Q: MacBook Pro Logic Board Failure

I installed Mountain Lion the day it came out, and now my MacBook Pro 2010 has a damaged video card.

I have been using it as a desktop (external keyboard/mouse/monitor) so I didn't notice it overheating.  I (like many) would expect that Apple would design their laptops properly, but obviously they don't.  I took it in but I don't have AppleCare so they want to charge me $500.00.  There's no way I am paying for this. 

Users shouldn't have to run temperature probes and fan controls to keep their computer from failing.  If it needs more fans to keep cool, they should put them in and have thermal protection that automatically shuts down the computer.  There's more to designing a good computer than aesthetics.

There are lots of people reporting issues, yet I have seen nothing official from Apple.

Alex

I had the same problem about 3 months ago. I installed  lion and right after the installation MBP restarted and never came back. I took it to a mac store and one of the so many "GENIUSES" at the genius bar, said that the machine had to be sent o

The question is, don't they know that by installing an new operating system, some machines will get damage? and if this happens why do they still charge us for something they cause? I think is just not fair.

I love macs and for the past 10 years I've been sugesting macs to my friends, but after replasing my MBP's battery and logic board in a period on 1 year, I am thinking on the big mistake I made on having my friends buy a mac. I also own iMac, and iMac Pro, the iMac have been fixed 2 times, and hard drive, screen.

the same thing happened to me

every OS has more junk packed on to it

as if anybody could memorize all these useless functions

we just need lean a reliable operation systems not bloatware

so these cheap chinese reject components won't overheat and fail

I feel cheated and ripped off - apples days are counted

Hi everyone,

As many of you, I am affected by the logic board issue (diagnosed by a genius and with the symptoms detailed here: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377?viewlocale=en_US).

I live in France and what Apple has been doing is absolutely illegal since the 4-year limit doesn't apply here (it's 20 years in France and one has 2 years after the discovery of the latent defect to ask for a compensation or be paid back).

I have read other's people posts here and it seems to be illegal at least in the UK as well.

I have sent a registered letter to Apple a few days ago explaining the case, citing the "Code Civil" (French common law).

The answer I was given had no relation with the context and the issue (it was signed by Guy H.). I was shocked to receive an automated to answer to a very precise, concrete and well-known issue.

I was really disappointed. I am a loyal customer and they could see with my Apple ID that I had bought: 3 MBP 15", 1 MBP 13", 1 iPad, 7 iPhones, 2 iPods (about €14,000, not to mention the apps and OS). But still, nothing.

I was given a file number and decided to call Apple Executive Customer Relations in Ireland.

I spent about 20 minutes on the phone with a guy named Patrick from Apple.

If you guys have another solution, let me know.

<Edited By Host>

Hi - My laptop started on its own with severe glitches on the video and random restarts. Removed Montain Lion and installed Lion again - Works much better.

Hate the buggers at the Maple Service center in Mumbai - they diagnosed it as a Logic Board failure problem - when all it was Mountain Lion ******* my system up. This would have costed me $700 if I had the money then.

Thanks everybody for the support and help!

My late 2008 MBP logic board (so technically not part of the NVidia issue batch) failed on the same evening I just installed Mountain Lion a few weeks back.

Anyone got any ideas / theories as to why a new version of an OS would cause a physical piece of hardware to fail?  Strikes me as either:-

• Complete coincidence, or
• MBPs having an underlying reliability issue across ALL logic boards which eat away at the life of the logic board, and finally something in Mountain Lion's architecture "pushes it over the edge"

I am, as many here are, quite upset and disappointed in the reliability of the MBP.  As mine did not have one of the offending NVidia chips on the logic board, I had no choice but to pay for the new logic board replacement.  This thread seems to suggest to me that aside from the NVidia issue, there is a general reliability across the board for MBP logic boards.

By the way, at least we're all getting Apple's attention on this thread considering two posts up, wcone's post has been edited (and maybe mine will too...)

Thanks gggtraveller, Apple is censoring me. I had a screenshot of the original message.

<Link Edited By Host>

There is another thread about this that says 'It seems as though the fans don't kick on until the machine is 15 degrees warmer than it used to be when the fans kicked on':

https://discussions.apple.com/message/19110267#19110267

Another thread mentions a KB article that explains how to reset the System Management Controller (SMC) and solved the issue for some users of overheating and the fans not running when they should:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4136604?start=0&tstart=0

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

The SMC is responsible for Thermal management.  I tired this, but it was too late as my board was already damaged.

I suggest everyone monitor their temperatures.  One option is: http://www.bresink.de/osx/TemperatureMonitor.html

If it's running too hot and you want to increase the minimum speed of the fan, try smcFanControl.  This won't ensure that your fans are running properly when your computer is under load, but it will allow you to change how fast they run when the computer thinks they should be running at the slowest speed.  If you find that your computer runs hot even when idle, try this:

http://www.eidac.de/

Alex

Hi,

FWIW, just took my 2007 MBP to Genius Bar for assessment (screen did generally not come on, like the logic board failure issue) and 24 hours later I eventually got Apple to agree that it was covered and would be fixed free of charge.

Bought it in June 2007, logic board failed in Sep 2008, and they "graciously" agreed to replace it then for no charge.

Then a few weeks ago it went again - 4 years later - so I assumed it was over for it.  However reading the various threads around the web, it seems people are still getting these replaced for no charge in the store.

After having the machine for a day I got a call, saying it was the logic board, I would need to pay £400+ to get it fixed.  Obviously I said no to that - not worth it.  I did ask whether its covered under the Apple/Nvidia repair program and the answer was no.   I asked to speak to a supervisor.  When they called back, was told the same thing, I kept on about the Nvidia repair program and asked for details about the part I had originally and the part they replaced it with - the initial genius said that the new part should have not had the issue... in the end they agreed to speak with their colleagues to double check the situation.  I then got a call back - seems they are still being repaired for free and the supervisor was not aware of it. I am now typing this reply on my returned/working MBP - now to test it out, Warcraft, methinks...

Good luck,

Chris

they are starting to delete my posts now lol. thanks apple....:D

They deleted mine too!!!!! hehehehehehehe in other words they are saying, shut up!

<Edited By Host>

hi pabrew,

i am having exactely the same problem, 3 years after paying apple 1,800 pound for a mac pro, bought in summer 2009, i am left with a dead machine, exactly the same symptoms you reported, a tech guy told me it is very likely the logic board. i contacted apple uk to see if they would acknowledge that 3 years is a little short for such an expensive machine to die like that, they said the warranty has expired therefore i will have to pay for the replacement of the logic board, circa £700.  i have posted about a dozen topics like this one and apple keeps deleting my posts and those of the people who immediately responded to my thread saying they had the same experience. you are right, there are thousands and thousands of people in our very same situation. i am in the uk too, i wanted to ask you whether you had any joy with the legislation 'fit for purpose' at all?

*****

<Edited by Host>

I guess we all be doing this in the near future!!!

5348567_700b.jpg

Yeah ... censored too.  I've spent so much money, both personally and on University labs over more than 20 years (spent too much time on the first dark castle when i should have been writing up my PhD) ... I don't normally like this term ... but this "*****" ...

Edit what's wrong with suck_s?