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

My MacBook Pro (Late 2007) "died" last week from the NVIDIA-issue. Today I brought it to my Service Provider. Some questions are left for me:

- About one year ago (December 2008) my MacBook Pro has been in repair the first time. One of the problems was, that the display stayed sometimes dark after waking from sleep (display but not logic board was replaced). In my guess that was already the NVIDIA-issue. *But my AASP told me, that only total display-failures are the NVIDIA-issue, but not sometimes-failures. Is that true? My current total-failure started with many sometimes-failures in the last weeks.*

- I have trouble, to trust the reliability of my MacBook Pro even after replacing the logic board. *Do I really get a "new" board with a "good" NVIDIA-chip? Do I need to be afraid of failures after my AppleCare-period?* The repair extension is no extension for me, since I already have 3 years warranty through Apple Care.

- *What does the tool, which the AASP uses to check for the NVIDIA-issues?* Does it check, if the chip already died? Or does it check, if the NVIDIA-Chip is from a special production-charge? Is it able to diagnose NVIDIA-problems before they occur?
*At which point of time did Apple "published" that diagnostic tool for AASP?* I am wondering, why my logic board was not replaced at the first repair-attempt in Dezember 2008.

Thanks for help and answers!

My mac book pro has almost died. I'm getting intermittent issues from the 8600GT.

Took it in to apple and they want £700 to fix it. Event though the genius saw that the graphics card kept freezing and caused kernel panics.

What I joke. They said the chip has to completely fail first, to be covered on the extended warranty.

I feel so let down by apple. They know the chips are failing, but only seem to accept 10% (unofficial figure) are related to the known fault.

That is obviously damage limitation. I would really like to know what the test actually looks for. I'm hoping the chip fails permanently soon.

Well my MBP video went black today, at the worst possible time no less, I took it to my local Apple service provider and shop where it was purchased.They did the test 2x and both times said its not eligible, ***!!!

Ok, fellow angry mac heads what should I do call Apple or ???

I have NO WAY to pay for repairs and it seems this is the Nvidia issue as the computer has been fine till today.I am so mad that I am waiting till monday to cool down.

Sorry to hear you are going through the same thing as me.

I've been running windows on the machine and load testing the card.

It fails constantly.. Going to keep doing the tests and then hope that next time I take it in. The test shows positive.

I'm having exactly the same problem, and I suspect that it's the NVIDIA issue. I took my MBP into the Apple Store in Bristol just after it happened in late December (before I knew about the NVIDIA issue) and the "Genius" didn't mention anything at all about a graphics processor fault. He said that a new screen was needed that would cost £450. Glad I didn't go down that route now.

I have another appointment tomorrow at Apple Store Cardiff and I'll be taking the Apple Knowledge Base article (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377) along with me and will demand a replacement graphics processor. I'll let you know the outcome.

Took my MBP into Apple Store today as above. Was met by a great Genius who was aware of the problem and immediately sprang into action to run tests. He ran a funky diagnostic text using an iPod, which confirmed that the fault was the NVIDIA graphics processor. I expect to have my MBP back by the end of the week, repaired free of charge. As an extra bonus they're going to replace a faulty and bulging battery free of charge, despite being out of warranty. My faith in Apple has been somewhat restored!

So my advice to any with this problem: go to Apple Store, or call AppleCare and try and get them to repair free of charge.

In reply to you Joerg, my opinion (and it's just an opinion) on the matter is this:

If you have the model that is at risk, and you have the NVIDIA card that is at risk, it's just way too much of a coincidence for you to be having a separate problem with the same side effects. I seem to remember that when it happened to me the first time, the screen was a little 'on and off', before it stopped turning on period. But I could be misremembering.

Myself, I've been to the Genius Bar more times than I can remember, and twice it was because the monitor died on me. I was not told the first time this happened, the reason they replaced the Logic Board, and I was not even told this past December, when they replaced the Logic Board again. I have my suspicions as to who even realized that it was the NVIDIA card that caused problem, as both times they replaced the screen, which was unnecessary both times. I had to find this forum on my own to realize why I was having to get these major repairs.

I have no idea as to whether or not I was given the "revised" card, the first time I had the problem, but considering I had the same problems again, I guess the first time around they were unaware of the NVIDIA card issue. However, I was assured that my last repair this past December did have the new "revised" card.

Of course, I was assured this when I was at the Genius Bar once more this past week with my laptop, which had a screen problem (not to mention a variety of problems that had come up as a result of their earlier repairs). It's likely it was just a bad screen though, but what do I know?

The Mac Genius proceeded to tell me that since I had been in for 3 "major" repairs, and multiple "minor" repairs, they would offer me a new laptop computer. I was shocked, and this redeemed Apple in my mind, as I had had so many bad experiences in the past. It's great that they acknowledged that, and did something about it. So kudos to Apple, and I couldn't be happier.

I really hope that everyone else here with the bad NVIDIA card gets it switched out free of charge, and I hope that that solves the problem. I was very worried as to whether my screen would last as my computer's 3 yr warranty was almost expired. After that, the NVIDIA issue is no longer Apple's problem. I'm sure I wasn't the only one in that position, so good luck to everyone!

I want to bump this thread and say what happened to me.

A couple months ago it happened for the first time: my computer screen would not light up after a wake-up or start-up. For the first couple times, it happened after I had been using my 17" 2.4GHz MBP with an external display (HDTV). Then, it happened a couple times when I hadn't been using an external display. Usually the screen would light up after a couple restarts, or after waiting a minute then restarting; but yesterday it gave up the ghost and would not light at all. I bought the computer in December of 2007 without AppleCare.

Today I went to the Apple.com page for my local Apple store (Madison, WI) and got a genius-bar reservation. Luckily I had my trusty, never-fails, $300 Acer Aspire One netbook computer running Jolicloud Linux. It really saved my neck, allowing me to access the reservation system.

I arrived, explained the situation, and the genius knew exactly what I was talking about. He knew what test to ran, took my computer into the back room for a moment, and emerged telling me that NVIDIA would pay for the repair. He would order the part and it would be ready later in the week.

Because of the reports on this forum, I specifically asked him about people being rejected for this repair, having to pay for it themselves. He told me that people would come in having a dark screen, which can be caused by anything; then they would want the repair covered by NVIDIA, but of course, NVIDIA will only pay when their chip goes bad on their computer.

He told me that an easy test is to boot the computer. If it boots, and you can hear the volume change and maybe you can even log into your account blindly or something, and yet the screen doesn't have any display going on at all, not even unlit display, then that is a candidate for this particular program.

I have a 17 Inch Macbook Pro that was purchased in date range specified in http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377 for the failed Nvidia Video Card.

My laptop is usually on and does not go to sleep very often, but over the past 6 months it has started to not wake up from sleeps or power up from reboots. Just a blank black screen. The screen would show up sometimes if I hook up an external display but not on the Macbook itself, but not 100% of the time. When this happens, usually turning off the laptop or hard resetting it would cause it to go back to normal and as long as I don't shut it down or put it to to sleep it would be fine.

However as of yesterday the laptop went to sleep while the lid was closed and would not wake up. I tried the usual hard reset and it did not fix the problem. SMC, PRAM, and NVRAM was reset but that didn't help either. The keyboard lights are no longer responsive yet I still hear the usual laptop hardware sounds when I press the power button, though no chime. When I took it to the Apple Store in 5th Ave, they said that they can't diagnose the problem because the laptop won't turn on, and want me to spend roughly $1200 to fix the logic board.

It's pretty clear to me that the NVidia 8600M GT Graphics Card is what caused the problem, and that have may eventually fried the Logic Board connected to it, but the "Genius" at the bar is saying they cannot diagnose. One of them even went as far as saying: "Macbook Pros would never have problems from overheating" because of a heat sensor, which is anything but the truth as anyone with basic hardware knowledge would know (a simple google search would show you the same). I am extremely frustrated by what Apple has chosen to do, which is sell a defective product then refuse to stand behind it when it fails - paying lip service but never actually fixing the problem when it comes down to it.

I will continue to try to work with Apple to fix my problem

< Edited by Host >

I had a link and a paragraph from my post above linking to an online petition for people who are experiencing this problem to sign but it was "Edited by Host?"

How can we expect Apple to deal with us fairly when they start censoring our posts?

Message was edited by: Mr Li

Hey Hippo@wei,

my MBP died last week. I've experienced the same symptoms you did.

"Power-on
Fan spin.
Drives spin.
No chime.
No light on cap key.
No power on USB.
Steady LED."

My AASP is working hard on my case, but Apple said it would be a power and not the nVidia issue because it doesn't chime. Today, I called a technician at the Apple Hotline, but without success. I will call his superior next week to ask for free repair.

What did you do? Is there any news?

the nvidia gpu in my 15" macbook pro 3,1 recently died. the total repair time required 14 days:

*february 6 - failure was confirmed by a tech at the fresno, ca apple store
*february 17 - main logic board replacement was received and installed, however the display still was experiencing issues, plus the airport card wasn't being recognized.
*february 18 - laptop received and repaired at a houston, tx repair facility.
*februrary 19 - laptop arrived back in fresno and ready for pickup.

the work order indicated that three parts were replaced: 1) logic board (item #605-1791), 2), left in/out board (item #630-7933), and 3) flex cable (item #632-0507).

the nvidia gpu in my 15" macbook pro 3,1 recently died. the total repair time required ~14 days:

*februrary 5 - booked a reservation at the fresno, ca apple store for the following day.
*february 6 - the tech first tried resetting the PRAM, then plugged a small silver device (looked like a mini external hard drive) labelled with a sticker "NVIDIA TEST" into the USB port (or maybe it was the firewire port) and rebooted the laptop. the device confirmed that it was a failed gpu.
*february 17 - main logic board replacement was received and installed, however the display still was experiencing issues, plus the airport card wasn't being recognized.
*february 18 - laptop received and repaired at a houston, tx repair facility.
*februrary 19 - laptop arrived back in fresno and ready for pickup.

the work order indicated that three parts were replaced: 1) logic board (item #605-1791), 2), left in/out board (item #630-7933), and 3) flex cable (item #632-0507).

so the repair took awhile, but everything was replaced for free (i did not have an extened applecare plan). luckily i had a mac mini (normally my HTPC) for backup use (although i did need to bump the RAM up from 1gb to 4 gb though, but i did that myself for cheap using the excellent guide from the guys at ifixit.com).

my macbook has just exhibited many of the symptoms already listed here.
Black screen on boot : chime, green light and I can see the menu bar and password box 'behind' the black screen

I've booked into genius bar, but my applecare ran out last year, I'm out of any coverage. I'm just wondering what the damage is goona be to get it fixed, or if this is a common failure on apple, if its soemthing they will repair FOC --

Its already had a new logic board last year as it was a recall, plus it was faulty when I bought it, the battery wouldnt charge up..sigh -- I've been a loyal customer of apple but the extra beans it costs to be one is wearing a little thin..

especially as this is an issue which has efected many people, v. frustrating

If it is the NVidia issue, it will be covered. Otherwise a new logic board will set you back about $1100 (I think)