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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

Oct 6, 2009 7:54 AM in response to Richhep

I agree - my leading hypothesis is also a bad power supply in the monitor. I took it to a very thorough Apple certified technician at my university, and he determined that the voltage was not reading properly, and the technical specs from Apple told him to replace the power supply. We are waiting for that part to come in - and when it does, and he replaces the power supply, I'll let everyone know the results.

Oct 7, 2009 3:48 PM in response to Matthew Hedstrom

Folks, here's the latest... Nathan (product specialist) from AppleCare called me back. He said that the Apple engineering group wanted me to send in to Apple my MacBook Air and Cinema Display set up so they can run diagnostics on my equipment. I indicated that I'd prefer not to have to send in all my equipment since I am simply one of many, many people who have been in contact with AppleCare over this "black screen" problem. I asked Nathan what the diagnostics uncovered when engineering performed this on other previous people's macbook pros and Mac Pros? Nathan didn't have that answer so he was going to go back to engineering and ask. I told Nathan since this problem has been reported as far back as Feb 09 by so many other people it seems silly to start from scratch with my particular MBA/ACD set up. He agreed and will inquire what engineering has already learned over the past 9 months since this issue was first reported to them by so many other people.

Oct 7, 2009 3:52 PM in response to Richhep

Mike - Thanks for this. I am eager to find out what you hear from Apple. Keep it up!

Oct 8, 2009 9:06 AM in response to Matthew Hedstrom

I'm now on my third monitor from Apple - all credit to them here in the UK as they have tried to find a resolution to the problem for me. This time, under Applecare, they have not replaced my monitor with a like for like model (I believe the second unit was a refurbished one) but with a different and brand new model and, so far, no re-occurrence of the display flashing to black. The second monitor was so bad the system had become more or less unusable.
Makes me wonder then if it is a fundamental power problem within the monitor itself as the first two monitors flashed to black when connected to a Mac Mini or elderly G4. With a Dell 20" connected - no flashes.

Oct 8, 2009 10:08 AM in response to Dave S-o-A

Let me get this straight, they replaced your 24" cinema display with a 20" dell monitor? The dell probably does not have the mini display connector?

There are postings that indicate (including one of mine) that side by side 24" cinema display with mini display port and 20" cinema display plugged into the DVI of the same video card, only the mini display port monitor flashes the dvi connected monitor is solid. (There is a you tube video posted elsewhere in the thread that shows that exact situation.)

Oct 8, 2009 11:03 AM in response to Steve Morris

Steve, no sorry Apple didn't replace my monitor with a Dell (which would have an intriguing solution to my problem), I should have taken more care with that sentence. They replaced my 20" with a larger Apple screen which is now plugged into my Mac Pro with the standard DVI connection. The 20" screen flashed to black on the Mac Pro, Mac Mini and G4 using only the standard DVI connection in each case. That's why I think it is an internal monitor power problem - however you seem to have a variation on that theme. I looked at your You Tube posting - that is exactly the problem I had.

Oct 8, 2009 1:57 PM in response to Dave S-o-A

Each time I speak with the product specialist at AppleCare (who in turn is simply e-mailing their engineering group) I stress the fact that there are many, many, many individuals represented on this one community feedback site who are experiencing the intermittent black screen. Owners with an ACD combined with MBA, MBP,iMac,Mac Pro, Mac Mini all seem to experience this intermittent black screen problem. In a perfect world, I wish we all could somehow arrange one large conference call with the product specialist. I'm of the opinion that if AppleCare starts treating this as a large scale issue (versus the "one off" with each of us individually) we'll get their engineering department's attention so this can be fixed and communicated to all of us ASAP. This has gone on since February from what I can tell and that is far too long. I know our group represents various states around the US and I've read all the comments/input too from europe and Australia. (my screen just blinked off and went black on that last sentence) UGH !!!! this is frustrating...

ATTENTION APPLE ENGINEERS ---- P-L-E-A-S-E READ THE PAST 7 PAGES OF COMMENTS SO YOU GET A CLEAR SENSE AS TO THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM. HELP US, PLEASE !!!!!

Oct 10, 2009 11:37 AM in response to Mike in Columbus

Just another progress update on my system:

Running the ACD 24" as my "primary" monitor with my iMac 24" display positioned on the right side as the secondary monitor. From the day I first got the ACD, I had the 1 second blackouts several times during each working session. This continued for a month.

I upgraded to Snow Leopard the weekend it was released. But in doing so, I had to juggle some external peripherals around, unplugging cords from the USB port and then plugging them back in as I cleaned off my desk and moved my printer, external hard drive, etc. around.

Since that day, I have NOT experienced any blackouts! I'm using the exact same electrical outlets, cords, etc. but no longer using a USB hub. I have my ACD USB cord connected to the back of my iMac USB port, and then have 2 peripherals plugged into the back of the ACD USB ports. So far, everything is working great with no more blackouts.

Obviously 10.6 has changed some things (like screensavers, powersaving settings, etc.) so I'm not sure if anything there had something to do with it.

Here are my current settings in case an Apple engineer reviews this forum:

Desktop: Change picture every 15 minutes with random order using a custom folder of 1920x1200 JPG files

Screensaver: start after 15 minutes

Energy Saver: Computer Sleep at 1 hr; Display sleep at 30 min; Put HD to sleep when possible; Auto reduce brightness before sleep is enabled; the following are Disabled: wake for network access, allow power button to put mac to sleep, start up auto after power failure.

Other specs:
2009 iMac (9,1)
24" monitor
3.06GHz, 4 GB RAM
nVidia GeForce GT 130
1 admin account (no other user accounts)
Guest account disabled
Brightness of both monitors maxed out
Time machine enabled to external 1TB drive
No mouse (only have Wacom USB tablet)
Full Apple wired keyboard (with numerical keys)
Bluetooth disabled
Canon MP620 connected via USB
FireWire - nothing connected
AirPort - OFF (use ethernet connection for network)
Leave system on 24 hours a day (wake up from sleep mode)

Oct 11, 2009 3:02 PM in response to janericster

I've thought about and mentioned something like this before, my 24" worked fine off my MBP while I waited for the MacPro to arrive.

I've just reconfigured to make the USB hub in my ACD the "master" plugged into the MacPro rather than have the ACD and the hub plugged into the Mac Pro.

Worth a try I guess...

Oct 11, 2009 4:59 PM in response to Steve Morris

Crap. Crap.....and double CRAP!

After almost a month of no blackouts, it started again today!!! I'm so bummed! The first time was right after I did a "Command/Tab" to switch windows from Illustrator to an Entourage email message....nothing unusual or unique that I haven't done before.

I also have not touched or changed any peripherals, USB cords/connections or added a USB hub back onto the system.

I am so disappointed as I thought for sure this dreaded glitch was gone from my system for good.

Not sure why it didn't appear for weeks and now it's back again.

<sigh>....<sniffles>

Oct 12, 2009 12:20 PM in response to janericster

Nathan from Applecare called me after hearing back from Apple's engineering dept. They want to replace the "3 in 1" cable that comes out of the back of the ACD which then connects to my MBA. They believe the cord itself is the culprit. AppleCare is coordinating the cord replacement with my local Apple Store/Genius Bar here in Columbus Ohio. Not sure how long this process will take but once it's done and I see the results, I'll be sure to provide the entire group here on this string with an update.

Oct 12, 2009 7:51 PM in response to Mike in Columbus

Had my 3 in one cable replaced last week, the LED panel the week before, now they want to replace the logic board which has the power supply attached. If that doesn't fix it..then they will have to exchange the monitor.

nmook

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2009 8:01 PM in response to Richhep

Just thought I'd chime in as well -- I'm still having this problem at office.

And yet my 24-inch LED at home does not have this issue at all. Makes no sense.

I've been too lazy to drag it to the Apple Store when Apple can't figure out the issue with any of you, so I guess I'll deal with it for now. Mine flashes black on average 1-2 times per day. I never had this issue in 5 months at home.

I do not have any USB hub or anything special plugged into the back of my screen. It was actually the same setup I had at home. I have my iPod, mouse and turned off USB audio DAC plugged in.

One thing that's important that I haven't seen mentioned (might have missed it) is that although the screen goes black, it's not losing power. If it was losing power, the laptop would think it was disconnected and move the screen back to the laptop like it does when I unplug it.

Oct 13, 2009 10:16 AM in response to nmook

Columbus Apple Store called advising that 3 in 1 cord was in. When I arrived the Genius Bar said it would take 7 business days to swap out cords. Since that kind of time frame wasn't workable, and after explaining the looooong story to the ***'t Mgr. the store agreed to exchange my ACD with an entirely new one. So I'm starting from scratch and like many of you I now have a brand new ACD. I'm plugged in and will have my fingers crossed that I don't experience intermittent black screens from now on. We'll see?? I'll post either way so the group is aware of the status and outcome.

Oct 13, 2009 7:56 PM in response to Steve Morris

This is day three of the reconfigured usb setup I mentioned earlier that wanted to try. No flashes yet, while this may not be permanent or may simply workaround a power supply issue or who knows what. At least for me it's better than it was...

Steve

Display flashes to solid black intermittently