[kjmom57]

My son has a MAC (OSX) browser is Safari. For the last 3 weeks or so it will shut down for no reason. It sounds like a virus but do MAC's get them? How can he check to see what's wrong.

[ankush patel]

does it happen on a certain site? or just on any site

does it show a message and you can hit re-open or send probelm to apple.


macs do have viruses but it is more likely you wont be infected by one.

make sure you have all current software updates installed

[kjmom57]

It shuts down no matter what site and appears totally random. It can happen twice in an hour, or it can go 12 hours before it does it. No message box pops up as the whole computer shuts down, not just the internet connection. The computer actually turns off. Any idea what this could be or how to fix it?

[ankush patel]

are you running mac tiger?

and what version 10.4.7?

have you installed all the updates?

[Justin]

Im not too mac savvy, but anytime a computer randomly shuts down, the first thing that I think of is a heating issue. Make sure that the mac is in a well ventilated area where air can freely circulate around it.

And ankush patel, I apologize for stepping it

[kjmom57]

ankush,
Yes to all of your questions.

[Josiah]

If you are running a new macbook or macbookpro it may be a problem called random shutdown symptom, bring it into apple care and they'll replace it... if it is a differnt model it may still be this problem so tell apple care and get it fix...

it should be this problem as long as their is no error message or anything before it shuts down...

the maccast.com podcast has been talking about this problem for the last couple episodes

good luck thenome

[jessjamesjake]

Hello. I found this site today and am thrilled about it! This is my first post but I wanted to let you know that my imac is doing the exact same thing. Did you take it into the Genius Bar yet?
It keeps shutting down, about twice an hour and then not again for 1-2 days! No "send this bug to Apple" pop up, no "this computer was shut off improperly" reminder. Nothing.

Mine is only 6 months old, so this is totally frustrating.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[ciccie]

Hi,

I have an imac and it wasn't used for approx. 2 to 3 months. When I try to start it opens to the desk top and then shuts off completely. Then when I try to restart it I only get the light blink from the start button and it immediately shuts down. After a few attempts the whole thing acts dead. I get nothing. Then a day or two later I try with the same results. Anyone have any ideas of what is going on here? This is a G5 10.4.11.

Thanks
Ciccie

[DasFamiliar]

Actually its not a virus.

What is going is on OS X, it sounds like the Cache files on the Cache folder have become corrupted. And no worries its an easy fix!

First thing you want to do is start your computer and hold shift to boot into Safe Boot. Then log into your son's user account. Go to Mac Hard drive icon>Users>Your son's username>Library. You should see a folder called "Caches". Click and drag that folder the desktop. Then reboot your machine. Log into your son's account again, and try Safari. It should stop crashing at that point.

Once that is verified, you can just take the "Caches" folder and throw it in the trash. And that should fix the issue! - DasFamiliar

[klikz&danja]

DasFamiliar, on 15 October 2008 - 05:27 PM, said:

Actually its not a virus.

What is going is on OS X, it sounds like the Cache files on the Cache folder have become corrupted. And no worries its an easy fix!

First thing you want to do is start your computer and hold shift to boot into Safe Boot. Then log into your son's user account. Go to Mac Hard drive icon>Users>Your son's username>Library. You should see a folder called "Caches". Click and drag that folder the desktop. Then reboot your machine. Log into your son's account again, and try Safari. It should stop crashing at that point.

Once that is verified, you can just take the "Caches" folder and throw it in the trash. And that should fix the issue! - DasFamiliar

DasFamiliar, i realise this a super old posst, but i haave just incountered this problem, i tried your simple steps to fixing the problem, but no, im thinking i have a new keyboard, and maybe Holding shift isent putting it into Safty Boot, what should happen when Safty boot starts?

[computerxpds]

Hi,

You most likely should have started a new topic considering how old this one is but,,, To boot into safe mode on any mac read this article from apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455

[ranietka]

Possible causes

in the Dock
go to
System Prefces

find Energy Saver
u hv TWO sections : Battery and Power Adapter

in each section look at the four lines where you check the squares on the left side

try UNCHECKING
the
"Put the hard disks to sleep when possible
and
"Restart auto...ly if ... freezes
----------------------

second possible cause

in the Dock
go to
System Prefces

find
Sharing
and
UNCHECK all the squares on the left
so that nobody in your neighborhood could go into your MacBook and use it in some unknown way by Sharing it.

I am not an authority on this subject
and CANNOT guarantee
that evthg will work
but here i am
after booting in Safe mode
working for 20 minutes
on battery only
and nothing is happening
while only an hour ago I was mad at my brand new Macbook air after it started shutting down unexpectedly.

I suspect the advice about the Caches - see below - also works but i could not get to the Library and Caches even by trying the Finder