Blinking vertical yellow line

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Level 1

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Blinking vertical yellow line

I have a Macbook Pro 4.1 since 5 months ago, relatively little use and very well taken care of, even the keyboard and the touchpad still looks like new.

I'm starting to have a vertical yellow line that blinks on my screen. If I move the lid as to close it, the line stops showing as I move the lid. If I move the lid as to open it, the lines shows without blinking. That line seems red on a blue background and somewaht blue on a green background, almost all the time looks yellowish, mostly on whites backgrounds.

What's going on? I read something somewhere about 2 possibilities: The LCD is starting to fail or there is a corrupted memory buffer due to the video card failing (or somewhat like that). A solution for the second option was to remove the RAM, turn on the computer without RAM, let it bip, turn it off, place again RAM on place and turn it on.

I did what I just said, and the problem seemed to be gone. But I was wrong, after some hours the line is becoming to appear!!!

What is wrong? I donn't know if I'd be able to get warranty since I bought it with a 3rd party dealer who seems to sell refurbished laptops. Also I wonder if do not get warranty. What are the costs aproximetely a fix for this? I'm guessing it's the screen. Would I be safe buying one from let's say ebay and replacing it myself?

MacBook Pro 4.1, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Sep 7, 2009 1:08 PM

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Answer 1

S.U.

Level 6

9,601 points

Sep 7, 2009 3:04 PM in response to Anji79

Welcome to Apple Discussions!

The first order of business would be to call Apple with your serial number and see when it was originally sold and if there is any possibility that the original 1 year warranty is still in effect. The 4.1 MBP was discontinued in October 2008, and it is possible that the Mac was originally purchased less than a year ago. If still under the 1 year warranty, then you should be able to buy 3 year Applecare if you want to, and that would be a very good thing to do.

Apple should also be able to determine the history of the machine and if it was handled by one of their authorized dealers.

If the machine was originally bought over a year ago or has been worked on by someone not authorized to do so, then there is no hope of getting any repair done under warranty.

If the problem is due to an NVIDIA chip problem, it will be covered under this program:

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

However, since the artifact changes when you change the position of the display, I suspect that what you actually have is a damaged cable in the hinge area which affects the video signal when the hinge is moved.

Check the warranty first, and if no go and you need to do it yourself, here are a couple of links:

http://www.ifixit.com/

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/

Both of these have instructions and sell parts. If you buy from EBay, carefully check that you have the exact right part, as many display parts and cables are not interchangeable.

Good luck!

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Answer 2

Anji79 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 7, 2009 6:07 PM in response to S.U.

Thank you so much, you were really helpful!

I manage to found through the apple website the form to check the warranty status by sending the serial number (was hard, I don't know why such usability on an apple site).

The status of my product was that it does have warranty until september 28 of this year. I tried to call to the apple phone number shown on the apple site for my country and wasn't lucky to get help, I need to call at an earlier hour. I'll do it tomorrow.

Now the incovenients, since I have a piece of paper that doesn't seems from an authorized retailer I'm guessing I'd have to take the Macbook to the people that sold it to me. I would prefer to take it to an authorized service but I don't know if I would be lucky.

By now I can't afford even the cheapest Apple Care plan and the good ones looks really expensive! Anyway I cannot aford a new screen now, so I just hope I really get this solved on thses days!

Thanks again, and if anything doesn't go as expected I'd be here commenting. 🙂

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Answer 3

S.U.

Level 6

9,601 points

Sep 7, 2009 6:59 PM in response to Anji79

Great that you're still under warranty!

I would focus on dealing directly with Apple. Call them and explain your problem to them and see if you can get a case number. You should be able to take your Mac to Apple or to any AASP for warranty repair. It really shouldn't matter where you bought it.

Are you a student? If so, you may qualify for an educational discount, which would make Applecare less expensive. It may even be possible to pay for it over time. When you talk to Apple about the repair, you could ask about this too. The thing is, almost any repair would cost more than Applecare, so it is really good to get it if you possibly can. Especially for a Mac that is having a problem during its first year.

Post back with how it goes, and if you have any further questions.

Good luck, and thank you for the star!

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Answer 4

Anji79 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 8, 2009 5:49 PM in response to S.U.

Well, my macbook it's on service at one AASP. It refused to show the yellow line so it's going to stay about 48 hours there to see if it's actually something wrong.

About the Apple Care, I'm a student! the price at the apple phone line was at the same price that on the site, it has an atractive price for student, still expensive but at least about 60 dollars less. The Apple Care it's even more expensive at the AASP, about 70 dollars more than the normal price, but the problem here is I don't have a credit card nor someone near to ask for to buy it at the phone. I was wondering if it would be another way to pay the Apple Care at student price without using a credit card, I cannot afford that extra $110 and anyway I'd have to sacrifice something to buy it, hehe.

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Answer 5

S.U.

Level 6

9,601 points

Sep 8, 2009 8:01 PM in response to Anji79

Do you have a checking account? If so, you could probably get a check or debit card, which can be used like a credit card. This is not a credit card, but rather more like writing a check, as it will be taken directly out of your account. However, you can still use it to make on line purchases or over the phone purchases. That is what I do, as I do not believe in credit cards.

It would likely be a sacrifice for you, but I would feel very nervous about having an intermittent problem with my Mac when my warranty is set to expire on September 28. It may take 10 days or more to get one, so if you want to go this route, get on it soon.

Good luck!

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Answer 6

Anji79 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 11, 2009 9:05 AM in response to S.U.

Well, it's a good advice: I have debit cards but none of them are accepted for online/phone buys, my banks also refuse to activate them with many silly escuses but I get the point. There's however a bank that guarantees that it's debit card it's going to be accepted for online/phone buys (I used to have one) but it charges high comissions every month. I thnik I'm going that route and try to cancel it later, it would be less expensive anyway in this way 🙂

BTW. My Macbook refuses to show the line, it hase 3 days on service and nothing, or that's what they say. I asked them to keep trying.

I hope this finish soon! S.U. you are really too helpful, I would grant you another star here if I could! Thanks for following my case, have a nice day!

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Answer 7

S.U.

Level 6

9,601 points

Sep 11, 2009 3:11 PM in response to Anji79

Since the credit crisis, banks have gotten a lot more difficult about some things. You may have been issued ATM cards, which are a bit different than debit cards or check cards as they have fewer privileges. I bank with Wells fargo, and have never had a problem. Individual banks often have their own way of doing business. If you are young and just starting out it can be very difficult sometimes. I hope in time you can find a bank you can do business with and a debit/check card that will not cost you a fee.

Thank you for the kind words, and I hope this all works out well for you.

Good luck, and you have a nice day too!

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Answer 8

Anji79 Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 11, 2009 10:28 AM in response to S.U.

Well, My Macbook was more than 2 weeks at service. It was a little more than a week and the yellow line never appeard, so I went to the service and moved and tilt the lid until the line appeard. Five days were before the warranty ended, but the lcd was fully changed with lid and top cover too! The screen looks nice! BUT.....

I see a little light ball almost at the center of the screen. But now that I think, I guess the former screen had it too, I'm not sure. It really doesn't bother as a dead or stuck pixel and can only be seen in white screens. I don't know if it would be a good idea to go and complain. Is that small light ball common?

BTW, I was able to buy Apple Care just 2 days before the warranty ended. 🙂

Message was edited by: Anji79

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