Q: MacBook Pro Blank Screen (Built - in & External) - continued

Update:

Just got back from seeing the Mac Genius. He confirmed it is an NVIDIA failure. Apple will fix it at no charge. Unfortunately they have to ship it out and it will take 5 to 7 days to fix.

Same problem hear, got the same speil from the mac 'genius' whom said he never heard of the problem when I described what was happening and that according to these forums it seems to be a common problem. I dropped mine off at the store on Sept. 2. I did not get a call back from the store and when trying to check the repair status online there is no information. So on a whim I called the store this morning and was told they had to order a part for it at the service center (i'm assuming it was the logic board that needed to be ordered) and they dont know when the part will be in, when my $2400 laptop will be repaired. Then I was also told they were going to ship it directly to my door once it is repaired. Once again, no idea when that will be. I wish I would have been given an option to pick it up in the store or ship to home. At least picking it up in the store I can do that on my own time. Now I gotta pray I get some type of tracking number ahead of time to make sure some one is home the entire day it is to be delivered. I'm really starting to be disappointed in the whole apple experience. I'm even finding the get a mac commercials very smarmy and pretentious and frankly b.s.

So can we clarify that this is the problem?

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377

yes, that is why apple is repairing it under warranty and it is almost 2 years old. I still think it is ridiculous to have a known issue such as this without a speedy resolution.

Yes, that was definitely the problem in my case. The Mac Genius knew about it and said there was a special test he could run to confirm (which he did).

An OS update cannot fix failed (or failing) hardware.

And besides, the screen is blank at startup (which is before the OS loads).

An OS update cannot fix failed (or failing) hardware.

Well, logically, no. But at least four users in this thread have reported that various OS boots or software kicks fixed their screens. One person reports that after having overwritten his drive with 0000s in preparation for sending it in for service, he rebooted it to find it was working again (and still was at time of writing). I've exhausted the possibilities for my machine, so I'm assuming it's the NVIDIA chip problem, but I want to go to the Apple Service place fully armed with info - unlike a lot of you lucky chaps there is no proper Apple place here in Melbourne where I live and I've had the resellers spin me all kinds of bumf on various issues I've had.

One other thing - is anybody able to tell me if there's a way to get the system profile information of my machine if I can't actually see the screen. The drive is fully functioning and I'm able to see it in Target Mode from another Mac.

One other thing - is anybody able to tell me if there's a way to get the system profile information of my machine if I can't actually see the screen. The drive is fully functioning and I'm able to see it in Target Mode from another Mac

FWIW, I was able to VNC into my dead-screen machine and get the info I needed - as with other users here, my processor is now seeing the NVIDIA 8600M as a GMA X3100. I think I have enough forensic evidence to prove that I am victim to the shoddy NVIDIA chip.

I used Target Disk Mode to run Disk Utility and Verify Permission. Of course, no problems were found.

Here's my blog post about this situation:

http://www.logicalvue.com/blog/2009/09/dead-macbook-pro-displays/

I took my machine in yesterday to an authorized Apple service centre (no proper Apple stores down here in Melbourne) and they knew exactly what I was talking about. By running the serial number of my laptop and a little diagnostic box (via USB) they established very rapidly that the NVIDIA problem was indeed the culprit. They allowed me to take my MacBook away and told me the new motherboard would arrive in the next two days at which time I could bring the machine in and they would fit it on the spot.

Thanks Paul and everybody else here for allowing me to figure out the problem so rapidly. And thanks Apple and Take It To The Macs for your excellent customer service.

Hi, ive the same problem on my Macbook Pro, i tried everything and nothing. So my question is:
-are we all under warranty due to the extension of three years of warranty made by Apple (and because the defected Macbook are built in 2007) ?

-i bought my MBP used, and its already registered online, i can request a fix (for free) only providing my S/N?

thx in advance
regards
Simone

@n0ise:

You can't 'request' the fix. You need to take your machine to an Apple service centre and have them verify the problem actually is the NVIDIA chip issue (there are numerous other things that could conceivably cause your screen to fail or act strangely). But if that does turn out to be the fault, then yes, I believe you will be covered. As long as the s/n is registered you'll probably be OK.

Apple's statement is here: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377

My 15" SR MBP screen failed as well. I saw that Apple extended the warranty to 3 years. My only problem is that I bought it in the US, and I'm living in Europe, so I guess I'm going to need the Invoice...which I didn't print when I ordered the laptop.

It was stored in my account. Right now, as I access my account, I can't find anything, no Invoice or anything related to the purchase. It was bought on 7/aug/2007.

Any idea on how could I access any info on the order/purchase? PLEASE HELP! Thanks in advance.

My 15" SR MBP screen failed as well. I saw that Apple extended the warranty to 3 years. My only problem is that I bought it in the US, and I'm living in Europe, so I guess I'm going to need the Invoice...which I didn't print when I ordered the laptop.

I don't think you'd have a problem - as long as the serial number of the machine matches a legitimate number and it's not registered as stolen, the warranty should stay intact if the problem is verified as the NVIDIA issue. You'd need to take your laptop to an authorized Apple service center to get them to check it, and if it falls in the right date period and is certified as the problem I think they'll fix it for you. Yo can but give it a go!