MacBook Pro 2011 17" hard freeze

dear all

it seems that i have the same issue

i have a macbook pro 15" early 2011 2.0ghz i7 with ati radeon 6490M graphic processor

my problem started a week ago when i used my mac for graphic use software when all of a sudden the screen started to split in half and my mac freezes.

and after that the mac keeps freezing in startups with the gray screen

when i tried to safe boot, my mac occasionally comes up with a blue screen

i've tried all the recomended suggestion through the internet.

1. safe mode
2. fsck -fy
3. reinstall ing osx
4. reseting NVRAM

i even tried to clean the memories and dust by removing the cover and i havent changed my RAM

my mac book was being used on common uses and never been droped

after reinstaling OSX from the box my first thought that it solve the problem.... but after finsihed installing nothing changed and my macbook keeps freezing on startups and wont budge

it's quite a shock that a lot of people have the same issues. and to know tha my "pro" apple device just died without any warnings

= if your computer stops or delays while starting up

Try these suggestions:

• If your computer starts up after a brief delay or displays a question mark while starting up, you may need to select a startup disk. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Startup Disk, and select a drive.

Open Startup Disk preferences

If you see a white screen with the Apple logo and a progress bar, Mac OS X is checking your hard disk. This check could take a few moments.

If you start up your computer and the Apple logo doesn’t appear, shut it down by holding down the power button for about 10 seconds. Then hold down the Option key and start up your computer again. Keep holding down the Option key until one or more disk icons appear on your screen. Then select one of the disks. After your computer starts up, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Startup Disk, and choose a disk.

Repair your startup disk by starting up from your Mac OS X installation disc and using Disk Utility.

Repairing a disk

Restart your computer in safe mode, which repairs your startup disk and deletes some caches that may contain incorrect information.If your computer successfully starts up in safe mode, choose Apple menu > Restart to restart normally.

Starting up in safe mode

Disconnect all peripheral devices, including FireWire and USB devices. Connect an Apple keyboard and mouse to a USB port. Do not use hubs or extension cords.If you can use your computer now, there may be a problem with one of the other devices. Try reconnecting the other devices, one by one, to your computer. When you find the device that causes the problem, review its documentation for further troubleshooting steps.

Uninstall all third-party hardware upgrades, such as random-access memory (RAM) modules, PCI cards, and ExpressCard/34 cards.If you can use your computer now, there may be a problem with one of the upgrades. Try reinstalling the upgrades, one by one, to your computer. When you find the upgrade that causes the problem, review its documentation for further troubleshooting steps, or contact the manufacturer.

Reinstall Mac OS X by starting up your computer with your Mac OS X installation disc.




Reinstalling Mac OS X

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/8751.html

Hey folks,

I have (or had) the same problem as all of us have. I wrote about my experience a few weeks ago and I am following quite a few discussions here and in other forums. I would like to post my experience and opinions after reading and learning a lot. And: There is hope!

My MacBook and official repair offers

I am in Germany, got a 15 inch MacBookPro 8,2, 2,2 Ghz Quad-Core (new around 2.500 Euro). It was 28 month old when the glitches appeared first. It took quite a long time to discover the problem: dedicated GPU. I went to an Apple Premium Reseller who offered me a repair for 680 Euro after first giving me hope for a free out-of-warranty repair covered by Apple. I had many discussions with Apple in Stores and on the phone with Apple Care and the most important Apple people I could be able to talk to (as they said – but they did not make me feel happy at all). Finally the cheapest offer was changing the entire logicboard for 490 Euro. (In Germany there is no 320 USD repair flat.)

Is this the right way of a premium manufacturer treating its customers?

No. At the end and from the customer’s point of view it is a complete denial of Apples responsibility and not acceptable. It is not accordable with the promise of quality and service. I do not want to comment on that in detail. Everyone should decide for her- or himself, if she or he buys an Apple product again.

I also thought about changing and boycott Apple, but apart from this incident my overall experience with Macs is great, furthermore I have so many licences for Mac software and other infrastructure, libraries for photos and music… it would cost me much time and money to change – and MacBooks are the ******* best notebooks I have ever used.)

What about the workarounds and software solutions?

Workarounds with GfxCardStatus or removing the driver for the dedicated GPU (so that it cannot be accessed and is completely deactivated) are described in detail in this forum. And they are ok for a while, to get back a running system after the first shock. If you get your machine running on the Intel chip only it will stay stable (in case of using GfxCardStatus booting might be an adventure, but from the point the software started it’s going to work).

But hey, it’s absolutely not an acceptable solution: You did not buy a machine like that to run it on low graphics power and without the ability of connecting an external display or projector.

Stop trying to find the failure with re-installing the system and changing things, it’s waste of time.

Apple repair or not?

At first I would have spent the money regarding the value of the machine, but the problem was: In case of replacement they always use boards produced the same time and way the defective boards where produced. (Maybe minor things might be changed during the production time of this board model, I do not know.) So there is a high risk that the problem occurs again with the replacement board, as a few of you experienced and reported here. You can be “lucky” getting the problem during the (ridiculous but common) warranty of 3 month. Being lucky in this case means that you have to run to Apple several times and leave your MacBook there for a couple of days until you might get finally a board that seriously works. If the glitches reappear when you are out of the repair warranty you will be ****** up.

What’s the real problem behind the glitches?

I tried to find out what the real problem is (of course I cannot assure this for each and every case): The GPU or the logicboard are not defective, it is just the solder connections between the GPU and the board that get tiny cracks/fissures over the time (with changing temperatures).

But why is it possible that these connections crack? I am not a real technician, but I am interested in this stuff and I spoke to people who know a bit more about that, so my theory: It’s not the first time that a computer manufacturer builds solder connections between modules on a mainboard. But what changed within the last years: Apple (and others) have been criticized for the environmental impact of their products and the production process, the public had a look at that and new laws appeared, so the manufacturers started to bring the life cycle impact into focus. Now it looks like the “environmental impact” is improved. (in Apple’s case they made a nice presentation you can find here http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/environment/)

Now MacBooks comply with standards and do not contain certain “dangerous and toxic” substances.

Now, for example, they do not use lead anymore. (In the European Union it is officially forbidden for solder connections in electronic products since 2006. It is only allowed for connections that have to feature a strong durability, for example in certain medical products). The main objective of using lead for solder connections is to prohibit embrittlement and cracks in the connection. It is hardly possible to get the same quality without lead. Looks like the problem here.

I am very interested in (environmental) sustainability. But regarding the consequences and the way defective boards are “repaired” by being replaced I would see this approach as counterproductive.

What alternative repair options exist?

The official way is replacing the mainboard. With the big disadvantage that it’s expensive and the much bigger disadvantage that there always is a risk that you will get a board that is also affected and the glitches reappear again after the warranty on the repair (see above) – and the disadvantage that it produces waste by changing parts that are not defective.

There is a better way:

I do not talk about crazy methods like how to “cook logicboards” – however they are no witchcraft: It might “refresh” the solder connections and might help for a while, maybe for a long time, but it’s never sure if and how long it helps. And seriously: It takes you hours to demount the whole machine if you are not familiar with that.

I looked for something professional and found a few small companies on the Internet offering such repairs, but I was afraid sending my machine to someone I do not know. Fortunately I finally found one not far from where I live, in Wuppertal (Germany), called MJ Computer. I visited Markus who runs the company specialised on things like that, doing a lot of notebook repairs like that and work for Hifi companies like Onkyo. He told me that he had this case already a few times and explained me exactly what he is going to do to get it repaired:

• removal of the GPU from the logic board
• removal of the old solder connections from GPU and logic board
• cleaning of all parts
• assembling of new thermal paste (in the right amount, originally there is too much used from Apple’s assemblers)
• assembling of new solder connections (containing lead)
• assembling of the GPU
• cleaning of the mainboard and the cooling parts
• stress tests

The result: I got back a working machine with 6 month warranty on the work. The hardware is still the same, old board, old GPU. The connections are now soldered with lead, because it’s recommended for a higher durability and to eliminate the risk of embrittlement – so I pleased him to do so.

I paid 100 Euro for the repair and I have got a much better feeling than with a replacement board after having learned all that about the origin of the failure and after having read your stories.

That’s what I can recommend: Search for companies like MJ Computer Wuppertal, write Markus an e-mail, make a repair order and you will get back a working machine. His website is in German only, but under “Impressum” you find a phone no., mail and postal address. I have been there and it’s a very trustworthy company.

I hope that I can help you with that, I was extremely frustrated and I am very glad now that my problem is finally solved. I would appreciate to here from you if you can share my experience.

Cheers.

I posted this (below) on the now infamous discussion group:

2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=0&tstart=0

Maybe it is also helpful here:

Dear all 2011 MacBook Pro wallahs,

I thought I should add my two pennies’ worth to the great dGPU debate or what I have become accustomed to calling my macLife crisis (the stress and anxiety my early 2011 MBP has caused me is not quantifiable). I am a self-employed designer from the UK currently residing in Sweden and I am exclusively dependent on my early 2011 17” MBP for my livelihood.

I should start by saying I've been an ardent Mac customer for 20 years (I’ve spent small personal fortune on Apple products in that time) and I am writing this from my trusted 2003 PowerBook G4 17" running OS X 10.5.8, slow but it works. Up until 2011 I used this PowerBook as my workhorse from morning to night 7 days a week (running CAD and modeling software). I have owned various Macs since 1994 and all outlived their functionality (that is why I have never bothered with Applecare), hence my decision to part with large wad of cash in my next investment which I purchased from the Swedish online Apple Store with the following spec:

• Model Name: MacBookPro 8,3
• Model no: A1297
• Currently running: OS X Mavericks (Supplied with OS X 10.6, this version was installed when first logic board failed)
• Processor: 2.3GHz quadcore intel core i7
• Memory: 8GB
• Hard drive: 750GB @ 5400
• Disp: 17" with antiglare
• SMC Version (system): 1.70f6
• iGPU: Intel HD Graphics 3000 graphics processor
• dGPU: AMD Radeon HD 6750M, 1 GB dedicated GDDR5 memory
• Keyboard: Swedish
• Purchase date: 26th March 2011 (or 34months old, less 1 month repair time)
• Paid: 27,545SEK (4,317USD or 127USD a month)

At this point it is import for me to highlight that I am a very cautious individual. I have been very meticulous with the administration of and general upkeep of all my Macs to help eliminate any mishaps. Since the first day I received this machine I have had it propped up on a cooling pad(purchased from Apple store) to ensure adequate air circulation to prevent overheating and plugged it into a surge protector. In fact, I move this machine maybe twice a year (when traveling to and from summerhouse an hour away), it has remained stationary (akin to desktop) for most of its life. All of which only compounds my frustration. Also, as work has been scarce I have never really had a chance to work this machine the way I did my PowerBook. I would say I use around 20hrs a week (less still post logic board replacement) for mostly admin stuff (nothing that I can think of that has pushed the graphics performance). From day one this MBP crashed at least once a week, compare this to my 17”PB which crashed 3 times in 7 years, amazing. Then the first major incident, on starting the MBP one morning the apple logo came up and then suddenly disappeared as if going into sleep mode. As the keyboard lights were still on and I could still hear the processor cooling fans I assumed it may be a display problem, so I shone a LED lamp through the apple logo (behind display) and I could see the login window. I managed to connect an external monitor and the innards worked fine. As I live on an island (5 hrs by ferry and coach from Stockholm, 1 direction), an Apple Genius Bar was not an option (I don't think we have one yet in Sweden anyway), but luckily I found an Apple Authorised Service Provider 20mins away. They ran some diagnostic tests and found some faulty fuses that had something to do with the displays background lighting (‘Felet ligger i backgrundsbelysningens säkring på moderkortet’, make of that what you will). After some haggling they managed to convince Apple that these repairs had to be carried out at their expense due to Swedish Consumer Laws, which requires 2 years guarantee on all electrical components. This resulted in the following:

• Logic board replaced: 25^th Aug 2012 (or after 17months, now 17months old) 11050SEK or 1732USD
• Display assembly replaced: 25^th Aug 2012 (or after 17months) 7550SEK or 1183USD

Incidently, I was told that if I had to pay for this it would have cost me 20000SEK or 3135USD. Since this repair I have been even more cautious with it. Seven months later my hard disk died (hence the crashing):

Hard disk replaced: 19^th March 2013 (or after 24months, paid 1280SEK or 200USD) by the same Apple Authorised Service Provider.

I had read about the AMD GPU problems a week or two ago and thought to myself ‘luckily I have a new Logic board in mine, this won’t affect me’. How foolish do I feel now? Last Saturday night, having 'shared to file' a 10min home movie (low res) in iMovies, it suddenly appeared, the dreaded black screen. I then forced shutdown and got the grey screen on restart. I tried booting from the recovery disk but got a deep blue screen instead. I then shutdown and tried a number startup functions which I have learnt over the years. These included the following:

• Reset NVRAM (Option-Command-P-R).
• Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC: Shift-Control-Option and power button).
• Start up in Safe Boot mode and temporarily disable login items (Press Shift during startup)resulting in deep blue screen.
• Start up in Verbose mode (Press Command-V during startup).

All of the above had no impact. The next morning I tried booting again and it worked. I quickly did a time machine backup and then, having read this now infamous discussion group, downloaded and installed the ‘gfxCardStatus’ app and set it to integrated only. I also deactivated the Automatic graphics switching option in the energy settings for both Battery and Power Adapter(switching seems to be the instigator here). Later in the day the problem reappeared, this time instigated by the Display sleep option, which I later set to ‘Never’. By Tuesday I was permanently stuck in the dreaded grey screen (in my case things have deteriorated very quickly). I had by then discovered the following options:

• Booted in Single-user mode to check for possible file system issues (/sbin/fsck -fy). All seemed fine and still no joy!
• Booted in Single-user mode again and managed to move the AMD extension files (for dGPU) to another folder and eureka!!!

I had managed to devolve my MacBook Pro into a Macintosh Portable (showing my age, very slow refresh rates). It now thinks I have an external screen connected (hence blue tint to everything) but I was finally able to Zero my private files, music, photos, etc so that I can eventually hand it in to the same Apple Authorised Service Provider. I have now spent the best part of 3 days perusing the web to find a feasible solution, preferably endorsed by Apple and have found nothing. I have found plenty who have paid a lot of money for a new logic board only for the problem to reoccur either immediately or progressively, but return it does. This would make sense as, I am guessing, the logic boards they are installing were manufactured at the same time as the ones in our MBPs. Other clever individuals have managed to bake their AMD Radeon Chip with a hairdryer (I guess this closes fractures in the solder), curing the problem for the short-term, but this is way beyond something I would dare. I am a layperson when it comes to the complexities of computers but the following questions need to be answered by Apple:

• Has the performance of the AMD Radeon Chip been tweaked through the various OS X revisions causing it to generate higher temperatures? This may be why the lead-free solder is failing (if it is).
• Is there a problem with the performance of the lead-free solder the AMD Radeon chip (dGPU)is seated on? Fractures in the lead-free solder would make sense of why this problem is instigated when switching from the iGPU to dGPU and why it gets progressively worse (like small tear in jeans, it is inevitable it will get bigger). I also wonder if great temperature shifts would exacerbate such a problem.
• And my last question may be really stupid, so clever techies out there please excuse me. Would it be possible to reduce the performance rates of the dGPU so that it generates less heat? This might help before the logic board is replaced.

I’m not really expecting Apple to answer these because doing so would admit guilt, but I am hoping an Old-timer at Cupertino may advise us anonymously.

I honestly believe Apple Computers would have addressed this issue by now but I am not expecting an olive let alone a branch from Apple Inc. One thing that is very evident is that Apple Inc has been very quiet! I am really none the wiser as what to do. We really need Apple to look in to this and come up with a viable economic solution (they’ve had over a year to do this). Changing the logic board prior to this would be futile.

A dream solution would be for Apple to offer, for a limited time, those who are still under guarantee to exchange their MBPs for a new equivalent and the same to those out of guarantee but for the price of a new logic board and installation.

I was hoping next year to invest in a Mac Pro but now I am just paranoid it will end up being a very expensive waste paper bin (might go well with my new expensive paperweight).

One place I think I will start is by drowning my sorrows :’(

Thanks JavaX

i think i got the new one :-/

Yesterday i got another "highlight" ... within my described "lagging" or "stucking"-problem i got graphic-failures. unbelievable :-/ looking something like the screenshot.. but only 1cm x 1cm in the upper right (and no gaming at this time - just on desktop)

P.S I´ve also made an RAM-Test with "Rember" - no failures - also does a HDD-Test with apple-onboard-tool -- no failures. it´s getting me crazy 🙂

some of you are looking in "logs" to see kernel panics etc... where can i find these? sorry - but my first mac

After a few minutes in my lap after a clean start during the time machine backup this happened:

The screen displaced itself a few inches to the left, wrapping around.

This is a machine just returned from the shop with an exchanged logic board! I'm furious right now.

Don't be so happy yet - I tried method described here and it didn't freeze my macbook. But still - some games and things heavy on graphics (even youtube movies) did cause the freezing. I found picture I made of the screen during one of those freezes - the music did play in the background and I could move the mouse cursor but that's it (plus those "pixels" that show up on the screen just before it freezes)

There seems to be a few different problems mixed in this thread, but let me add mine.

My environment:

* MacBook Pro 17" (Early 2011) 2.3GHz Intel Core i7 / 8GB RAM / AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1024 MB

* Mac OS X 10.7.1

I attach my MBP to an external display (EIZO FlexScan S2000) with mirroring mode (via Planex's mini display port to VGA adaptor (PL-MDPVG02)).

Sometimes, just right after activating mission control using 3 finger swipe up action, screen contents are messed up and frozen (see the attached image).

I am still able to move cursor, but clicks and keyboard actions are ignored.

I can login via SSH, but cannot reboot or shutdown (the command seems to be accepted, but nothing happened for over 30min).

So, I have to press and hold the power button to turn off MBP. This occurs two, three times a week.

And when it occurs, the following messages are output to kernel.log.

Sep 1 13:04:55 x kernel[0]: ** Device in slot: SLOT--1 **

Sep 1 13:04:56 x kernel[0]: ** GPU Debug Info Start **

Sep 1 13:04:56 x kernel[0]: 0x00006741

Sep 1 13:04:56 x kernel[0]: 0x0000008f

Sep 1 13:04:56 x kernel[0]: 0x00000001

Sep 1 13:04:56 x kernel[0]: 0x00000018

(continues...)

Hello all,

I bought a refurbished 2011 Macbook Pro 15" 2.3 i7 from the Apple online store. It froze from the get go while setting up my initial account. The first freeze was a blue screen with black lines accross the screen. I had to reset using the power button. After that it would not load and I heard a repeating 3 beeps from the computer. I decided it may be a ram issue, maybe was loose during shipping, so I opened the case and reinserted the ram. To my surprise it had 8GB of ram, when I bought a 4 GB machine? Anyways, the computer booted as normal and I was able to set up an account and start using the machine. An hr into using it, I downloaded skype, opened it and it froze. Screen seemsed to shift, there were horizontal lines accross the screen, and I could move the mouse cursor, but that was all I could do. I restarted the machine with the power button, reloaded skype and it did not freeze. I figured they were both random freezes and left it at that. The next morning I connected my macbook to my LG LED tv using an HDMI to miniDP cable. I stared to watch the pbs newshour and within a minute the screen locked up like during the skype freeze and I could still hear the audio from the stream. I restarted the computer 3 separate times and each time it froze. I called apple, did the usual reinstall osx, reset pram, reset smc, but I could keep making it freeze. Most of the time it froze rather quickly,but sometimes I could put it under heavy stress and it would keep on working. I called apple, and they are letting me return the machine on a DOA return. I then bought a brand new machine using my military discount and hoping a new one will not have the same issues as this refurbished machine. What ***** is that I am stationed in Germany, so I have to wait most likely another week and a half to recieve the new machine and test it to make sure its not a dud. All this is to replace my 2008 macbook pro who's logic board died a month after my 3 year warrenty expired.

Oh, and one more thing. I installed gfxCardStatus and it will freeze on both graphic card types. I checked the system information and it seems like I have one of the older SATA 3 GB link speed logic boards. Are the newer 6GB SATA mbp's freezing as well? Here is one more picture of it freezing on my tv.

Hi ,

Apple does nothing! Here's a picture where the problem really is . Bad production !! Of course they will tell you it's your fault and it is the soft , blablabla ...

Here is the solution : Warm up your oven 200 C , take your logic board out , here is how .

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Unibody+Early+2011+Lo gic+Board+Replacement/5899/1

CLEAN the graphic card and processor , because this is where the trouble started , bad production of Apple' factory in China !

Put your logic board (take the woofer out) in the oven for exactly 8 min (timer) take it out and let cool of...

Put new thermal paste on the graphic card and processor ...

Re-assemble ...

First start up take's a while , but after 10 sec .... bvaaaaaaaam apple sound !

And you know what , for the skepticals , you have nothing to loose .

Funny thing is that my mac book early 2011 now is performing on 37 degrees C , before 72 degrees , all the time .

My legs where red as the "Laptop"warmed up .

Pictures of my early 2011 before , after

Thank you Apple to letting me down on this !

And a bit more info that "proves" this is a manufacturing issue.

This is an INSANE amount of thermal paste!!!! Poor POOR quality control by Apple.

Here's how to apply thermal paste properly.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/PDF/appmeth/amd/md/amd_app_method_middle_dot_v1.3.pd f

See a difference?

If anyone has a way to forward this to Apple...let us know. I'm starting to loose it!

After the Apple "repairs":

After a few minutes of normal "lap-top" use, the fans start running fast and the bottom gets very hot.

So using gfxCardStatus, I have forced it to use the integrated graphics. I need discreet card only when connected to the cinema display and then the laptop is on table & not on lap. This has basically solved the heat issues & hopefully will not make the chip melt the solder or burn the chip.

I'm from Thailand and my computer(Macbook pro early 2011 2.0Ghz) also had this problem around 3 months ago.

at first it start with a line on the screen

and has a blue screen with a vertical line in a week later.

and cannot boot up the OS anymore(after apple logo apear on the screen it's only a white plain screen and stop)

I sent an email and I recieved a call from apple Singapore in the next day .(there are no apple office in Thailand)

They just try to help me investigate about the problem and try to insist that it's might be a different problem with people around here. They started with asking me to booting up safemode and booting up with OSX cds and then a hardware testing process(the result is no problem found). After that they celled me and ask me wether I upgraded my macbook pro or not and I told them I did replace a Ram so thet want me to replace an apple Ram and check the computer but It's not work. The staff from apple authorize service provider assume that the problem should be logic board and to replace it cost around 300us$. Today a staff from apple singapore have just called me and told me that there is not enough report from users and do not have a recall or free repairing program yet so I have to pay 300$ if I want to fix my computer.

I decided not to repair it because I'm not sure how long that new logic board can be use and to buy a new computer is might be a better choice for me(also has deteriorate battery and DVD drive problem).

I'm a product designer student and I have many friend who use macbook pro early 2011 and already broken within two and a half years.

One of my friend who studying landscape design in different University told me that he has 9 freinds who use macbook pro early 2011 and now 6 of 9 is broken but they all decided to sell their computer as a part.

I don't think this problem is normal for HI-End computer and I'm very angry about wasting my money to buy this computer.

Bad Apple.

<Email Edited By Host>

@GregD.MacUser

On the other thread (was deleted) you asked about gfxcardstatus

Once you manage de boot the computer (migh takes dozens of tries to go past the login screen), remove the power cord, quickly close any applications that could use the discrete card, install gfxcardstatus.

Yes it shows what card is used but you can use it to FORCE a card to be used. Sometimes I have to select 'Integrated only' many times because it switches back to automatic. But once it's set, it works.

I'm been running my computer like this for a month now. Working and even doing video work (it's slooooooow) The computer MUST NOT SHUTOFF, else your back to trying your luck at booting again.

hope this helps.

you can also make sure that in the power setting you have «graphics: better battery life» selected. It's the integrated card vs discrete.