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Model A1311 / Mid 2011 / 2.5 & 2.7 GHz Core i5 or 2.8 GHz Core i7 Processor

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Shuts off when idle, then have to unplug unit and replug

I've had this system for about 6 months. When I got it the previous owner said it would work for a while and then shuts down. If she let it sit, it would re-start and work for a while until it might do it again.

  • I reinstalled the original OS, then upgraded to El Capitan
  • I've added memory for a total of 8 GB now
  • The hardware diagnostic says all is OK
  • Used Disk Utility to fix, I did Command S and typed fsck -fy, results were OK
  • Fan temps were normal, don't remember the numbers right now
  • I have a laptop cooling fan behind the unit for better air circulation
  • I've reset the SMC
  • I did Command, Option, P and R, and turned on the Mac. Keeping holding the keys down until you hear the Mac restart again. Then reset NVRAM

Things work pretty well, except if I leave the unit for 15 minutes or so. When I come back it won't come out of sleep. Sometimes I have to unplug the power cord and re-plug it, or leave it plugged in and turn the multi plug breaker off and back on.

- Then the unit will power on when the ON button is pushed.

I can do repairs but want to know best suggestions for this symptom. This type of problem is part of my "therapy". :)

Update (05/24/2016)

Hello again, and thanks again!

I saved information from the Activity Monitor 5-24 at 6:49 AM, let the system shut itself down after 1 hour, then tried to start it up again and the On/Off switch would not turn it on. I had to shut the power strip off and then back on, then the On/Off switch worked. Then I made another Activity Monitor reading at 11:35 AM. At 1pm, I let the system shut itself down after an hour again and restarted it at 5:50pm. It would not start with On/Off, nor by turning the power strip off and on. I had to unplug the unit and plug it into another plugin in the same power strip! Then turn On unit.

Activity-Monitor-11-35AM.pdf

Activity-Monitor-5-24-6-49am.pdf

Answer this question I have this problem too

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I don't see anything that stands out as being the cause in these outputs. But you didn't follow my instructions as you needed to keep the system from sleeping and not restart it as once you do you loose the failed process (if that was the issue). At this point it's a crapshoot either the power supply or the logic board.

Maybe it would be better to bring the system in to an Apple Store and let them diagnose the problem and besides, it will be cheaper if they replace the wrong part as they will cover it under the repair warranty ;-}

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OK, makes sense. However, the process fails on a restart, not on bringing it out of sleep. If that makes sense.... Thanks for the insight, will try power supply, 6-7 year old computer, time for one anyway and this was a gift puter from an old writer/poet who really used the machine! Thanks

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I replaced the power cord with a new one....so far no problems with startup! Thanks for all the suggestions and help, they are in my "go to" file for the future. Mic

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To start with you shouldn't need the added fan here. I would recommend installing this App: TG Pro (full version) It will show you whats happening internally as far as the fans and the thermal sensors. If you see something post a screenshot of the main screen for us to review.

It sounds like the original problem still persists ;-{

Lets start things off by clearing out the Caches & Logs as I'm sure you have a pile of entries loading them up. Here's a good app to do that: Disk Doctor.

Once there cleared lets restart the system and then copy off what is in the Activity Monitor log into a text file. Now lets let the system run but you need to keep the display running (don't let it go to sleep) are you able to keep it running for a good hour or more? If so stop poking it and let it go to sleep as soon as it does wake it up are you able to do that? If you can wake it up let it go back to sleep and give it a bit more time (15 min more) and try again. Repeat again giving it 15 mins more (1/2 hr) and try again once you achieve an hour let it stay a sleep for the night does it wake now?

As soon as you can't wake the system copy off the log again also did you get a message telling you the system did not properly shut down.

I know this is a bit of work here. The problem is you could have a bad app or your power supply is bad.

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8 Comments:

Thanks for the tips, here is a little feed-back for now:

I downloaded TG Pro (paid) and noticed the optical drive fan notification was yellow.

I sprayed air in vents and re-started, the notification went to green.

I've cleaned out the cache and logs with Disk Doctor

I can't take the next steps right now, but will continue in a day or so.

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Will also open the machine and clean it better soon!

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I saved information from the Activity Monitor 5-24 at 6:49 AM, let the system shut itself down after 1 hour, then tried to start it up again and the On/Off switch would not turn it on. I had to shut the power strip off and then back on, then the On/Off switch worked. Then I made another Activity Monitor reading at 11:35 AM. Where shall I attach the results, this comment section won't handle the files?

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Post an answer and then attach the TXT files, once done save as an update.

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Just in case all else fails, ask Apple what a "flat rate repair" would be on it before you buy a new logic board. Has the hard drive been replaced? Do you have a repair history on the machine?

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Mic will be eternally grateful.
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