MacBook Pro Logic Board Failure

I will just add this this does not fit the description of the Nvidia graphics issue since the computer does not boot at all. It is not just a display problem. The same issue happened with a friends machine and it required a logic board replacement not covered by warranty. Has anyone else had a similar issue of this type. I know of myself and two other people with the same machine and we have all had logic board failures (one Nvidia related and one not). This is my second Apple board failure in the past couple of years the other being on my iMac G5 (whose board failed twice actually). Getting pretty frustrated with this.

Yes I thought about that and I will try it next when I get a chance. I am not convinced it is the problem however as the power light is not flashing just on with a steady glow. Usually when the RAM is not installed correctly there is flashing and a beeping as well if I remember correctly. Having experienced so many Mac logic board failures recently both first and second hand however I am not optimistic. This has all the typical characteristics of another catastrophic hardware failure.

I had a chance to check the memory. This does not appear to be the problem. I was going to try using target disk mode via my new iMac but then I discovered some genius decided that the new iMacs don't need firewire 400. Since I don' have an 800 cable and I don't know of a single person who does I'll have to track down another machine with a 400 port. Can you sense my growing frustration?

Well I was able to track down another mac with a FW 400 port but no luck. To activate target disk mode I need to be able to hold down the T key while the machine boots. Alas my keyboard does not work. Tried plugging in a USB keyboard but my USB ports are dead as well. The only parts of the computer getting power are the fans and DVD drive.

I certainly share your feelings. I've been a Mac user for over 13 years and it used to be that the machines were rock solid. I still have my old Power Mac 6500 from 1997 that still runs just fine. Of late however I've had nothing but trouble and all of my friends who have bought macs (often based on my recommendation) have had numerous severe problems within a few years of purchase. As I mentioned above my iMac G5 went through two logic board replacements followed by the replacement of its display (along with all the connectors and associated subassemblies). My MacBook Pro has gone through two defective batteries and now a total failure. Unfortunately, while I had AppleCare it expired in June.

This is similar to what I had to do with my G5 iMac though I went through AppleCare not CR. I'll probably wait until after the holidays however before I decide what to do. This process can be pretty arduous and I'm not sure I have any more time/energy to waste dealing with Apple right now.

To get my iMac fixed I had to

1) Take my mac to the nearest AASP about 1 h away ( 2 h round trip)

2) Call Applecare, speak to two different people, argue for 1.5 hours which was not a fun experience especially when the higher ranking AppleCare rep tried to convince me that I should have no expectation that a 2 year old $1500 computer should be reliable (that's when I got pretty ticked off I must admit, I mean how naive did he think I was?). Anyway I won a partial victory there.

3 ) Call back the AASP with the authorization to order the part.

4) Wait for the part to arrive....

5) Wait for the repair (all this took about 1.5-2 weeks)

6) Drive another 2 h to pick up the machine

7 ) About 2-3 weeks later the machine failed again

8 ) Call back the AASP

9 ) Drive another 2 h to return the iMac

10) Wait another 1-2 weeks for the new parts to arrive and the repair to be done

A while later the display began to fail showing lines across the screen

11 ) Call AppleCare again. Spend about 30 minutes on the phone

12 ) Call the AASP again to arrange another repair

13 ) Drive another 2 h

14 ) Wait 1-2 weeks to get my machine fixed

15 ) Drive another 2 h to bring it home again.

The thought of going through all that again for yet another machine...well I don't look forward to it and frankly I don't think I should have to do it. Anyway I'm still considering what to do but I'd actually like to enjoy the holidays first.

I'm curious. Did your hard drive actually fire up when you tried to restart the dead computer? I know that when my friends machine had the Nvidia issue the machine just appeared to be dead but in reality just the display was not working. He was able to remotely access the machine as it still booted just without any display.

Message was edited by: Keith Walsh

Thanks Malcom for the info.

I'm having another great day in Mac land. Seems my new iMac's "super drive" can't seem to burn a DVD without a communication error between the computer and the drive.