Mysterious crash....what just happened!?

Joined
Jul 19, 2013
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hey everyone,

New to the forum here, just came to post because the most BIZARRE thing happened to me two days ago.

It all started when I was visiting Grand Cayman on somewhat of a business trip. I was using my 13" macbook from 2009 to work on a website and download photos/videos from my 7D. Long story short...I was using the macbook for a day or so without any problems. I downloaded data from my camera, backed up files to my external that I had just purchased for the trip, and everything seemed to be doing fine.

Then I was browsing the web one night, when suddenly my computer froze. No big deal, it doesn't happen often... I figured I would just restart it and things would go back to normal.
Oh was I wrong...
I restarted the macbook and it booted, I logged in, and began to browse again.
Suddenly it froze again, and I knew something was up.
I restarted it and immediately opened Finder in order to back up my recent photos/videos to my external. I drag the files and nothing happens; the bar scrolls but no progress. After a few minutes I restart again and **** hit the fan ladies and gentleman. I couldn't login anymore, and if I happened to get that far, my desktop wouldn't load, or my dock, etc. Eventually I couldn't even login anymore. I tried Safe Boot and that worked for a short period of time, but not long enough to backup my information. After restarting the macbook literally 50 times and looking up startup codes, I decided the problem was beyond my capabilities and reluctantly took it to the local Camanian off-brand mac store. A few days later I stop in and they say the tech is working on it. He brings it out front and it's functioning completely normally. He asks what was wrong, and I explain the situation. He says he's shocked, I say IM SHOCKED. After I couldn't even get it to boot, this guy has it up and running no problem, AND he backed up my entire HD to my external. At this point my mind is blown. I leave the shop happily and sit outside for a minute and use the macbook. Everything works perfectly.

THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET NUTS.

I walk into the condo, sit down, and power up the macbook.
The SAME EXACT THING HAPPENS.....and I am unable to boot.
I try restarting, nothing, nothing, and more nothing.
I give up and decide I'll take it to the local mac store when I return home.

THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET REALLY NUTS

I return home.
I power on the macbook for kicks and giggles.
It works perfectly and now I am typing this message to you, internet.

Please for the love of all things holy someone explain what just happened.
I am at a loss. I am relieved it's working now....but seriously....
what the **** just happened...

additional info - the condo has a LOT of heavy tile and marble. It's in a big complex and who knows whats in the rest of that thing. They had an elevator problem while we were there, so perhaps the building was undergoing electrical/construction work. Other laptops (not apple) worked in the condo, along with a tv, internet service, ipads, and iphones. The only thing that I can tell myself so that I don't go crazy is that there was some sort of interference related to the building that made my macbook go bonkers.

Please if you have ANY idea what this could be.... let me know.
Thank you in advance for any input, and sorry if I typed a lot. My mind is blown and I just needed to tell somebody
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
It sounds like your hard drive is failing. Make sure you have very recent backups on hand and be prepared for the drive to completely fail. Replacing the hard drive in that model is easy but again, keep making backups. You could also have bad memory or memory that's creeped up from its slot and may have to be reseated.

And by the way, interference would not have caused your machine to freeze up like it did.
 
OP
C
Joined
Jul 19, 2013
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
1
It sounds like your hard drive is failing. Make sure you have very recent backups on hand and be prepared for the drive to completely fail. Replacing the hard drive in that model is easy but again, keep making backups. You could also have bad memory or memory that's creeped up from its slot and may have to be reseated.

And by the way, interference would not have caused your machine to freeze up like it did.


Is there a way to test this?
Could the Disk Utility confirm hard drive failure?
 
Joined
May 19, 2009
Messages
8,428
Reaction score
295
Points
83
Location
Waiting for a mate . . .
Your Mac's Specs
21" iMac 2.9Ghz 16GB RAM - 10.11.3, iPhone6s & iPad Air 2 - iOS 9.2.1, ATV 4Th Gen tvOS, ATV3
I Agree with bobtomay.

To be sure and if you want fair warning, i would try to do the Apple Hardware Test. Scroll down a bit and do the test that pertains to what ever OS you are running. Its a 2009 machine, but you didn't let us know what OS you are running on it, but do a AHT and if your HD is failing, and the test will let you know, start getting sorted to buy a new HD or new Mac or Refurbished one so you are ready for it, or swap out the HD before it crashes completely on you and you don't have a backup of the image you where just working on. . .

Cheers
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top