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DanRyb Author

Level 1

12 points

MacBook Air 11" Screen "Flicker" and Freeze

Hi everyone,

I ordered a MacBook Air 11" with 1.6 GHz, 4GB ram and 128GB SSD. Every so often while using it, the screen has a ton of weird colors in vertical lines (extends the whole display) and the entire laptop has frozen. I have to force it off with the power button and reboot it. It happens at random times. Is this a symptom of overheating perhaps?
I've done some research online and can't seem to find anyone else experiencing the same issue so I'm thinking I got a bad apple. (;

Before I take it in or send it in, I'm more or less wondering if someone knows what I'm talking about, like having happened on another model Mac and knows if it's due to overheating or something. Thanks!

MacBook Air 11", Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 28, 2010 11:32 AM

170 replies

Oct 31, 2010 9:55 AM in response to Hayth

I've had this issue now happen six times in two days so I called Apple Care and they are shipping me a new unit. It happens randomly. Last time it happened when I tried to connect to External monitor with mini display cable.

I asked them if this seems like a larger issue and so far they say they have only seen spot cases.

I would definitely call Apple ASAP and get a new unit.

Oct 31, 2010 10:00 AM in response to DanRyb

Are any of you using Chrome when it happens?

Because I can't get it to flicker again, no matter what I do. I played six straight hours of Counter-Strike:Source on native resolution last night and still not a single glitch.

Either I'm lucky (that it hasn't happened again) or unlucky (that it hasn't happened again so I can't get the unit replaced). I'm assured that my Air won't crap out suddenly on me...

Oct 31, 2010 10:04 AM in response to DanRyb

I haven't yet had any issues like yours is having but when i first got mine i was able to open the lid and have it start right up. Now when i open the lid i usually have to touch the trackpad or press a button in order to wake it, dont know if this may be related to the screen. Also once i did have the whole screen freeze on my and a small message popped up saying that there has been an error and i need to restart my computer by holding down the power button, as soon as i rebooted i havent had that issue but dont know if any of this involves the screen or not but just thought id share my experience so far just in case.

Thanks!

Oct 31, 2010 10:08 AM in response to Potent Potable

I don't use Chrome at all so I don't think it is related to this issue. It hasn't been consistent for me and I was not able to reproduce it on will. One time I went a full day with no issues. The 'flicker' only happened once however I got a grey and white screen at least four times.

Not sure if you have an external monitor but I was able to reproduce the issue once by trying to connect the air to my imac external monitor through the display cable. The screen just went white and blank.

If it had happened to me only once, I would probably would have dealt with it but 5 times in 3 days is too much of a coincidence.

Message was edited by: Hobokendippy

dwmreg64

Level 1

37 points

Oct 31, 2010 12:12 PM in response to DanRyb

Hey folks.

When your new MacBook Air crashed. Did you get a Kernel Panic? or did it just freeze up and crash?

Kernel panics happen when the screen dims and there is a message that looks like a power button symbol with multiple languages around it.

I'm thinking these are sleep/wake issues.

Oct 31, 2010 1:42 PM in response to Brian Caslis

I am familiar with the "Kernel Panic" error and that was not it. Just blank frozen screens and screens frozen at times with lines through them.

Oct 31, 2010 5:17 PM in response to dwmreg64

Me too, twice in three days, however only crashed the first time. The last time was just a few horizontal coloured lines and flicker, had just come out of sleep, opening tab in safari and adjusting volume at same time caused it.

Pleeease don't say I have to swap my air 😟

Oct 31, 2010 5:25 PM in response to crustythesailor

When I called support they really didn't even try to troubleshoot the issue and just asked if I wanted to swap it. It's on the way back tomorrow first thing. They send you a pre-paid fedex label and ship you a new one. Should be without it for a week. 😟

Seems to be many people with this issue. I really hope the replacement doesn't have the same problem!

rhayne5

Level 1

6 points

Oct 31, 2010 8:41 PM in response to Hobokendippy

My 13.3 Macbook air 2010 isn't working properly either. When I connect my 24 inch gateway LCD display via DVI/mini display port I get garbled graphic artefacts and flickering on my external display. It doesn't matter if I have the air closed or open, mirrored display on or off, the flickering still persists. I've reset the PRAM but it didn't change anything. The air's screen is fine. Anyone else having this issue? When I reduce the external display to a resolution of 1600 x 1200 it sometimes helps the garbled artifacting and flickering that goes on. Opening itunes seems to worsen the problem too!

Nov 1, 2010 9:22 AM in response to DanRyb

Do any of you game? If so, do you experience problems when playing at the highest settings possible? Because I don't, nor when I play 1080p videos.

I can't think of anything more demanding on the video card than games.

Nov 1, 2010 6:50 PM in response to DanRyb

Hey we're famous!

Issue has been reported by Cult of Mac.

http://www.cultofmac.com/video-problems-reported-by-early-macbook-air-adopters/6 7078?utmsource=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utmcampaign=Feed:cultofmac/bFow+%28Cult+ofMac%29

Nov 1, 2010 7:35 PM in response to DanRyb

They posted my video, too!

This isn't how I imagined I'd get my 15 minutes...

Nov 2, 2010 3:09 AM in response to Potent Potable

Just wondering, what build of 10.6.4 are you using? (Click on the  logo -> About This Mac and then click on the "Version 10.6.4" once to show the build number)

Nov 2, 2010 4:15 AM in response to Richard.N

Build 10F569

Mr.Kane

Level 1

0 points

Nov 2, 2010 6:56 AM in response to Hobokendippy

Same Problem here with mine 11.6 1.6 128gb.
my whole screen starts to get these lines over and over.
you cant see any more of the screen.
It is when using usual programs like mail, netnewswire, safari.

I'm going to upload a video later the day.

MacBook Air 11" Screen "Flicker" and Freeze