Macbook Pro Display or Video gone dead

Posted on May 27, 2008
Tags: Techie |

Update - I’ve received my MBP back from the Apple Service Centre. They replaced the Logic Board (part number 661-4341). While at the service centre I tried my best to reproduce the problem, putting it to sleep, closing the lid, shutting down, rebooting etc. but couldn’t get that blank screen again. I suspect it has something to do with the external display more than the sleep. In fact prior to the problem occuring I didn’t even use the OS X for at least 2 weeks, I use it almost exclusively in Win XP over bootcamp and have rebooted Win to Win many times over those 2 weeks. So who knows what’s really going on. One thing I am planning on doing as a result of this is get an extended warranty to make sure I don’t have to fork out huge sums for repair if (or is it when?) this thing bombs again.

I’m out of commission today, trading wise. I was restarting my machine early morning before the day starts like I normally do to get a fresh Win and that was the last time my MBP displayed anything. Looks like this is becoming a VERY common problem. If you have an MBP and haven’t upgraded to the latest firmware you’re probably safe, if you did upgrade, even weeks ago you’re at risk that the next boot up won’t go through.

Apple - Support - Discussions - MacBook Pro Blank Screen (Built - in …

Yeah, I also find it interesting why it just happened all out of sudden. I’m pretty sure that I restarted the computer many times after installing the latest firmware update, and everything was fine. Then at the worst time, kaboom, black.

I’ll be taking my mac to a service centre tomorrow. I’m not very hopeful though that it’ll be repaired in less than a week or two. My old acer notebook can’t support 2 monitors across 3200 * 1200 so I’ll be back to trading from one screen only. Will be interesting to adjust back.

Comments

28 Responses to “Macbook Pro Display or Video gone dead”

Alan on May 28th, 2008 5:47 am

Interesting problem with the MBP.
I presume you read through the entire thread and saw the text below - might be worth taking your MBP to a store that sells Macs and trying it out.

1) connect the nonworking computer to another mac with a firewire cable
2) turn the nonworking computer and hold down T - will let you access it as if it is an external hard drive
3) access the /private/var/vm/ directory on the nonworking computer from the working computer. This is invisble so you will have to press cmd+shift+g in the finder and go to /volumes/YOURHARDDISKNAME/private/var/vm to get there or use an application that lets you view invisble folders like PathFinder.
4) delete the sleepimage file
5) delete the /system/library/extensions.mkext file
6) eject the drive (drag to the trash)
7) press the power button to turn off the non working computer
8) turn the nonworking computer back on normally(cross your fingers) then if it works,
9) open up the the terminal.app in /applications/utilities
10) type sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0
11) make sure there is no sleepimage file again
eyal on May 28th, 2008 7:34 am

Yeah I saw it, although someone said it was a temporary solution, can’t remember whether it was on this same discussion or elsewhere. My machine is still under warranty so I took it to the authorised service centre and gave them a printout of the discussion thread. I doubt any apple store would let you just hook up your machine to their display unit and sit there to troubleshoot things.
MVeloso on June 2nd, 2008 7:08 pm

Hi,

I have the same fu**in problem. I’m really screwed up with it.

Did you misused your laptop? I don’t want them to use that as an excuse to not fix mine…

Regards,
MVeloso
eyal on June 3rd, 2008 12:37 am

MVeloso - how do you mean misuse? I didn’t open/upgrade it or do anything that isn’t supposed to be done with a notebook. I’ve just received a call btw that it’s ready, the lab here went for the same solution everyone else reported - changing logic board.
Gijs van de Nieuwegiessen on June 3rd, 2008 3:25 am

I was searching the web all day and finally this post actually sounded as the same problems I’m having with my MacBook Pro at the moment.

I certainly do hope it has something to do with the ’sleep’ image.

Were you able to get your MBP fixed?

I’m going to visit a Apple Store this afternoon.
eyal on June 3rd, 2008 5:56 am

Gijs - I just got the MBP back from repair. See update the at the top of this post.
MVeloso on June 3rd, 2008 7:08 am

Thank you. By misuse i refered to mbp being drop down to the floor - on an accident, of course…

Well, next monday let’s see what they say about mine…

Regards
Gijs van de Nieuwegiessen on June 3rd, 2008 11:52 am

Great! I just dropped the MBP at an Apple service center. I have a strong feeling it has to do with overheating. Not sure, but before I had problems I was running parallels that really heats the machine. I closed the lit in the morning and after I got back the MacBook didn’t work anymore. Also an external monitor gave not even a glimpse.

The machine did boot up. After turning it on
I could use the volume buttons and it gave a sound.

I’m lucky there is still a month waranty left.

Cheers
eyal on June 3rd, 2008 12:08 pm

MVeloso - there was no misuse or abuse. In fact 90% of the time the MBP just sits on my desk as a desktop replacement.

Gijs - same thing for me on the buttons responding etc. It is possible that it’s due to extended period of time of over-heating. With so many people reporting this problem around this time I’m sure Apple is aware and should know what is the cause. Hopefully they’re going to do something about this otherwise they will be ordering many more Logic Boards ;-)
Gijs van de Nieuwegiessen on June 3rd, 2008 1:17 pm

LOL,

I’ve installed the 10.5.3 update recently (maybe that has something to do with it!!?).

Anyway, I’m going ahead with a AppleCare program now I can still get it :-)
MVeloso on June 3rd, 2008 2:36 pm

Gijs, curiosly i’ve installed it recently too… On saturday i guess and then it stopped working on sunday…

Just curious…

Regards
Gijs van de Nieuwegiessen on June 4th, 2008 1:38 am

I’m reading a lot on forums about screens not ‘waking up’ and that sort of stuff, but not really about the problems we are/were experiencing.

IE.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1545605&tstart=15

It seems a little weird to be just a coincidence.

I’ve also updated to 10.5.3 last Saturday, problems started Tuesday morning..
eyal on June 4th, 2008 1:48 am

Well I’m still on Tiger..
Gijs van de Nieuwegiessen on June 4th, 2008 1:53 am

eyal,

Were you also running Parallels?
eyal on June 4th, 2008 1:56 am

No, I’m on bootcamp.
MVeloso on June 4th, 2008 6:15 am

Well, i guess you got the “wrong” problem on Apple Discussion Foruns :p

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1478474&tstart=0
eyal on June 4th, 2008 7:56 am

Why so? There are people on that thread reporting the exact same problem and symptoms who are still on 10.4.x.
ri on June 26th, 2008 6:04 pm

Yo, it’s happened to me too. On my 17″ 2.4 MacBook Pro, this has happened TWICE. After repair the first time, it lasted eight days, eight days before having to send it back in for another logic board replacement.

Funny part is I had used it for a year with no troubles. Does it again, they said they would send a new one. But what about the 3 weeks of workflow lost?
eyal on June 26th, 2008 11:57 pm

ri - Twice? This sucks. Luckily I didn’t have this problem again after the repair, so it’s been holding up for about 3 weeks now. I bought the extended AppleCare warranty just in case since it’s now 1 year old. I would also recommend getting a back up machine. 3 weeks of work lost is a long time.
MVeloso on June 27th, 2008 2:03 am

Well, i got mine back from repair and it works fine… let’s see if it can keep it up…
Gijs van de Nieuwegiessen on June 27th, 2008 3:16 am

Ditto, got it back from repairs and it’s running fine now.

Did had a few crashes though (when coming out of sleep mode).

Deleting the sleep image solved that problem.

I’m huge fan of my MBP - but the failing of my screen spooked me :-(.
MVeloso on June 27th, 2008 3:30 am

That’s true. It’s my first Mac and i’m having some problems but… I’m just not seeing using another kind of computers to do my job… Only for gaming, maybe…
Tim Horton on June 27th, 2008 1:02 pm

It looks like this problem is becoming more widespread - here’s a post at MacNN about it:

http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/06/27/macbook.pro.video.glitches/
eyal on June 29th, 2008 9:08 pm

Thanks Tim. Looks like a very common problem. I helped fill the details in the google spreadsheet.
ri on June 29th, 2008 9:43 pm

Yep, mine is a Santa Rosa, and that’s 2 logic board replacements now. Should have it back on monday.

Am I correct in getting the impression from that article that there isn’t a permanent hardware fix?
Randy Chatterjee on July 15th, 2008 11:45 am

I have the identical problem, and Apple already paid to replace the motherboard (logic board) under warranty. That was not the issue.

When my 17″ MBP wakes up from sleep, it will not power up the screen, or any external monitor.

The “fix” that seems always to work thus far is to SHUT DOWN, REMOVE THE BATTERY, PLUG IN AC CORD, WAIT FOR AT LEAST A MINUTE, and then RESTART WITHOUT THE BATTERY. I then reinstall the battery, and the computer functions fine, until it goes to sleep again.

Now, we just have to figure out WHAT is wrong. Battery output too low/drawing too much power from charger/charger weak output…
eyal on July 15th, 2008 11:52 am

Randy - thanks for sharing this solution. I’ve not had that problem again since I got the machine back so hopefully I won’t need to try this :-) but if it happens again I’ll give it a shot. Also if anyone else comes across this and tries it out let us know how it turned out.
Glenn on August 24th, 2008 9:41 pm

I just ran into this problem today. Unfortunately, my MBP is OUT of warranty, and I do not have AppleCare.

Randy - I tried your method but it didn’t seem to work for me.

It looks to me like the entire graphics card is shot, which of course means a logic board replacement, like everyone else here has gotten.

From what I’ve read on some other forums about another graphics-related problem I’ve had recently, the entire line of Nvidia graphics card that the MBP sports had miscellaneous manufacturing defects, or something of that nature. From the post that I saw, Nvidia said it would pay for all of the repairs, so hopefully I can get a new logic board for free out of warranty, but I’m not counting on it X_X.