display anomalies

Hey Ian, before you replied; I followed instructions from http://superuser.com/questions/73518/ati-x1600-driver-problem-on-mac regarding the removal of certain group of kext. I opted to just remove 'ATIRadeonX1000.kext' from /System/Library/Extensions/ which seem to have resolved the graphic glitch issues I've experienced. I was able to play 4 1080p videos in QuickTime and another YouTube video playing in Safari concurrently on loop; for approximately 3 hours. The CPU temperature topped at 86 degrees, but no freezes or artifacts.

While I'm happy that this is the step in the right direction...hopefully in determining the root of this wide-spread issue. The removal of the kext does cause the GUI effects to stutter (especially the Grid view from a stack in the Dock); such as Launchpad's smooth fade in/outs are now a (very) slow striped refresh...scrolling to different screens in Launchpad also results in a slow pop-up of icons as the screen refreshes. Photo Booth only shows a black screen, but does launch.

Mission Control seems to be less effectedLivable issues since the machine does not freeze. Certain "core" effects such as the window minimizing (Genie/Scale) and icon bounce are fine. I attempted to put the original kext back into the extensions folder; but it seems to have no effect...I guess I'll have to reinstall 10.7 GM. Quartz Debug seems to have no effect in 10.7. I'll check and see if there's a new version in the Xcode beta.

I ran Xbench again, the system passes all tests. However, when it performs the OpenGL Test, a black screen is shown rather than testing graphics. Ran TechTool Deluxe just for the video RAM, and it still just crashes without any messages; other components passes as usual.

I'm wondering if there's anyway to get the old 10.4 ATIRadeonX1000.kext? And how exactly does anyone get Apple to own up to this without resorting to temper tantrums?

hi underlirics. i tried to put the old kext on snow leopard, but it doesn't work and i had to reinstall osx 10.6

i agree with you, the problem is ati radeon x1000.kext

just have another try. i have installed 10.6.3, run 10.6.8 combo, deleted atiradeonx1000 and tried to put the 10.4.11 atiradeonx1000 with kextutility. on the next reboot my mac has blue screen and can't go to dekstop

probably found a solution. stay tuned

Looking forward to your results Alex. I was able to get the Quartz Extreme effects back by calibrating the display of all things; I didn't save the profile however and just switched between the various profiles, finally setting it back to the default 'Color LCD' profile.

As expected, just as I turn on Safari and started to download; the display anomalies/artifacts stars to appear. Within 20 minutes of waiting for the download (in a cool room at night), the machine froze...just as expected.

Hope you're having luck. I'll report back any new "findings" by fiddling.

That I can still get desktop corruption on Apple original DVD boot is proof that the bug results in corruption of system resources that load prior to kexts from DVD. That is why it looks many many reboots and much experimentation to ensure I could flush out corruption to get my system stable again even without ATIRadeonx1000.kext.

Have tried in the past using several non-approved ATI.kexts from various versions of MacOS, but they failed.

Note that without ATIRadeonX1000.kext, Safari regularly crashes viewing this forum since they jazzed up the appearance. Still works fine on Firefox. If lots of people submit Safari crash reports, maybe someone inside Apple will look at the software problems. I think Safari also still crashes scrolling AppleTV page too.

I opted to do a fresh install of OS X 10.4.8 using the original installation discs the Macbook Pro came with. I wanted to see if using the factory OS version would make a difference.

Installation went smoothly...you know where this is going...started a search on Google, and BAM! Frozen after not 2 minutes of use. Could it a firmware be an issue? Subsequent reboots seems somewhat stable/skittish, as well as quite a few display anomalies (lines/ghosting/redrawing oddities).

I tried using Apple's firmware restoration disc to no avail; the machine didn't seem to have done anything with it, no progress bar or anything.

From System Profiler:

Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600

Type: Display

Bus: PCIe

VRAM (Total): 128 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x71c5

Revision ID: 0x0000

ROM Revision: 113-xxxxxx-158

EFI Driver Version: 01.00.158

Ran Xbench 1.3; once the OpenGL test starts, the entire screen goes black (LCD is still on)...had to hard reset. Rebooted in single-user mode and ran AppleJack. Attempted Xbench again; all tests completed. Ran Xbench following the successful test; OpenGL test freezes the system again. So OpenGL framework might be causing issues as well? OS X 10.4.8 comes with OpenGL 1.4.15.0.0 (last modified on 1/22/07 10:07PM). I forgot the version in 10.7 GM, I think it was 1.7.35.

Not really sure what the next step would be now...

Update, a 'hack' concocted by CWGuide over at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2384136?threadID=2384136&start=405&tstart=0 seems to resolved the issue. However, using the hack on my machine results in the same OpenGL performance lag; as if ATIRadeonx1000.kext is no longer in the extensions folder. Nonetheless, system is stable.

I went through the installation from 10.4.8 to 10.6, then through all the subsequent updates incrementally up to 10.6.8; the hack did not work for me on 10.6.8; apparently because my Macbook Pro 15" (A1211) cannot boot into 64-bit kernel despite system qualification...Apple just doesn't allow it...

I installed OS X 10.7 (GM); reapplied the hack as I did after all other updates, the system worked though the LCD coloring was off. I went through the calibration, but the color still seems washed out using the kext from 10.6.2. I applied the kext from 10.6.3, but that did not fix the issue. The stripped refresh of Launchpad however disappeared using the older kext files; it just opens with all the icons there.

Since using 10.7 on my machine seems kind of sluggish with the effects; I restored to 10.6.7 using kext files from 10.6.3. System performs fine now.

Ultimately, I think this is a software issue that should be addressed. Then again given that our products are out of warranty, I wouldn't fold my breathe. Hope the above link helps with anyone else having the issue.

So that not everyone has to reinstall everything, here are the kext files from 10.4.8; 10.4.11; 10.6.0; 10.6.1 to 10.6.7.

http://bit.ly/mZHfNa

Mirror 1: http://bit.ly/ru62id

Mirror 2: http://bit.ly/n6zP1O

Mirror 3: http://bit.ly/oZ0slU

Mirror 4: http://bit.ly/qvE14e

In case anyone was wondering if Lion fixes this, a horizontal line through my login screen on the first login after installing says no.

No other issues so far though.

Don't forget that you need to do a deep clean and ensure you have banished the corrupted resources first.

See:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1697470?answerId=12702258022#12702258022

It is near guaranteed that if the horizontal line defect is there on login, resource corruption will continue to spread over days to weeks.

Hey guys,

I haven't posted here in a long time but I figured out what the problem is. There is a way for to bring all functionality back to everyones computers but it involves switching to Windows xp. I have tried 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, and the most stable of the all is 10.4 unfortunatelly this is no longer supported by apple and developers so your stuck with old programs if you run 10.4. I have done testing a found out the problem is not the GPU, but the actuall ram that the gpu uses.

Currently I have 10.6.8 but ive abandoned it completely since its too unstable even if I cool it down. I use windows XP (SP3) as my main os through bootcamp, sorry to tell you this guys but using windows is the only way to get your macs to function properly.

So whats the problem with the macs? The problem is that the vram of the GPU has become broken, theres no way to fix it (other than a full replacement of the motherboard) and theres no way to turn it off or reduce the vram size.

I have also discovered that as I updated to windwos xp SP3 I discovered that my computer became way more unstable in games (under DirectX 9). Later I discovered that this is caused by new services introduced in the update, but I have managed to make my computer fully stable now by teaking a few things and turning off unneeded services.

I suspect that these services in windows xp have some kind of similar implementations in OSX thats why people have seen the trend that say they upgrade to a new version of OSX from an older version, their computer becomes less stable.

Here is what I recomend for anyone who still wants to use their macs:

1) Install windows xp and update to SP3

2) Under Display Properties<Settings<Advanced<Troubleshoot disable write combineing by checking off the box

3)Now we will have to mess around with the services in windows xp:

*The services manager is found in Control Panel<Administrative tools<Services

This program will allow you full access to all the services running on the OS to turn them off

Here is a list on all the services that currently run on my computer. This applies when running games like World of Warcraft, browsing the net through my wireless internet, playing movies, etc. (A=automatic, M=manual)

-AVG WatchDog (A)

-AVGIDSAgent (A)

-Cryptographic Services (M)

-DCOM Server Process Launcher (A)

-DHCP Client (A)

-DNS Client (A)

-Event Log (A)

-HID Input Service (A)

-Input Remapper (This is for a program called Input Remapper, its the SMC fan control for windows. I use it to turn my fans to full speed and run them at such all the time) (A)

-Network Connections (M)

-Network Location Awareness (NLA) (M)

-Plug and Play (A)

-Protected Storage (A)

-Remote Procedure Call (RPC) (A)

-Security Accounts Manager (A)

-Windows Audio (A)

-Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) (A)

-Windows Management Instrumentation (A)

-Wireless Zero Configuration (A)

Here is a list off the services I have recently turned off (Disabled completely) and have noticed a huge jump in my stability

-Windows Time (A)

-IPSEC SERVICE (A)

-Backgraound Intelligent transfer service (A)

-System Event Notification (A)

-Com + Event System (M)

-Task Scheduler (A)

-Remote Access Auto connection manager (A)

-Webclient (A)

-Application Layer Gateway service (M)

-TCP/IP NetBios Helper (M)

-Workstation (A)

-Remote process call Locator (A)

*Notice that while I did include their previous states (A or M), now they are disabled (D) and will not run at all unless I reenable them again.

Heres is a website that provides details about all the Services that the Windows Xp OS has

http://www.blackviper.com/wiki/Category:Windows_XP_Default_Services

Guys when I say this has worked for me, I mean it. If you want your mac back, give it a try. This will not damage your system; 1) because its already damaged, 2) the most it that can happent is you crew your Windows XP up and just reinstall it again

HINTS

*All other services that I have not mentioned in this post for me are disabled.

**The way I decided which services to keep and which not to was based on how I use my computer. Therefore for some people some services will still be require on.

SUMMARY

-The vram is damaged, test it using a program called Video memory stress test http://majorgeeks.com/Video_Memory_Stress_Test__d5896.html

-Messing around with the services will not damage your system, it will just impair the functionality of windows

-This is precisely why OSX after 10.4 is unstable. Because common features between the two OSs that somehow make the system unstable.

-Turn off write combineing

-Use the site http://www.blackviper.com/wiki/Category:Windows_XP_Default_Services and google

-Turn off ALL UNNECESSARY SERVICES (will vary from person to person depending on their needs)

"

*Notice that while I did include their previous states (A or M), now they are disabled (D) and will not run at all unless I reenable them again.

"

Sorry this line is meant to say that the services I havent mentioned have not started, meaning that they are not running at the moment or during regular use, but that their status is (A, M, or D).

I've been re-routed to this thread after reading another one, but I sort of think the problem with my macbook pro may be slightly different. I'm sorry if i missed something over the 63 pages of material, but I'm getting the general impression that people are having problems with artifacts on their screen and various other problems that they can manipulate by either resizing something or messing with the software (or dealing with the heat problems.... lots of other little things) but for me, the screen will randomly fade to white/ with light multicolored vertical lines after a period of initial problem-less use. I can remedy this situation by moving the screen, or putting pressure on it, (or sometimes pressing the power button to try and kick it out of this odd fade mode).

Of course this can be a problem when it has these spurts of fading every 2 seconds for elongated periods of time, requiring me to constantly be messing with the screen. When I take a snap shot of the fading screen, it shows up as perfectly normal in the picture. I can also continue typing while the screen freezes up and though i can not see what I'm doing it will continue to perform all functions regularly.

I'd appreciate it if anyone could point me in the right direction, as i may be in the wrong place, but the threads with most similar problems to mine have been archived and redirected to this, so I'm sort of dead in the water with little knowledge of these computers. I bought it two years ago and have had relatively flawless use, but now the thing has been freaking out on me despite how much i baby it.

your issue seem a hardware issue, related with the display data cable going from the mbp to his LCD screen.

check this page, it seem to be related to your problem:

http://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/18445/Display+White+or+Stripe+Screen+on+the+r ight+side+of+the+display

Did you open and close it often ?

I would have a look inside, to see if everything seem allright,(pay attention to the "ground loop" metalic first , you can look at what I mean here, step 15:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Installing-MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Core-Duo-Model -A1150-Display-Data-Cable/1210/5

this one is for a MBP core duo 15", so try to find the ifixit guide for your particular MBP model.

but the fact that you solve it sometime by touching the screen could indicate that it's an inside Lcd screen failure.

you can look also here, http://www.ifixit.com/Browse/MacBook_Pro , select your model, and then look at the dispay pages and guides.

Unfortunately, it's a hard and long repair, according to ifixit, but if it is really the cable, it will cost you 30 $. And the time to do it.

Hope this will help, good luck . At least, you have not to replace the full motherboard, lucky man ! 🙂