Q: MacBook Pro (2010) Freeze

I am having the same problem too!! I think it's software related, did the hardware tester (use the application DVD for 2010 MBP, press ‘D’) and there’s no problem. I have long suspected it’s the graphic problem. It is especially so watching iTunes shows. But the problem recently became more obvious with the recent updates. BTW, don’t bother reformatting the HD, not gonna fix the problem. Heard Apple is aware of the problem. Some suggested switching out the HD. I might just try that.

I have tried on Windows and all work well. On OSX use an alternative fan control software.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11895094#11895094

I filled another Feedback in, since I have only filled one in to date with this issue and that was with 10.6.3. Since I still see this issue with 10.6.4 I felt it was appropriate. Thank you artitron for pointing users in this direction. Thanks others for your support. I agree that sometimes people get carried away on aesthetic issues, like if the Mac comes with a tiny scratch on the bottom of the computer or something silly like that. But as vylain points out: this is a serious problem. If we are using our computers for work, a hard crash, even one, can be catastrophic. Thank you fake brain for your input and support as well.

Honestly this is becoming vexing, they have had months now. They gave me a replacement at least which fixed my issue of the yellow tint on the bottom part of the screen. My new display is nearly perfect. I hope it turns out this freezing is caused by software/graphics drivers and not hardware...and my gut feeling is that it is in fact software, since Windows mentioned an NVIDIA driver when it crashed on me. And others have seen mentions of NVIDIA in kernel panic logs.

Cool Kevin, I hope you get your issues fixed. As for me, I called AppleCare, and after seeing that I had gone into the store twice already, they placed me with a tech service manager who was really nice, apologetic, etc. I feel like I am in better care than I was during my two genius visits.

We decided to do two things. One is to forward all of my symptoms to Apple engineers (it may be a dead letter box for all I know, but the rep assured me that answers come within two days) and to have a box sent to me so that I can mail my MBP to a repair depot.

I am only 4 days outside of the 14 day return period, but my machine is custom built. If I really wanted, I could have pushed for a brand new machine. In the end, I thought it was better to just get this machine repaired. This machine is very good except for this one problem, and with the number of reports of bad machines out there, I thought it was my best chance. I'll report back whatever the engineers say, and if/when I get my machine fixed.

Good luck all.

Hi, there. I just wanted to add an additional situation from a recent experience.

I've had my Macbook Pro for 6 days, and it continually froze up on me. I decided to wait it out, and it didn't get better. But during the freezes, the clock never moved, and the mouse wouldn't either. It was just a complete freeze.

So, after being on the phone with Apple Care for an entire day, I decided to take it in to a physical store yesterday. They currently still have it, and I've been called 2 times since then. First time was to return my call about the status of it, and the second time to confirm a failure within the RAM tests. Therefore, they're replacing the logicboard.

I had this laptop customized as well, whether or not that made a difference in the defect, I truly hope that it doesn't happen again. I did buy the additional warranty when I first placed my order for the laptop. Truth be told, I'm glad. I would hate to pay out of pocket for such an expensive repair further down the road.

Basically, if the freeze is something along the lines of that, a logicboard replacement might be needed. And don't wait too long if you don't have the additional warranty - it's better to get it fixed now. But good luck to everyone, and I hope that the freezes will be stopped with the replacement.

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I notice this is marked solved. It would be so helpful to know what thread(s) to go to to get solution without having to scroll through all hundreds.

Maxit wrote:
I notice this is marked solved. It would be so helpful to know what thread(s) to go to to get solution without having to scroll through all hundreds.

that's the problem, there really isn't a specific way to solve this problem.
pretty much go to apple and have them replace it

I got my new MBP 15" about three weeks ago from the online store. I replaced RAM from OWC and HDD to WD 500GB. It was working just fine for the first 2 weeks then for the last week it has been freezing at least once a day.

Dear,

I send my unit (MBP i7 2.66ghz with 4gb and 15inch laptop)to them for freezing problem. They said they were not able to reproduce or said not happening. But for me the beachball showing up every 15 mts and system freeze atleast for more than 1 minute and come back to life after a minute - after using the system for continously more than 4hrs.

I called the support service, they said the need to see it to do something. I am not sure how to reproduce. I only can take video and show them. This is what am planning now too.
After looking at this thread, I am wondering whether we really need to tell this to Apple as they are the one maintaining this forum. I would appreciate, if they monitor this forum, particularly this thread( I have not read the complete thread info as it runs to 56 pages and as I donot have time now to do so, But will go thru the entire thread during the week end) and pick up this issues and place some solutions in their knowledge base.

regards
ramke

Dear,

My unit is only 4.5wks old. This is fyi. I am still leaving with ????freezing problem. I am used to the beach ball now. I relax for 1 minute for every 15 minute of work.

regards
ramke

Maxit wrote:
I notice this is marked solved. It would be so helpful to know what thread(s) to go to to get solution without having to scroll through all hundreds.

Maxit, there is no specific solution other than providing the machine back to Apple for replacement. Having said this, if you're inquiring into potentially getting an i5/i7, i think you should just go ahead and do so.

This thread is heavily polluted with irrelevant posts and Apple have since issued an update to OSX, fixed a fair number of users' laptops, as well as (apparently) developed a new diagnostic tool for internal use so they keep an eye on the issue.

Some common sense on offer: stick with the stock install for a few days and confirm that it performs as expected under varied use (battery,AC; low,high load, especially with high memory use; with,w/o graphics switching; with,w/o external display). It appears that the issue potentially sits somewhere between intel's chipset, nvidia graphics hardware, and apple's drivers. Since intel's HD graphics use the system memory (and I'm guessing so do Nvidia to liaise with iHD), stuffing low quality RAM into the machine may get you in trouble very fast.

hope this helps.

Maxit, as gmarinov notes, it's most certainly not "solved" at least across the board. No official announcement from Apple. The only solution as mentioned above is a return/replacement.

I've been following this. Unless I'm mistaken, Apple has remained completely silent on this issue since release day way back in April. Whether it's hardware or software they need to at least let us know as soon as they figure it out. I'm surprised they haven't determined which cause it is yet. But they are in fact working on it. They are doing "captures". So they are at least aware of this problem. Nevertheless when they do figure this out I hope they announce it. And I'm pretty sure they will. For instance, they recently announced an issue with Time Capsules. The only problem was that it was for Capsules from 2008. :/

So I guess we just wait. Not solved. Yet.

Heard back from Apple today. From the description and photos of my issue, the engineers think it is most likely a hardware problem. They want to use the machine as an "autopsy" subject, so I am indeed getting a new MBP. It will probably take a little longer than a send-and-return from a depot where they would probably just change the logic board, but I don't mind the little extra wait.

Again, my problem is very similar to those listed by the OP, but mine only happens when on an extended or mirrored desktop with an external monitor, but not in clamshell mode. It's hard to think what defect could cause so many variants of a very similar issue across a variety of MBP models, and yet not affect so many others.

My advice is to follow the two steps that others have proposed: 1) report your issue to apple and 2) call AppleCare.

AppleCare will try to give you the whole reset NVRAM, PRAM; reinstall OS; try different cables; but tell them you did all of that with no avail. Then, they will ask you to take it to an apple store. If you live close to one, and your problem occurs frequently, this is not a bad idea. If you live far from one and/or your problem occurs infrequently, then insist this step is unnecessary. Before you call AppleCare, take a photo of your computer after the freeze occurs. Then, upload the photo somewhere public like photobucket, picasa, or flickr. When you talk to your AppleCare rep, you can point them to the photo link so that they can see it for themselves.

Above all, be patient and friendly with your rep. They may represent Apple as employees, but it wasn't their fault you received a bad laptop. Plus, it won't help you at all to be rude and demanding. Nevertheless, be firm; you spent your hard earned money, you should get a machine that meets reasonable satisfaction.

Good luck everyone. Hopefully, my next machine will have no issues.

here's some news for everyone concerned. I've recently got an i5 machine and was waiting for this problem to appear. now that something like this has happened, I've been examining the machine very closely and am observing an interesting behaviour. if you're feeling adventurous you might want to try and replicate the steps (beware, your machine may hang and it will only be accessible via ssh).

Basically I am able to trigger a UI hang/freeze by having a software called IORegistryExplorer running at the time an application utilising the nvidia card is launched. IORegistryExplorer is part of the Applications/Utilities package in Xcode developer tools. It monitors the device tree for changes (signalled by the kernel) and is like a GUI "ioreg".

In my case, if I have IORegistryExplorer running, launching any application that triggers discrete graphics (tested with Logic and Skype) gets me into trouble.

The following things also apply:
# If I have a USB thumb drive connected, with files open, the system freezes entirely. The whole USB buss is killed, the keyboard and lid switch don't work, and the display powers off in a minute or so. The internal hard drive is accessible. Shutdown via ssh works.
# If a USB thumb drive is connected to a powered usb hub, the UI stays alive, USB stays alive, the app requiring discrete graphics hangs (I've been able to kill it and produce a crash report and send to apple). The internal hard drive is accessible. Shutdown via ssh fails. If I connect an external display at that point, the machine hangs entirely.
# Running on power or AC has no effect
# Enabling or disabling graphics switching has no effect.

Now for the kicker. If I don't run IORegistryExplorer I encounter no problems and none of this happens.


Basically what I'm trying to say is that any software which actively monitors changes to the device tree (gfxcardstatus anyone?) might actually cause you trouble and freezes at the very moment when new GMUX clients appear in the device tree.

I'll be filing a bug report with Apple, but I'd like to think this is a kernel issue.


Hope this helps.