When my MacBook crashes and I shut it down via power button

[mhandelman1]

So sometimes my MacBook seems to 'crash' while its sleeping (i.e. it won't activate the monitor). So I shut it down with the power button and when I try pressing the power button to start up again, it doesn't start up....I keep pressing it and eventually it restarts the computer.

I've learned to live with the inconvenience of crashing when it goes to sleep, but I'm worried about this restart issue.

 

[MacDude121]

So sometimes my MacBook seems to 'crash' while its sleeping (i.e. it won't activate the monitor). So I shut it down with the power button and when I try pressing the power button to start up again, it doesn't start up....I keep pressing it and eventually it restarts the computer.

I've learned to live with the inconvenience of crashing when it goes to sleep, but I'm worried about this restart issue.

I'm confused. How does it "crash"? Does it just shut down, gets stuck in sleep mode? How long has it been doing this? Also, what are your MacBook's specs?

 

[6string]

Won't wake from sleep I'm guessing the OP means.
Hard shut downs are not good, and can easily corrupt your OS.

What version of OS X do you have?

 

[mhandelman1]

Yes, it won'r wake from sleep is exactly the problem. This is a first generation Black MacBook running Mac OS 10.4.11. I think the problem, 'won't wake from sleep mode' started 6 months ago (sometimes it wakes from sleep mode properly). While, the 'won't power up phenomenon' started happening a couple weeks ago.

 

[6string]

If you have any external usb devices connected when this happens this could be the cause.

Ok, first of all I would try an SMC reset.
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

I would also reset the PRAM
Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM

If that failed to fix it I would try downloading the combo updater of OS X 10.4.11.
Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (Intel)

Next up, if that didn't do it, a clean install of your whole OS.
-Boot from the install disc holding C while booting until you see the spinning gear.
-Select language and click continue.
-Select utilities>disk utility in the menu bar (this takes a few seconds to appear).
-Select the HD at the top of the list on the left.
-Click erase tab.
-Format Mac Os Extended (Journaled).
-Name Macintosh HD.
-Click erase.
-Quit disk utility menu, and continue with installation.


If none of the above did the trick, I would be making an appointment to have it assessed by Apple.