Apple puts out fix for MacBook shutdowns

Update tackles problem of Apple notebooks unexpectedly shutting down, an issue that has irked some users for months.

Dawn Kawamoto Former Staff writer, CNET News

Dawn Kawamoto covered enterprise security and financial news relating to technology for CNET News.

Dawn Kawamoto

Oct. 27, 2006 10:43 a.m. PT

Apple Computer has issued an update designed to address the lingering problem of unexpected shutdowns of its MacBook notebooks.

The MacBook SMC Firmware Update 1.1, released for download Thursday, tackles a problem that has plagued the notebooks for the past four months.

Apple advises people to install the software on all MacBook systems, including those that have received warranty repair.

It also said that users of Mac OS X 10.4.7 can download and install the SMC update, but all others will need to first upgrade their operating system to Mac OS X 10.4.8, the latest version.

The shutdown problem was first noted in July, a couple months after the 13-inch wide-screen MacBook debuted. Owners, frustrated by the situation, began logging complaints on a user site, Macbookrandomshutdown.com. More than 1,500 people have registered on the site since its launch in August.

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