Q: MacBook Pro (Mid 2010) crashes continuously

I have to say, Apple UK couldn't have been more helpful to me. I asked to be put on to a senior adviser after explaining the problem and letting them know it was a mid-2010 15" MacBook Pro. The advisor went through the usual full erase and clean install but to no avail. MBP just crashed constantly as it had done for some time now. I spoke to them about the recall which happened 4 years ago here and told them that as a dedicated MAC user I would have expected a recall email notification as a message posted on the Apple website is of little use to those of us who rarely go there. I spoke politely to the senior adviser but did let him know that I fully expected Apple to replace the faulty logic board and graphic card under warranty, being as their knowledge of the problem meant they'd sold me a product which was not fit for purpose. The advisor went away for a couple of minutes to speak to his manager but on his return he said that it had been agreed to service my MBP under warranty and that the faulty components would all be replaced as part of that service. I took the MBP in that day (5 days ago) and picked it up today, all fixed and ready for a few more years service. I wasn't asked to contribute even a penny for shipping. I was told the cost would have been in the region of £700 if I'd had to pay for it myself, which would hardly have been worthwhile for a machine of this age, even if it's SSD and heavily upgraded.

So cudos to Apple UK for great service. They've now consolidated a customer for life, although I will check the Apple site a little more often in the future!

That's so lucky.  Based on your experience, the genius seems to be able to work around the ridiculous policy for some of the users. but they just don't want to get themselves into this kinda trouble, I guess.

Yes, they were a tad cagey but eventually, after consulting with a manager, they agreed to fix it. I have to say, it's a bit naughty of them on something this big to only advertise the recall via the webpage. A courtesy email to all customers affected should be the order of the day. I don't visit the Apple pages very often and I would normally always miss any such announcements, which I did this time, too.

According to this page:

https://www.apple.com/uk/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

the recall seems to have now been extended until 27th Feb 2016. If that's correct then no-one with this issue should have problems receiving a free fix. That said, my MBP is mid-2010 but purchased in early 2011. When I put my serial number in there it said my MBP was not affected, which it was. If you're in the same boat, be insistent and they should sort it for you.

Hi guys,

Good news, I just came back from the Apple Store in Clarendon in the Washington, DC area. The store manager took my laptop and agreed to fix it for free. It's a MacBook Pro 2010 15 inches Model.

Just like the other folks, I was denied at first, but after two hours of back and forth, I managed to save 310$ for a free fix.

And here is my story.

I came on set at 5:40pm right before my reservation at the Genius Bar of 5:45. Waited for about 15 min and all stuff seemed busy, there were two people waiting before me. When finally one guy came over to me said he will do a diagnosis, it took about 5 min and I coukd see from my screen that my hard drive and ram showed yellow color signs, which indicates that these parts are not originally from Apple. Then I explained to him I upgraded my hard drive and ram and didn't think they were the causes of the restarting issue, he agreed. Then he ran a graphic diagnosis, which of course showed a big Failed sign, so big that i could see it from the door. Then  The guy explained to me that there was currently no available programs for me to fix it for free, and the cost of fixing it need to be out of my own pocket which was $310.  At this point, I used the  argument from the other people on this forum, saying it was a defected product from Apple at the beginning, it doesn't matter how long I've already passed my warranty,  Apple should  take care of it  since Apple sold me a defective product and apple acknowledged it that's why there was a repair program for it.  Of course the manager came,   And then after saying the same thing  to the manager,  The manager put me on a phone call with AppleCare customer service,  I had to fill out a form to provide my name and my phone number,  and the AppleCare center called me right away.

I explained to the Apple care center representative that the store manager asked me to call  blah blah blah,  I was told the same thing by the service center ,  there was one disagreement between the manager and the service center ,  the manager agreed that my laptop was one of the models that was eligible for a previous repair program which already expired,  while the representative on the phone told me there weren't any programs related to my MacBook pro model .  Then the representative  said he would call the store  to confirm this information.   after another 15 minutes wait on the phone, The representative told me that

because the manager gave me wrong information of saying my laptop model was eligible for one of the programs (which  I think it's just a way of  blaming other people ),  the store was going to  be responsible for the cost. The representative left a note for the store manager because the manager wasn't available when he called ,  I was told to find the store manager and ask her to check the Notes after the phone call. At this point I wanted to point out ,  if you're looking for the manager  you need to keep asking the other stuff to get her ,  because all the stuff over there  would pretend to be busy,  I asked three stuff in total to get the manager out again from the office ,  after a short conversation ,  she said it wouldn't make any difference if she called back the representative for the misunderstanding,  and she said  she will have someone to grab my laptop and prepare it for sending it to repair center.   At this point I knew that It was a success.

Long story short ,  go to an Apple store and keep  telling them that it was Apple's fault  to have a defective product ,  The customers shouldn't be paying the fix,  if they keep telling you there's no current program available ,  just ask them where or who you could complain to,  they will either get you a manager or a customer representative ,   Apple seems to be  pushing the customer satisfaction so as long as you show that you're not happy with their service they're going to give you something,  after all we have a good reason to argue. At the same time keep  cool  and act ignorant,  if you go crazy you lose.  My tips of doing so is to think that the stuff you are talking to is  making $14 per hour,  you're  doing better than that,  don't let their  snobbish Apple attitude intimidate you

$300 is not a lot but  I think it is worth it to fight for,  Apple already made enough money so they should be responsible for these kind of costs Lol

and good luck!

Since I don't have my laptop right now I typed these on my phone,  couldn't wait to tell you guys my story.

I meant staff   not stuff

It is not work around, I believe they had this unspoken rule when they like you or they can't handle an angry customer they make exceptions.

My case was treated as expired warranty. I saw the price when I signed digitally, the manager just didn't collect the payment, directly clicked on continue at the payment page on their special iPad, I think the store manager can definitely do this for anyone, just not gonna happen that easily.

MacBook Pro 15" mid 2010. Shut down failure. Crash GPU panic issue. VST fail

Only way to fix Mac Book Pro 15 Mid 2010 by software is older

gfxCardStatus 1.8.1(download site: https://software.com/mac/apps/gfxcard... or whenever you find it)

don't try newer versions !!!! it will no work. Then install gfxCardStatus 1.8.1. in menu check mark: Intel Only. in preferences, check mark:Load gfx.. at startup. and. Restore last used mode at startup

It will never shutdown but it will never use nvidia graphic card

Thanks for your advice!

I've had the GPU-stress issue for what seems like forever, with kernel panics everytime I forgot to set my gfxGardStatus to "Integrated Only". As you suggested I installed the latest Cuda drivers (http://www.nvidia.com/object/macosx-cuda-7.5.25-driver.html), rebooted, ran a few video stress tests and didn't get any kernel panic! It's to early to tell if the problem is completely resolved or if it's "only" reduced the symptoms. However - it's a great improvement!

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)

2,4 GHz Intel Core i5

4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3

NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M 256 MB.

I´d wish they would have replaced my logicboard last year in Germany in Gravis Store where I got my MacBookPro early 2011.

Last week I tryed it again in Vienna at Tools at Work. But no chance for any replacement.

They said for exampe I shoud have registerd myself and then I would have got an mail about this problem in 2013, when the problem was comming up.

But it seams like no one got any mail regards to this problem from apple?

The Gravis Store Worker also wrote me that since beginning of March 2016 the Mid 2010 Model is in Vintage status, so no chance for replacements or getting any part´s from Apple for this Mid 2010 MacBooks any more and they can´t even change the Logicboard for about 700€ any more

Well it´s ashame that Apple is dealing this way with most of it´s MacBookPro customers that spend around 2000$ that is rubbish because they did not build it the right way!

Well, the Gravice Support worker told me to call the apple help line and ask for obligingness or any help.

Well, after I read all your storys now I will call tham! I payed allready 60€ that Gravis Store check my Mac last year in May and now they say they can´t even help me at all because of that Vinatge status. So something is going terrible wrong here.

What else did other people do to solve this probIem?

Some people are able to released and put the grafic chip back on to the logicboard with a very special machine.

After that some mac´s are running perfectly!
I know from one MacbookPro that was running the first 2 days without any spontanious shutdowns, but then they they went back to 0-15 shutdowns a day.

Another side effect was that the internal loudspeakers did not give any sound for the first week after that.

The starting sound was still working but there was no chance to get any other sound out of this mac.

But then from one to the other second it worked again for no reason.

And at least the whole mac was working better than before.
It was possible to use a second monitor again and  do a little bit more grafic releated works than before.at

But most mac´s that got that treatment of remelting the grafik chip back on did work perfectly after that again!

Does anyone know more about this option?

After trying to be the lucky one at the local shop here in Shenzhen, China, I went to a third-party repair shop. I had the graphic chip changed, Optical drive removed, SSD installed. Now it works like a charm.

原来是老乡啊！

In case anyone needs the proof of the previous program for this model, here is the link MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) intermittent black screen or loss of video Quality Program has ended - Apple Support.

益田假日广场的Apple Store ***** ! 还好我们有华强北 ！