MBP13‘3 and External Monitor Problem (screen goes pink/ laptop hangs)

http://www.apple.com/displays/

Like it says above, they were meant for each other.

Looks like we all have to buy the apple LED display if we don't want issues with external monitors.

Yeah me too. Its a 2 weeks old laptop and have had nothing but issues..
I have an HP 2031 and it freezes and screens go WHITE. its so frustrating. I can't even type a doc confidently with this setup.

DOn't bother installing 10.6.4 its not the solution. I am having the issue with 10..4 too

I went to the apple store again. This time, I brought my home monitor. Again, I could not replicate the problem after an hour! Nothing showed up in the basic hardware test, and they couldn't run the more extensive tests because their diagnostic disk was broken.

Anyway, I take the machine home, and within 5 minutes the problem returns. I try again, and this time it takes almost an hour. There is seemingly no rhyme or reason to it. Looking at the console, there is only one entry that looks suspicious to me:

10/7/4 Sun 2010 Jul 4, 20:45:36 PM com.apple.WindowServer[60] Sun Jul 4 20:45:36 Macintosh-383.local WindowServer[60] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged.

I get this error every time.

So, now I'm thinking "could it be software?" I try this: turn on the computer, plugin external monitor, but leave it on login screen. 20 minutes later: crash with random pixel pattern. But this time, I actually receive a problem report!

Here is the full content:

Interval Since Last Panic Report: 41012 sec
Panics Since Last Report: 1
Anonymous UUID: F0654E11-A165-4D72-B6FC-289CFE0DF10C

Sun Jul 4 20:45:23 2010
panic(cpu 3 caller 0x9ca5b1): NVRM[0/1:0:0]: Read Error 0x00070000: CFG 0xffffffff 0xffffffff 0xc0000000, BAR0 0xc0000000 0x7f27e000 0x0a5480a2, D0, P2/4
Backtrace (CPU 3), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x5bb83318 : 0x21b455 (0x5cf328 0x5bb8334c 0x2238b1 0x0)
0x5bb83368 : 0x9ca5b1 (0xbd6e5c 0xc45e00 0xbe4340 0x0)
0x5bb83408 : 0xadd153 (0x865a404 0x8642004 0x70000 0xadd3d3)
0x5bb83458 : 0x1565e28 (0x8642004 0x70000 0x5bb83484 0x0)
0x5bb834b8 : 0x156f321 (0x8642004 0x96a5804 0x1 0x0)
0x5bb83568 : 0x15683df (0x8642004 0x96a5804 0x96be404 0x3c4000)
0x5bb835f8 : 0x1568753 (0x0 0x8642004 0x0 0x0)
0x5bb83658 : 0x16731ca (0x8642004 0x96a5804 0x96be404 0x5bb83698)
0x5bb836d8 : 0x1676ddf (0x8642004 0x9031404 0x3 0x96be404)
0x5bb83858 : 0xaddd9b (0x8642004 0x9031404 0x3 0x47a)
0x5bb838e8 : 0xacea50 (0x8642004 0x964434c 0xc1d00041 0x3)
0x5bb83948 : 0xacf01a (0x8642004 0x96a7804 0x964434c 0xc1d00041)
0x5bb839a8 : 0x9e029f (0x8642004 0x964434c 0xc1d00041 0xbeef0004)
0x5bb839e8 : 0x9a46b1 (0x8642004 0xc1d00041 0xbeef0004 0xbeef502d)
0x5bb83a38 : 0x9aaf40 (0xc1d00041 0xbeef0004 0xbeef502d 0x502d)
0x5bb83ad8 : 0x9ae9ef (0xc1d00041 0xbeef0004 0xbeef502d 0x502d)
0x5bb83b68 : 0x9cfbe7 (0x5bb83cf8 0x9 0x0 0x0)
0x5bb83cc8 : 0x9d1b9c (0x0 0x600d600d 0x702b 0x5bb83cf8)
0x5bb83d98 : 0xc747f1 (0xc1d00041 0xbeef0004 0xbeef502d 0x502d)
0x5bb83dd8 : 0xcbe560 (0x461c4000 0x0 0xbeef502d 0x5bb83e08)
0x5bb83e28 : 0xc8e4ce (0x96d2400 0x96ea600 0x5bb83e68 0xc8e7b6)
0x5bb83e48 : 0xc801dd (0x96ea600 0xbeef0003 0xbeef0004 0x96ea600)
0x5bb83e68 : 0xc803ce (0x96ea600 0x0 0x7fffffff 0x0)
0x5bb83e88 : 0xc6da6c (0x96ea600 0x96a2804 0x0 0x9161000)
0x5bb83ea8 : 0xc9e3dc (0x461c4000 0x0 0x5bb83ed8 0x4fa478)
0x5bb83ed8 : 0xc9e767 (0x9161000 0x21f7a29d 0x31a 0x2a1591)
0x5bb83f08 : 0x54884d (0x9161000 0x9161040 0x1 0x29d54e)
0x5bb83f58 : 0x54787e (0x9161040 0x8e20b1c 0x5bb83f88 0x93f97a8)
0x5bb83f88 : 0x547cd8 (0x91bc940 0x8e20b00 0x82cab542 0x54f15000)
0x5bb83fc8 : 0x29e6cc (0x91bc940 0x0 0x10 0x8f253c4)
Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.GeForce(6.1.6)@0xc47000->0xcf2fff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(6.1.6)@0x966000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.1)@0x959000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x926000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.1)@0x937000
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal(6.1.6)@0x1553000->0x1974fff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(6.1.6)@0x966000
com.apple.NVDAResman(6.1.6)@0x966000->0xc46fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x926000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.1)@0x959000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.1)@0x937000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
10F569

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.4.0: Fri Apr 23 18:28:53 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.7.4~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBookPro6,2 (Mac-F22586C8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 3412682431869
unloaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 2.0 (addr 0x1057000, size 0x12288) - last unloaded 202569670842
loaded kexts:
com.veltrop.taylor.driver.virtualhid 1.1
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.3d0 - last loaded 36800135541
com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch 51.2
com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.12.12
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 1.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 1.8.7f1
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 1.8.7f1
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.3.2
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.4
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 3.0.0d4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphics 6.1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphicsFB 6.1.6
com.apple.kext.AppleSMCLMU 1.5.0d3
com.apple.Dont Steal_Mac_OSX 7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.1.2
com.apple.driver.ACPI SMCPlatformPlugin 4.1.2b1
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 2.8.63
com.apple.GeForce 6.1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.4.12
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 1.8.1b1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 2.5.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 1.8.1b1
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 303.8
com.apple.BootCache 31
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.6.2
com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 2.3.8b2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 4.0.0
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224 425.16.2
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.1.2
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.3.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 160.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.7.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 4.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 4.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.3.2
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.3.2
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 105.10.0
com.apple.security.sandbox 0
com.apple.security.quarantine 0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 2.1.11
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 105.10.0
com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver 2.3.3f8
com.apple.driver.AppleMultitouchDriver 204.13
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 1.8.7f1
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction 17
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction 14
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction 20
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.8d0
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.0.3
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 74.0
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 2.3.3f8
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.3
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.7.6fc2
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 1.8.7f1
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 1.8.7f1
com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily 41
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.0.1d2
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 4.1.2b1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.8d0
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal 6.1.6
com.apple.NVDAResman 6.1.6
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.1
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.1
com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.3.3f8
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.3.3f8
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.3.3f8
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 2.6.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 204.13
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 4.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 4.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.9.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 402.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 1.2.4
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 4.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 311.1
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.9
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.4
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 4.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.6.4
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 6
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 283
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.6.1
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.3.2
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0
Model: MacBookPro6,2, BootROM MBP61.0057.B0A, 2 processors, Intel Core i5, 2.4 GHz, 4 GB, SMC 1.58f16
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, PCIe, 256 MB
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics, Intel HD Graphics, Built-In, 288 MB
Memory Module: global_name
AirPort: spairport wireless_card_type_airportextreme (0x14E4, 0x93), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.131.16.1)
Bluetooth: Version 2.3.3f8, 2 service, 19 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1
Serial ATA Device: TOSHIBA MK3255GSXF, 298.09 GB
Serial ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898
USB Device: Hub, 0x0424 (SMSC), 0x2514, 0xfd100000
USB Device: IR Receiver, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8242, 0xfd120000
USB Device: Built-in iSight, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8507, 0xfd110000
USB Device: Hub, 0x0424 (SMSC), 0x2514, 0xfa100000
USB Device: Internal Memory Card Reader, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8403, 0xfa130000
USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x0236, 0xfa120000
USB Device: BRCM2070 Hub, 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0xfa110000
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8218, 0xfa113000

So at least I have some proof of the problem now!

Hi Brian,

That is great news, and something I was suspecting. To me the random nature looked like a software problem, and in your backtrace you see the NVIDIA driver.

I was also wondering if it has something to do with how the screens are arranged. I have to do some testing with that, my suspicion is that crashes are more regular when screens are atop of each other and similar size/width.

Will come back with some test results...

- Marc

Interesting. In my case, I am using a side-by-side (external monitor on the right) configuration with both monitors at 1680x1050. I've also had the problem at work where I use the same configuration except with a 1920x1200 monitor.

Anyone who is having this problem, try to replicate it while just on the login screen. See if you get the problem report on your next login, then please send it to Apple. The more they receive, the more likely we will get a fix soon.

I have a strangely similar issue. I have an older 2 GHz MBP and since upgrading to Snow Leopard 10.6.4 I have had nothing but problems. Specifically...

The MBP no longer detects external displays. It does intermittently, however when it does, it can't find the appropriate resolution for the display. It shows the correct resolution as "usable resolution" but I can't find a choose the right one in the list. Tried different monitors, brands, 4:3, 16:9, DVI cables, VGA cables, etc. etc. to troubleshoot. The monitors work without issue on other computers.

Same as others... It's extremely frustrating because it won't detect at work, but when I took it to the Genius bar today, it detected on their external monitors. Luckily he was able to see that the correct resolution didn't show up, so he turned off mirroring, turned it back on, and miraculously everything worked fine again! Of course - returned to the office and it won't detect again!

I noticed that when I go from location to location, the mac is able to recognize a particular place and set the default printer for that location. For example, when I'm at home, my home printers show up as default, and when I'm at work those printers show up as default. This makes me wonder if the same goes for monitors. Maybe there is some sort of memory in terms of monitor locations, and now that there is an issue it can't let it go. It would be helpful to know how to reset location information such as this.

Never had this issue until I upgraded to Snow Leopard.

Hi Producer,

Sorry, but it seems like your problem is different from the rest here. Our macs are crashing in a death of colored pixels when attached to external monitors. You may want to try another thread for your solution. Hope it gets fixed.

Hi,

I believe I'm having the same issues. Here is a link to some pictures. Is it what you guys are experiencing?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/aigoya/photo3-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/aigoya/photo-4.jpg

Yes, indeed those pictures show exactly what we are experiencing.

I called apple earlier today to ask about this.
She said it could be one of 2 issues:

1. Cable - I have a 3rd party minidisplayport cable, she said I could try using the apple one.

2. Monitor - Told me to try a different monitor

3. Mini Port - if neither of the two solutions above are viable, it might be the port itself.

I might try to get apple's miniport-dvi today and try #1. As for #2, don't think this has anything to do with it since my monitor isn't the only one having issues.

So much for Apple products just working. So frustrated with the same issue.

I didn't buy a 3rd party cable for fear of compatibility issues. Using Apple Mini to DVI. Tried multiple monitors (though none of them are Apple Displays).

Timing sometimes takes an hour, last time took 4 minutes. I was impressed with that one...

I think the problem goes beyond using a non-apple mini displayport adapter. I've had the same issue using the Apple Mini Displayport to DVI adapter, and using a Griffin Mini Displayport to HDMI adapter. Both adapters were used with a BenQ LCD Monitor and a Panasonic Plasma television, and the problem has happened on both displays. It seems to happen more frequently if the display goes to sleep or isn't turned on. I found with the Plasma, that if you put the adapter into the computer when the TV isn't on, the screen turns pink almost immediately.

My problem looks a little different:

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/jkjun/Bad%20mac%20bad/IMG_6669.jpg
http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/jkjun/Bad%20mac%20bad/IMG_6670.jpg

For those two shots, I left the computer on the login screen until the crash; took about 30 minutes.

The problems might still related with different symptoms. 13" MBPs have only the discrete nVidia card (no integrated Intel HD). It's possible that when my nVidia 330 craps out, then the Intel takes over but garbles the output. The 13" model has nothing to revert to so it just blanks.

Anyway, hopefully this thread will gain some steam, and we will see a software fix or a recall soon.

Left my macbook pro overnight at the applestore.
They said they couldn't reproduce it. I guess that's that.
Too bad this issue happens so randomly.

I guess i'll just play with clamshell mode until this issue gets some attention.