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Richhep Author

Level 1

8 points

Display flashes to solid black intermittently

I originally posted this in the wrong category for the MacBook Pro instead of the Monitor catagory. I am wondering if anyone else has the same problem. I posted the following last night.

*Still an unknown issue with Apple Tech Support*? After 2 calls to product specialists and apparently an undocumented issue by any customers contacting tech support this seems to be a widespread worldwide issue. In one form or another with no answer after several months of the computer release displays are blinking, flickering and flashing to name a few descriptions of this problem. Mine flashes solid black for a fraction of a second and comes right back on. I have had this issue in the power saving mode as well as the better performance mode so that kills that theory. To this point there has been no pattern that I have been able to detect. I can go for weeks without a blink and all of a sudden get 2 in 5 minutes. Usually I am pretty good at troubleshooting but this problem has no pattern and is so intermittent I think it's going to be a tough one and I truly believe Apple has no clue as of yet so they are not addressing it publicly or to individuals calling in with the problem. I purchased my computer November 29th. I used it for over a month without ever seeing the issue. When the new monitor came out I still did not experience any issues with either display in the area of blinking, flickering or flashing. There is a video on Youtube that I have located showing the exact same issue as mine. Though the person on Youtube has a non-apple display and mine is the new 24" Apple display and it is the exact same issue this rules out the problem being the external display. Well, I can check that off as well. This is the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-dQIgfIFsI Does anyone else have the exact same issue as mine? I am thinking maybe it is something in the 10.5.6 update. Who Knows?

*BTW this problem is not at all heat related.* It can happen during heavy use or very light use at low temps. I have purchased many newly released Apple Computers over the years and have actually had great luck with them. I hope this is not my first lemon.

MacBook Pro (late 2008) 2.53GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.6), Apple LED Cinema Display (24" flat panel)

Posted on Feb 10, 2009 11:35 PM

515 replies

luuuke

Level 1

0 points

Mar 14, 2012 4:16 PM in response to Richhep

I am so happy I found these posts. I started having this issue a couple of weeks ago on my 30" cinema display plugged into my macbook pro after having this set-up for 5 years.Never had a problem before then. I still don't understand what to do to remedy the situation. Just wait for Apple to come out with a fix???

Mar 15, 2012 4:11 AM in response to andrew_smith

The issue persists - intermittent blinking.

I wonder if it's people with two displays that are getting this now? Either two Cinema displays or one hooked up to a laptop.

luuuke

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2012 1:48 PM in response to andrew_smith

My system has been hooked up this way for 5 years. I think maybe something in the new OS, it only started after Lion 10.7.3

Mar 15, 2012 8:09 PM in response to luuuke

Exact same problem here with a 24-inch ACD and 2011 (late) MBP.

Not a single problem before about 5 weeks ago.

Mar 15, 2012 8:20 PM in response to Madvillain

People! ....you do realise there's a manually downloadable (not distributed via system update) fix for this - a firmware update specifically for the 24" ACD, yes?

Have a look back a few pages.

luuuke

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2012 8:30 PM in response to gekkonaut

Mine is the Cinema Display 30".

Mar 15, 2012 8:41 PM in response to gekkonaut

/*start confusion

Why would I need an update from October 2011 to fix a problem that was introduced five weeks ago?

Why would Apple not have this update automatically apply itself instead of having it linked from the 29th page of a 'support' thread?

end confusion */

I do not know how to figure out if my ACD is a 2008 model or not (to see if the update is for my model). Is there somewhere that I can find this out with the serial number?

Thanks!!

Mar 15, 2012 8:45 PM in response to Madvillain

I'm not aware of any way to look up the serial number.

While some say the problems are introduced after updates, I think the problems can appear more suddenly due to environmental effects as well - for example, my 24 ACD's used to flicker a lot more when they were closer to other electricla wiring.

In any case, I believe that firwmare patch works for all.

As for the 30" ACD guy, I think your problem is a lot more unique, so you should probably bring that into Apple before the warranty goes.

Mar 15, 2012 8:49 PM in response to gekkonaut

Thanks for the help.

I just followed some help links on the Apple site and somehow scheduled a service call with Apple for tomorrow morning. I'll find out when they call me if I should be using that firmware or not - I'd hate to install something I'm not supposed to.

I guess I'm covered for the free call because my MBP is a late 2011 model.

You can look up the serial number through the 'about this mac' screen. I just don't know if there is anywhere that I can use the number to see what year the ACD is from.

Thanks again. I'll report back tomorrow.