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

Update.

I took my MBP to my local independent reseller/repairer who ran a test on it. The test said it couldn't find the graphic card/logic board (sorry I can't remember exactly). But anyway, they took it in under the extended warranty scheme - result.

Any heat issues? Any changes to CPU speed via over-clocking necessary ?

Folks,

I've had the same problem on my 2007, pre penryn, macbook pro 17. I've been doing prom resets on it to fix the black screen for about a year and half. On friday last week it finally popped it's clogs and I spent about 6 hours rebooting, reseting prom, removing battery plus all the tricks i've learned to-date, but nothing worked. I took it into the Apple store in Birmingham UK for the first time about this issue (it was out of warranty when it first occured, and all the threads I read said Apple would ask me to pay for it). The apple genius pulled out a tester that the store had received from Nvidia, powered up my laptop and plugged it in. He immediately recognised that I had faulty hardware (logic board) and promptly booked me in for free of charge repairs. I asked for more information about the issue and basically, Nvidia are paying for the logic board upgrade (they're installing a brand new Revision 2 board) and labour as the board was defective from manufacture.

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See the change of policy in May 2009.... http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377 If you don't have apple extended cover then you only have a few months before the free repair policy expires! GET IT SORTED NOW!!
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Cheers,
Sunny

I bought my MBP 2.4 in June 2007. In October 2007 I reported that I had scrambled video on the external screen (have it on paper) but since the graphic problem wasn't acknowledge by apple nothing was done to fix the issue. The scrambled video problem disappeared but started to reappeared just a few days before it died in late December 2009. The MBP had been running for just 3-5 minutes when it suddenly went into something that occurred to be sleep mode. But from there on I haven't been able to boot it nor have the repair guy. And since he can't boot it he can't run the software for the NVDI faultiness meaning they want to charge me the cost of a new logic board which is close to 1500 USD here in Sweden.
I've read about others having the same problem where they've been unable to boot the MBP. However some have been able to boot it after a fully charged battery and the computer left on until it got hot.

Someone called Clinton said this at http://theappleblog.com/2009/06/01/apple-extends-macbook-pro-nvidia-geforce-serv ice-policy-to-three-years/

"I spoke to a guy that repairs laptops and he says any machine (Apple or other) with a Gefroce 8600M GT is likely to fail.
He also says my symptoms are classic examples of the Geforce failure.
Basically some pins on the chipset are not making contact and this varies with heat conditions. If the chip does not power up, the macbook will not boot.
If it power up, the video may not work or be distorted.

When my machine would not boot (no chime just power light) I had the idea that heat caused the problem and so it may have the reverse affect.

So with a fully charged battery I turned the machine on. leave it on a flat surface until the battery runs down. It gets hot, so something is working.

Then let it cool and do not move the machine. Then hold down the power button for 5-10 sec, release it and plug in the power. Hit the power button and it could boot with video and all.

Other people have done this, so the theory is sound. It also proves this is heat related which was the same as the original failure which Apple acknowledge.

So why are these machines excluded?"

The graphic card is soldered to the logic board meaning that the logic board has to be swapped in order to fix the graphic problem. As mentioned I reported graphic problems way back in october 2007 but nothing was done about it. Today when apple has acknowledged the problem they won't change the logic card since they can't boot the MBP. Bear in mind I did report it when the MBP was only a few months old and under its original warranty. I asked apple if they could rule out that the graphic card was the cause for the MBP not booting. She said they can't but it's not likely since they haven't heard about it.

I've been having this problem a lot. I just had it fixed again 2 weeks ago. Either 2 - 3 times I've had to go to the Genius Bar to get my Logic Board replaced (they also replaced the screen twice, but I'm not sure how necessary that was). Why can't I remember how many times? Because I've been to the Genius Bar with this machine so many times I've lost count.

Thankfully I've cost Apple probably close to $5000, and not me, but my extended warranty (best purchase I've ever made) is running out.

Does this: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377
...mean when my computer is over 3 years old, and the logic board dies (which it will, because I have the same GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor), I'm out of luck, and I have to buy a new computer? Even though I've kept very good care of this laptop (despite what my file of Genius Bar receipts may indicate) I'm looking at spending another $3,000 because Apple sold me a bad computer 3 years ago? If so, that really angers me, and even though I love Apple, and the laptop they sold me (despite its INHERIT issues), I might not spend money on Apple products again. Why? Because I don't want to find myself in the same position 3 years from now. Words can't express my anger and frustration.

Hi all,
I have the exact same problem: the screen and my external Cinema Display wouldn't wake up after a sleep session. Tried all sorts of stuff but after nothing came up, brought it to my local dealer to have it checked. And since my guarantee was expired already, I had to pay an initial $75 to have it diagnosed. When I came back, I did a quick Google and found this thread! I didn't know there was a widespread problem with the same model, with innumerable people experiencing it and evidenced by this huge thread. So I thought I'd let them check it and see if they would repair it free of charge due to the recall notice. If not, I'd take it back and try the solutions discussed here.
Thankfully, they did repair it for free and it's now ready, with a new logic-board installed. Now, the question is if the repair will be short lived or if it actually did something...? I'll let you people know for sure.
This just to say that even if your Applecare has expired and none of these solutions work or you're unable to perform them, have your laptop checked out, mentioning that there has been a recall, and they will do it free of charge. Apple service was good for me.

Thanks.

Update...
So I got my laptop back and it works fine, for now... Apparently they actually did change the logic board as when I wanted to resume backup with Time Machine, it detected my laptop as being different than before the problem occured, and asked me to reuse the old backups.
I was also refunded the initial $75 that I deposited.
All in all, Apple service was good, even though I was out of my computer for 5 days.
That's it!
Good luck people!

In the pass few month I mange to claim few units on MBP with nVidia issue. But lately, I've gotten a unit that show:
- Power-on
- Fan spin.
- Drives spin.
- No chime.
- No light on cap key.
- No power on USB.
- Steady LED.

And the Service Center reply back as this is not nVidia related issue as this is "can't boot" issue. I'm not satisfied with their report as they want me to pay full amount to get a out-of-warranty repair on the logicboard. I clearly remember before the MBP turn into recent stage, it does chime and boot (with black screen, cap key light on, can press volume up/down, show up on network.) as all other my other MBP that with nVidia problem. But I was busy and no time to visit Service Center. When I does have time the MBP has become the current stage, won't chime, won't boot. I wonder if anyone of you get other way around to prove the nVidia issue to Apple and get it claim?

Message was edited by: hippo@wei

Is there any chance that the kernel panics I've experienced recently are related to the GeForce 8600M GT issue?

Just came from apple store.My 2007 macbookpro video card failed.No question asked motherboard will be replaced. I asked them will be replaced with what, the guy said version 2.

Hi again, i went to the apple store to Spain, and they saw my computer, but didn't run any kind of tests, only connected an external monitor when mine doesn't work, and with the external does work, only the built in doesn't, on system preferences>graphic cards on my monitor connection says there "not connected" at the time it fails, so they said it will be a monitor problem, and not the graphic card, and i have to leave it there for 2 weeks :S Anyway i took it back for now, ill go take it there next week, and after a session of 20 times Force Shutdown and Startup I got it working again (I did this there, on the Apple store for them to see it)...

Add me to the list too, it happened the other night. The next day I brought it to the Apple store in East Hartford, Connecticut and while I was there someone came up right next to me with another technician and had the exact same problem! I asked the technician how often of a problem it was and he said that they get anywhere from 2-3 broken NVidia MBP's a week.

They ended up sending it out to Apple. I'll update when I get it back. I'm interested to see what they did to it. I've updated the RAM from 2gb to 4gb and updated the hard drive from 160gb to 500gb, and usually the Apple store gives me a hard time about that stuff.

Got it back today. It was gone for a total of five days. They overnighted it to the factory and overnighted it home. I had a big ding on the top of my case and they replaced it, I was hoping they might replace the battery but no go. Anyways, I'm very happy with it! It came back with the same extra Memory and larger Hard drive that I shipped it with. Here's what they replaced:

Logic Board - Graphics Processor Issue on MLB
Top Case - Trackpad cursor Not Tracking Properly
Keyboard - Inoperative Key(s)

The mouse and keyboard worked fine (unless they were damaged in shipping- doubt it. I think they were just being nice.

Glad to finally have it back.

Add me to the list of victims. My 17in MBP display suddenly stopped working. I had the machine on an external monitor for a couple of days. After removing the external monitor and restarting the laptop, there was no display. Just like everyone else, I can hear the machine start-up, chime, the keyboard is illuminated, etc, just no display. VERY FRUSTRATING. After reading all the posts, I'm going to take it into apple. I am disappointed with Apple.

Mine just died today. I was on my computer until nearly midnight last night. Woke up this morning, turned on the computer, heard the initial chime, and then nothing. I can hear the harddrive spinning inside the computer, but the screen is dead. I also have the late 2007 model.

If the repair costs any more than $500 I think I'll just buy a new laptop from Toshiba or some other company. The $500 laptops nowadays are just as good as the 2007 MBP.