HELP: Older Macbook Pro 17 is requiring SMC Reset to start after leaving it sleeping!

[magentawave]

I always put my Macbook Pro 17 to sleep when I'm not using it and unplug the magsafe power adapter then too. A couple weeks ago I opened the lid and clicked "Return" to login and nothing happened. The light in the front wasn't pulsing like it does when the computer is sleeping. I assumed the old battery had finally died so I replaced it with a new one and the computer started right up as usual.

Earlier this week the same thing I described above happened again so this time I did an SMC Reset (Unplug power > Pull battery out > Press power and hold for 5 seconds > Put battery back and plug in power adapter > Start). It had been a very long time since I had done an SMC Reset and the computer was working perfectly when I started it so I went on with my work.

Today, just 3 or 4 days after the SMC Reset, I tried to start it again and was faced with the exact same situation. I did an SMC Reset again and was able to start the computer immediately and it's working perfectly. I noticed that the battery was NOT discharged much after I started it even though I had been away from the computer for about 7 hours - and it charged up to 100% like normal. I rely on this computer for my work so I'm beginning to get concerned.

QUESTION:

Can someone please tell me why this is happening?

Thank you.


NOTE: This is an early 2008 (A1261) Macbook Pro 17 running OSX 10.9.5.

 

[chscag]

What kind of battery did you replace the old one with? I know Apple no longer sells the original battery for your MacBook Pro because it's vintage, nor will Apple work on it for the same reason. A 2008 MacBook Pro is getting close to being a 9 year old machine. If you still have your original DVD set (probably Leopard) run a hardware check to see if the battery and charging circuits are in working order.

 

[magentawave]

Thanks for replying. I'm pretty sure both batteries are generic ones I bought off of eBay. I think I'll just have to keep the power adapter plugged in all the time.

Will a hardware check using the original DVD set still work on 10.9.5?

 

[chscag]

Will a hardware check using the original DVD set still work on 10.9.5?

Sure, since you will booting from the original DVD set that came with your 2008 MacBook Pro.

 

[magentawave]

I tried booting from Disk 2 when starting the computer while pressing the D key and every time it just booted like normal. So instead, I installed Onyx and went through all the steps of repairing permissions and files. I was able to start the computer like normal this morning which is a good sign considering it had gotten to the point where it was requiring me to do an SMC reset every time before that. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything is okay now...

For future reference, do you know why I couldn't do the hardware test from Disk 2?

 

[ferrarr]

I tried booting from Disk 2 when starting the computer while pressing the D key and every time it just booted like normal. So instead, I installed Onyx and went through all the steps of repairing permissions and files. I was able to start the computer like normal this morning which is a good sign considering it had gotten to the point where it was requiring me to do an SMC reset every time before that. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything is okay now...

For future reference, do you know why I couldn't do the hardware test from Disk 2?

To boot from cd/dvd drive, you need to hold down "C".

 

[chscag]

If I remember correctly, (been ages since I ran Leopard) you have to hold down the "D" key while booting from Disk 1. Disk 2 is not bootable and for the most part contains apps and other things to be installed.

 

[chscag]

To boot from cd/dvd drive, you need to hold down "C".

Disk 2 in the Leopard set is not bootable. He has to use Disk 1. And I believe he can hold down the "D" key while booting from Disk 1 to get to the hardware test. It's been a long time since I used Leopard so I may very well be not remembering right. ??

 

[pm-r]

Just curious here and wondering if that Mac will boot up using Safe Boot Mode and bypassing and not doing any SMC reset .

 

[ferrarr]

Next time, do multiple SMC resets, one after another.

 

[magentawave]

I followed the instructions here https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257 for the Apple Hardware Test but wasn't able to get it to work. Maybe it was because I used Disk 2 instead of Disk 1?? I ran Onyx 4 or 5 days ago and (fingers crossed) so far everything seems to be working fine. Yay!

Thanks for your input, guys!

 

[LexS]

Thanks for replying. I'm pretty sure both batteries are generic ones I bought off of eBay. I think I'll just have to keep the power adapter plugged in all the time.

Will a hardware check using the original DVD set still work on 10.9.5?

Practically all oem batteries are s**t. Only Anker (Amazon) and NewerTech (owc) are acceptable.

 

[Keukasmallie]

I'm having similar problems with my early 2011 MBP. Often, when I open the cover, the screen remains black for a period of time. I'm also getting an error message that says there is another device on my network having the same IP address. I've tinkered a bit and found that I can reduce the length of the black screen time by decreasing the length of time for screen sleep in the Energy Saver screen of Preferences. Several other odd occurrences led me to restore Sierra and re-install doc's from Time Machine drive yesterday. That really seems to have had no effect.

I'm going to try to run the AHT now.

 

[Sticks]

I had the same problems with replacement batteries and waking my macbook up from sleep. Try this in oder:
1.) Repair and verify Disk permissions.
2.) Reset the NVRAM/PRAM.
3.) Reset the SMC.
If you need a good replacement battery for your older MacBook Pro, try ifixit. I've gotten mine from them for my late 2008 MacBook Pro, and they seem to work fine. It seems replacement batteries that are not from Apple need a little jump start like I mentioned above. I hope this helps.
Sticks

 

[jsmarsh]

My solution was:

I have a 2008 15" MacBook Pro that was having similar problems as the first poster in this thread. WIFI cars was shutting off every time it went to sleep and Photoshop processing was getting slower and slower. (especially compared to my iMac) Rather that spend the money for a new one I decided to first do a couple of much cheaper upgrades:

First: I installed what what then the latest OSX, I think it was Yosemite. That helped with my WIFI problems.
Second: I replaced the original drive with a Crucial SSD drive. CT500MX200SSD1 I saw the difference for that as expected.
Third: Even though that Mac was not supposed to recognize more than 4GB RAM I installed 8 GB. (Crucial again) System information sees it and I can see the difference.

2 years later, this computer still serves me beautifully as a travel machine. I have not had any problems since the upgrade, it runs Sierra easily and I am sure I would have had to buy 2 if not 3 Windows PCs (and Windows OS upgrades) to have what this MBPro gives me.
I am very pleased.
Hope this helps.
John

 

[magentawave]

I have a 2008 15" MacBook Pro that was having similar problems as the first poster in this thread. WIFI cars was shutting off every time it went to sleep and Photoshop processing was getting slower and slower. (especially compared to my iMac) Rather that spend the money for a new one I decided to first do a couple of much cheaper upgrades:

First: I installed what what then the latest OSX, I think it was Yosemite. That helped with my WIFI problems.
Second: I replaced the original drive with a Crucial SSD drive. CT500MX200SSD1 I saw the difference for that as expected.
Third: Even though that Mac was not supposed to recognize more than 4GB RAM I installed 8 GB. (Crucial again) System information sees it and I can see the difference.

2 years later, this computer still serves me beautifully as a travel machine. I have not had any problems since the upgrade, it runs Sierra easily and I am sure I would have had to buy 2 if not 3 Windows PCs (and Windows OS upgrades) to have what this MBPro gives me.
I am very pleased.
Hope this helps.
John

UPDATE: I got excited after reading that you put 8 gb's of ram in your 2008 MBP 15. I just called OWC and since my early 2008 MBP 17 is Model Identifier: MacBookPro4,1 she said 8 gb wouldn't work in it. According to them, others have tried installing 8 gb in my model and the computer wouldn't boot.

So I have a few questions, please...

1) Are you absolutely sure your 2008 Macbook Pro has 8 gb's of ram and not just 6? (I'm asking because way back I was told my Mac could handle 6 max so that's what I stayed with all these years.)

2) Is your 2008 MBP 15 an early or late model?

3) Can you please tell me what the Model Identifier is? (Apple > About This Mac > Overviews > System Reports > Hardware Overviews (2nd one down)

4) Do you remember where you bought the memory?

Thanks

 

[pm-r]

Are you absolutely sure your 2008 Macbook Pro has 8 gb's of ram and not just 6?

Select your specific model from here and check:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/index-macbookpro.html

All the 2008 MBPros I quickly browsed over are limited to 6GB.

If they could have used more, that site would have said so or how!!!

Or from a very reliable local expert and Mac experienced seller:
Macintosh MacBook Pro 15" and 17" Santa Rosa (mid 2007) and Penryn (Early 2008) models
intel Core2Duo 2.2 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 2.5 GHz, 2.6 GHz
MacBookPro3,1, MacBookPro4,1
Two sockets, Officially, these can take 2 x 2 Gb for 4Gb total
6 GB with one 2 GB and one 4 GB module
http://canadaram.com/apple_macbook_pro.htm






- Patrick
======

 

[magentawave]

Select your specific model from here and check:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/index-macbookpro.html

All the 2008 MBPros I quickly browsed over are limited to 6GB.

If they could have used more, that site would have said so or how!!!

Or from a very reliable local expert and Mac experienced seller:
Macintosh MacBook Pro 15" and 17" Santa Rosa (mid 2007) and Penryn (Early 2008) models
intel Core2Duo 2.2 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 2.5 GHz, 2.6 GHz
MacBookPro3,1, MacBookPro4,1
Two sockets, Officially, these can take 2 x 2 Gb for 4Gb total
6 GB with one 2 GB and one 4 GB module
http://canadaram.com/apple_macbook_pro.htm






- Patrick
======

Yes I know that but jsmarsh said he has 8 gb in his 2008 MBP 15.

 

[pm-r]

I'd say jsmarsh has just posted some incorrect information regarding the MBPro model and amount of RAM installed or used. Period.

Amen.





- Patrick
======

 

[Keukasmallie]

I've tried restoring the entire system, resetting NVPRAM, and doing the SMC reset by removing the battery, pressing the power button for five seconds...all interesting, but in the end - no joy. I still have the problems I posted in this thread earlier.

On the other hand, even with those problems, I've developed ways to cope with the shortcomings and all moves forward, (just ain't right is all).