
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Hi Dalton,
Welcome to discussions.
Have you tried to repair permissions ?
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?128@@.6893ed83
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This is not a reply. I just want to elaborate on this problem.
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Won't restart or shut down

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Any ideas what happened? Any other steps I should have taken before force shutdown using the power button?

Hi japmac,
Thanks for your reply. Sorry for the delay but, I didn’t know exactly how to do what you described. I was waiting to see if it happened again, it didn’t.
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When I try to shut it down, either by the power button or the menu, it just restarts.
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Do a search for Sleep. You will find such as this
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8379633&#8379633
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After Snow Leopard install, my Mac won't restart or shut down...

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Hello Chris:
There is a reasonable possibility that you have a hardware problem (not what you wish to hear).
However, try a couple of things (if you are able to) in sequence. If the problem goes away, quit!
1. If you have installed it, remove any third-party memory (OS X is notoriously picky about memory).
2. Boot from the software install DVD while holding the "D" key down. That will invoke Apple's hardware checker.
3. Boot from the software install DVD and run repair disk (not permissions, that is different).
4. Reinstall OS X 10.6 from the install DVD.
If none of that helps, I am afraid you should go to an Apple store or Apple certified technician for diagnosis.
Barry
Message was edited by: Barry Hemphill

I think I finished installing Mountain Lion, and am at the "log in" page with my name and the Lion icon, but I cannot do any of the functions on screen. That is, I cannot log in, sleep, restart, or shut down. I am running it on an Early 2009 Macbook Pro

I think I finished installing Mountain Lion, and am at the "log in" page with the Mountain Lion icon, but I cannot do any of the functions on screen. That is, I cannot log in, sleep, restart, or shut down. I am running it on an Early 2009 Macbook Pro, which is said to have the capabilities of running Mountain Lion.

BrettGoudy wrote:
...Is there any way I can install a partition that runs snow leopard on my early 2011 MB pro with what I have (new SSD, New RAM, Current version Lion running, no external drive, lack of original snow leopard disks [I lost them ] and the general 10.6.3 snow leopard boot disks)...
As the last post suggests, call Apple and order a replacement original disc for about $17. They will ask you the model and serial numbers.
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Macbook won't restart or shut down

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