macbook battery problems
My nearly-year-old MacBook recently started having what seems to be battery issues, after installing the latest Tiger update (10.4.11). The other day I installed the updates with the mains power plugged in, and everything seemed fine. Then yesterday I removed the mains power and was running on battery for about half an hour. Suddenly, poof the screen went black and the computer was off (at the time the battery indicated about 4 hours remaining). It came up just fine while still on battery, so it didn't seem to be a complete discharge issue.
Google quickly found for me a discussion thread about what seems to be this very issue. That thread pointed to the Apple MacBook Battery Update page which indicates that I may be able to get a new battery out of this.
Meanwhile, I'm trying one of the other recommendations in that thread. The BatteryUpdater.bundle on my machine was at version 1.3. This may have been installed by the latest update; I have no way of telling. Anyway, I dragged it to the Trash, rebooted, emptied the trash, then ran System Update again which installed Battery Updater 1.2. I then switched to battery power for a while and sure enough, about half an hour later the machine spontaneously shut down. Finally, I reset the SMC and—cross fingers—I have been on battery for two hours without any shutdowns.
Update: After nearly three hours, my MacBook shut down again. I'm going to pursue the battery replacement route.
Google quickly found for me a discussion thread about what seems to be this very issue. That thread pointed to the Apple MacBook Battery Update page which indicates that I may be able to get a new battery out of this.
Meanwhile, I'm trying one of the other recommendations in that thread. The BatteryUpdater.bundle on my machine was at version 1.3. This may have been installed by the latest update; I have no way of telling. Anyway, I dragged it to the Trash, rebooted, emptied the trash, then ran System Update again which installed Battery Updater 1.2. I then switched to battery power for a while and sure enough, about half an hour later the machine spontaneously shut down. Finally, I reset the SMC and—cross fingers—I have been on battery for two hours without any shutdowns.
Update: After nearly three hours, my MacBook shut down again. I'm going to pursue the battery replacement route.
If you call Applecare between 9am-11am, you'll get someone from my group. :) We take NZ overflow calls during that time.
That said, I think you'll probably have to take the battery into a local service provider.
That said, I think you'll probably have to take the battery into a local service provider.
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ghewgill
2008-02-20T00:12:14Z
Yeah, I called Magnum Mac here in Christchurch and they asked me to bring it in and they'd have a look and would set me up with a replacement battery if needed. I'd have to wait for it because the batteries come from Australia, but I'd be able to use my laptop plugged in during that time.
Now, 9am-11am CST? So between 4am and 6am here? I'm asleep then. :)
Now, 9am-11am CST? So between 4am and 6am here? I'm asleep then. :)
eliset
2008-02-20T01:35:44Z
Nope, 9-11 New Zealand time. I think it's 2-4 here!
ghewgill
2008-02-20T04:06:27Z
Interesting, thanks for that.
I took my MacBook into the local service center, and they decided they wanted to keep it at least overnight to check stuff out. I didn't want to leave it today, so I made an appointment for next week. I'll just have to live with less portability until then.
I took my MacBook into the local service center, and they decided they wanted to keep it at least overnight to check stuff out. I didn't want to leave it today, so I made an appointment for next week. I'll just have to live with less portability until then.
goulo
2008-02-20T14:48:19Z
I am highly amused by the following problem listed at that page, "Mooing" fan noise: http://www.appledefects.com/media/moo.mp3
2008-02-19T23:58:57Z