Q: Strange vertical stripes - Continued

This really needs to be sorted by apple. At least inform people if it is hardware or a faulty graphics firmware. If its firmware then we will wait for a fix, if its hardware then lets sort it out.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1258 This is a workaround not a solution.

I am thinking of taking mine into an Apple store to see what they say, but wonder if it is a waste of time. Anyone tried it by referring to TS1258

"me too"

I've only had my MBP for 2 weeks now and just turned it on to see the strange vertical stripes. Very disappointed that my +$2,000 computer, and first mac purchase, is giving problems so early on...

I've only had this problem occur 2-3 times, and <control><shift><eject> has always fixed it.

For those of you who often have this and other video issues when unplugging external displays (I teach in multiple rooms, and frequently when I unplug the external projector while in mirror mode, the LCD only displays a mini window in the upper left 2/3 of the screen), the control-shift-eject solves that too.

Anyone know what the key-combo actually does (other than blanking the screen for 15 seconds and then making things work again)?

Adding myself . . . I'd say I've had this problem 4-5 times since I bought the machine in late April from a reseller. This, in addition to the audio out issue, as well as a constantly restarting ipod nano has me really questioning Apple's quality. This is my first Mac computer. Considering buying 3 years of applecare just b/c of these persistent problems.

Add yet another with a case of 'the stripes' on a Feb 2008 MacBook Pro. I also have the separate text scrolling issues relating to the problematic GeForce 8600M GT graphics chip. Booked to see the local Genius crew on Wednesday, and looks like I'm facing a screen replacement AND a logic board replacement......do I just request a new machine???

Can you get a new machine if yours isn't working right?

Me too. I bought my machine the day the 2008 MT models were announced in February, but it just did the stripes for the first time this morning. I have only the one-year warranty. Should I take it in for a screen replacement?

New MacBooks are out on the 14th of October.

Congratulations Apple! You did it!! You sold me a $2000 refurbished computer that doesn't even work properly. - I had my screen replaced after a couple of days I bought it. The issue remains of course. Screen replacement doesn't solve the issue people. -

I was also promised a brand new computer which I never got.
Thanks for all.

Third time I have seen the vertical stripes on my oh-so-new-MBP. I have talked to the support and supposed to take mine to the store today evening.

And I was able to reproduce the stripes using the 3 step method already posted by many, thanks for that.

Now, I honestly do not know what to do ... because from what I read in this post, there is no fix for this. I cannot keep taking my MBP to the store to fix it and lose it for 3,4 days everytime. And all this when I have buttload of work to do and looking for a job.

sigh.

Just discovered that this problem exists when it happened to me.
Brand new machine; purchased a couple of days ago.
Its obviously a defect and since I do not fancy Apple smacking my new computer around a bit and then giving it back with the same bloody problem I suppose I will just have to live with it.
Good to see I am in good company though.

Like many other people on this thread, I've spent a lot of money on a new machine, only for it to be afflicted by the mysterious stripes. This post is really just made in the hope that eventually the number of people reporting the problem may persuade Apple to do something about it.

In my case, it happens sporadically after the computer has been to sleep. It is curable (at the moment) by restarting, or using the Control - Shift - Eject combination (followed by a key press to wake the display).

Has anyone got any experience of whether the issue tends to become better or worse over time?

What I find particularly depressing is the tech support article on the issue (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1258). This is entitled "MacBook Pro (Early 2008): Dark bands showing intermittently on built-in display". Given that the current forum is still going strong in September, the problem hardly seems to be confined to "Early" 2008 models - though of course, describing it as such gives prospective buyers the impression that a MacBook they buy now will not be affected... Also, the very existence of the article shows that the issue is known to Apple, which makes it doubly disappointing for the likes of me - not only have I been sold a faulty product, but the problem was a known one when I purchased the computer.

The CD drive on the last notebook I got from Apple broke down after a matter of months, and again when the first repair was botched, so perhaps I shouldn't have expected things to be different this time. I certainly won't in future.

I've posted here a few times and wanted to update my situation; the short story is that Apple has offered to replace my display. Here's the long story, making it as brief as possible:

In March 2008 I bought my MBP. When I got the dreaded stripes, I called Apple Support. The new computer had the stripe problem, too. Not wanting to go through the hassle of replacement again, I sat on the problem. But I wanted to register the problem with Apple, so they'd have a record and know that the replacement wasn't successful. So, I finally got around to calling Apple Support again today (9/12/2008). I explained my situation and referenced the internal technical bulletin TS1258. I told them that ctrl-shift-eject only made the problem go away temporarily and emphasized that it was not a fix. I was transferred to a product specialist. He said that in the beginning, Apple was taking computers in to determine what the problem was, but that now they had a range of serial numbers for computers with the problem and that there was a known repair, which is display replacement. However, the person I spoke with said he did not know the exact nature of what was causing the problem. They have offered to replace the display. I referenced this disucssion and pointed out that there have been people who've done the replacement and still have had the problem. They said that if that were to happen with me, that I should call again and they would work with me to solve the problem. So, now I am trying to decide what to do -- whether it is worth the hassle of being without my computer, knowing that the repair might not succeed.

I also said that I wanted to let Apple know that there were a lot of unhappy people out here who feel as though Apple isn't addressing this problem. He said he would record that, but that I should also leave feedback at http://www.apple.com/feedback/

I will say that the two people I spoke to were friendly and did their best to be helpful. They were apologetic about the problem, and spent quite a bit of time with me (I was on the phone for an hour, including time spent on hold).

I strongly encourage everyone still having the problem to do as I did: Call Apple Support, reference internal technical bulletin TS1258, and emphasize that the problem returns even after you've pressed ctrl-shift-eject. And leave feedback at the above URL.

I still don't know if I will have the repair done or not, but I feel marginally better having let Apple know that the problem persists. And if there is anyone out there who has had their display replaced and the problem was fixed -- really fixed, because some people think it's fixed only to have the stripes show up later -- please pass that information along to everyone here.

Three weeks ago, I had the screen replaced. The problem has not come back (so far).
As I'd posted earlier, I was told I was the only one from a large Melbourne Australia store that had this problem, and I was told that my serial number was consistent with faulty batches previously identified.


Apple should pro-actively write to all users and advise them and not wait for customers to get frustrated and spend their time writing posts in Apple discussion groups.

Message was edited by: ddh60

I hope your problem really was solved -- that would be good news for you and for everyone else. Did you try the method described above to trigger the stripes?

1) Unplug MBP.
2) Set brightness to max, then dim it by 6 boxes.
3) Run photo booth and start taking pictures.

For some people, just a handful of pictures trigger the stripes; for others, a dozen or more is required.

Not that you want to see them, I'm sure, but just to know that your MBP really was fixed.

I agree with you -- if Apple really does have a range of serial numbers, it should be contacting the owners of those machines with offers of repair.

3rd Update: 2+ wks since display replaced. No problems.

Best of luck to us all.