Level 1

21 points

MacBook Pro Logic Board Failure

I was using my computer just fine (2007 MBP core 2 duo) all day. Put it to sleep came back after 30 minutes and tried to wake it and it's dead. I held down the power key to shut it down then tried to restart no luck. No start up chime, no screen, keyboard seems dead as well (caps lock light does not light up), HD does not start up. The only signs of life are the white light on the screen latch that is now on, the fans are spinning and the DVD drive seems to work.

Reset the power management module and zapped the PRAM, no luck.

MBP 2007 Core 2 duo 2.2, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Dec 7, 2010 7:47 AM

Top-ranking reply

dmd25

Level 1

0 points

Posted on Jul 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Sorry! Don't know why the link didn't work.

I think your plan is exactly right. Go get a diagnosis and then take it to Apple and see what you can do to get it fixed. Again, thebhoydave1888's information was very helpful to me (though I ended up not needing anything but the encouragement to try.

This is the page to which I was trying to link:

MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues

Products Affected

MacBook Pro, models with NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processors

Symptoms

In July 2008, NVIDIA publicly acknowledged a higher than normal failure rate for some of their graphics processors due to a packaging defect. At that same time, NVIDIA assured Apple that Mac computers with these graphics processors were not affected. However, after an Apple-led investigation, Apple has determined that some MacBook Pro computers with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor may be affected. If the NVIDIA graphics processor in your MacBook Pro has failed, or fails within four years of the original date of purchase, a repair will be done free of charge, even if your MacBook Pro is out of warranty.

What to look for:

Distorted or scrambled video on the computer screen
No video on the computer screen (or external display) even though the computer is on

Specific products affected:

MacBook Pro 15-inch and 17-inch models with NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processors
- MacBook Pro (17-Inch, 2.4GHz)
- MacBook Pro (15-Inch, 2.4/2.2GHz)
- MacBook Pro (Early 2008)
These computers were manufactured between approximately May 2007 and September 2008

Resolution

If your MacBook Pro is exhibiting any of the symptoms listed above, please take it to an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) for evaluation, or call your nearest Apple Contact Center. Before visiting the Genius Bar at the Apple Retail Store, please make a reservation (available in some countries only).

Apple is issuing refunds to customers who may have paid for repairs related to this issue. Please contact Apple for details on the refund process.

Note: If your MacBook Pro is not experiencing any of these symptoms, you do not need to contact Apple.

Apple will continue to evaluate the repair data and will provide further repair extensions as needed.

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1,419 replies

Helldog

Level 1

8 points

Jan 1, 2011 7:01 PM in response to Arouet

Hi

I have a similar problem with my MBP purchased in Oct 2007 (I live in New Zealand). However, I think it is the Nvidia graphics card (GeForce 8600M GT with all the issues) as when I power on the laptop I get the chime, can hear the hard drive working but nothing on the screen.

This happened to me on 31 Dec and it is also a couple of months out of the applecare warranty period. Hopefully if it is the graphics card then as it is within 4 years from purchase it should be repaired at no cost according to the apple KB article # TS2377.

Can anyone tell me if replacing the graphics card also involves replacing the logic board and if so would the logic board also be covered under the free repairs?

Cheers

tjk

Level 9

51,312 points

Jan 1, 2011 7:06 PM in response to Helldog

Helldog wrote:
Can anyone tell me if replacing the graphics card also involves replacing the logic board and if so would the logic board also be covered under the free repairs?

Yes and yes.

Jan 1, 2011 7:57 PM in response to MalcW

Hello All - just an update on my particular situation since it may help some of you as well.

I did repeatedly zap the P-Ram and did after the third or fourth attempt get a startup sound. I was then able to boot under target disk mode and get an updated backup copy (I had a running backup on a time capsule but a fresh backup is always best).

I took the computer in to the Apple store and the Genius agreed this was consistent with NVIDIA failure - the computer is now getting the full logic board replacement that requires (about $900 of repair) with no charge as per Apple's commitment. I was very impressed by the professionalism of the Apple employees and really had no problems resolving this issue there.

I hope this helps some of you out there with this issue - keep working at it!

tjk

Level 9

51,312 points

Jan 1, 2011 8:12 PM in response to Robert Stone

Hi Robert,

Robert Stone wrote:
I did repeatedly zap the P-Ram

One "process" continually holding the PRAM combination or one attempt, shut down, repeat, etc.?

and did after the third or fourth attempt get a startup sound.

Would you mind clarifying? It booted? Display worked?

I was then able to boot under target disk mode

By holding t key down right after PRAM reset/s? Shutting down and booting again?

Thanks

tjk

Level 9

51,312 points

Jan 1, 2011 8:20 PM in response to Helldog

Helldog wrote:
Thanks. I'll be taking it into the local repair shop tomorrow to look at it. Will report back.

Please do. Did you see Robert's post just prior to yours? He apparently got his MBP to boot into FireWire Target Disk Mode in order to make a backup . . . .

Helen

Well, I guess that at least partially explains the alias. I won't ask about the rest. 😉

Message was edited by: tjk

Jan 2, 2011 6:21 AM in response to tjk

Robert Stone wrote:
I did repeatedly zap the P-Ram

One "process" continually holding the PRAM combination or one attempt, shut down, repeat, etc.?

There were several "hard reset" type shut downs with I think it was 2 intermingled PRAM resets. There was never anything on the screen though I could see the backlight come on. The "sleep light" on the latch glowed steadily. Then once after a restart I let it sit several minutes and noticed the keyboard backlight came on. I think I then did the PRAM reset again - and got a startup sound. Then I let it sit for a bit until the keyboard backlight came on and shut it back down. That's when I again tried the target disc mode boot and it worked. I made a backup copy of the HD as a fresh copy.

and did after the third or fourth attempt get a startup sound.

Would you mind clarifying? It booted? Display worked?

See above - no, the display NEVER came back on though the backlight is on.

I was then able to boot under target disk mode

By holding t key down right after PRAM reset/s? Shutting down and booting again?

This was a separate restart attempt - not right after the PRAM reset / not during the same boot attempt.

Thanks

I hope this helps - good luck!

Jan 2, 2011 3:31 PM in response to Helldog

Hello!

If you are getting a startup chime it may well be the same issue I had - if you have another Mac try booting in target disc mode - just turn off your MBP and then connect it to the other computer with Firewire, then start it up holding the "T" key down. Normally, a symbol appears on the screen to let you know it worked but in this case (if it works) your only indication may be the appearance of the MBP's hard drive on your other computer's desktop. If that works, all signs point to NVIDIA failure and you will likely be covered! Run a backup if you have the disc space and then disconnect like you would from any hard drive by "ejecting" it first. Good luck!

-Bob

Helldog

Level 1

8 points

Jan 2, 2011 9:45 PM in response to Robert Stone

Thanks Bob. I had already dropped my MBP off for servicing so I can't try this option. Unfortunately as it is still a public holiday here the technicians weren't working so it will be sometime on Wednesday before I find out exactly what the situation is.

Will keep you all posted on the outcome.

Cheers
H

Maxio

Level 1

4 points

Jan 3, 2011 6:30 PM in response to Keith Walsh

This Is definitely too coincidental. I too had my 3 year old mbp fail a week ago with the same symptoms. I brought it in and was told that it was the logic board. All the Apple guy did was plug into an external monitor and tried to turn it on. He didn't run any diagnostics or go beyond that. Then he recommended I just buy a new one, since the replacement of the LB was almost as much as a new mbp! not cool! Is there another thread regarding the video issues?

ezee1

Level 1

0 points

Jan 4, 2011 5:05 AM in response to Helldog

the graphics card is part of the logic board, it soldered to it, I had the same problem , apple service replaced the lot, logic board, graphics card & processor, it would of cost $2008, as stated on the invoice, all done for free, make sure u let them know, apple customer service rep had no idea, that there was lawsuit against NVIDIA, and apple was replacing them for free

MalcW

Level 1

35 points

Jan 4, 2011 9:13 AM in response to ezee1

This is really a message to everyone.

It seems clear from all these posts (including mine!) that there are problems associated with both the Nvidia Graphics Chip and the Main Logic board on 3 year old MacBook Pros. It also seems to be a bit of a lottery whether Apple will repair the Nvidia piece FoC or the entire logic board. I'm in the UK and I see that someone in the US saw $2000 or so on the invoice for the complete logic board. Crikes! I had my repair done in a UK Apple Store and the total cost was just over £700 which I guess is around $1100. Luckily for me this was done FoC.

As I said in my post, it was clear to me that the technician really had no clue as to whether it was the Nvidia chip or the entire logic board. Since there was no start up chime etc etc I was fearing that it was the entire logic board that had gone up the swanny. Since I was only days out of my Apple Care Protection Plan I can only assume that the Apple Care guy took pity on me and arranged for the repair to be done FoC. This does suggest to me that Apple IS aware of this problem and, whilst suing Nvidia might be the right thing to do, there does appear to be two issues here.

I agree with those that said this - "No way should one of these expensive machines be failing in such a catastrophic manner after only 3 years".

I'm one of the lucky ones but it seems to me that there are just too many people out there who clearly have been unlucky enough to live in the wrong place.

If Apple is reading these posts it is about time that they acknowledged the problem and simply replaced what appears to me to be faulty logic boards and Nvidia chips. Maybe the Nvidia chip problem causes the Main Logic board to fail. Doesn't matter, it's still Apple's problem and it doesn't look like it's all that isolated.

I can only hope that Apple acknowledges this soon and gets its reputation back in order. After all, if you buy a 17" MBP you're not exactly a beginner!

MalcW

Jan 4, 2011 1:23 PM in response to Robert Stone

hey, its really amazing and of course infuriating I got this MacBook Pro 15" (mid 2007) via ebay only today. After startup all seemed ok. So I didn't wait to get OS 10.6.5 on it. But then all the problems discussed here started, no light on display etc. I then tried what you had practiced, the T-mode, and it worked. Only the display still shows nothing!
So whats next to be done - change the nvidia-card?

anyway happy new year to you guys!

Keith Walsh Author

Level 1

21 points

Jan 4, 2011 1:40 PM in response to MalcW

Spot on MalcW.

I've started the process of dealing with AppleCare on this issue and with my non-DVD burning iMac. Called last night, gave up after almost 30 minutes on hold. Called back today and started with troubleshooting the iMac while also inquiring about the MBP issue. The rep did not know much about the logic board issue ( I filled him in a bit) but was willing to put me through to his manager to further the issue. I didn't have time for that today but will call back.

I will add however that Apple Canada has NO customer relations number (according to AppleCare anyway) that I can call.

I also have not received a reply to my e-mail of two weeks ago.

So the saga continues and I'll keep you posted.

Jan 4, 2011 4:02 PM in response to tante ida

If it boots but does not show anything on the screen it does sound like the NVIDIA card issue - as I understand it the card is part of / soldered to the main logic board so that needs to be replaced. I have no idea how Apple handles that if you are not the original owner - I would print out the information on NVIDIA failure (see my earlier post) and take it along with your MBP to an Apple store if you can. Big bummer that it had this issue right after you got it! Good luck!

Helldog

Level 1

8 points

Jan 4, 2011 7:18 PM in response to ezee1

Hi all

Good news at my end. I've just found out from the service technicians that it was a graphics card failure (and hence logic board replacement) and it is covered 'under warranty'. All going well I should have my computer back up and running by the weekend.

Cheers
H

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MacBook Pro Logic Board Failure