Q: MacBook Pro 2011 17" hard freeze

too late for me mine are coming next weel

still freezing after 10.6.7 ; itunes is still acting weird, with graphics glitches when full sizing or down sizing the screen. itunes and 11' mbp dont mix

I know I'm late in finding this thread, but I am happy I'm not the only one. A couple people have stated that it is not a good idea to just post and demand on the discussion board, however, I would have never realized the magnitude of the issue that I was having.

A similar malfunction was occurring 7 years ago on my iBook G4, and if it weren't for discussion boards and petitions, Apple would have never recognized the problem as a severe and company-oriented issue.

I run my company on my computer (MacBook Pro 15" 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7), largely using Quickbooks and CS5 - mostly Photoshop and Illustrator - and I depend on my computer for my business. I also need to travel with it for projects, so using a desktop is pretty pointless. Spent quite a bit of money on it, as many of you have, and 4 months later, the problems started to occur.

Originally, the computer would just self shut down, doing minor renderings or simple tasks in Photoshop or Illustrator, like using the paint brush tool on 1 layer (Photoshop). It happened randomly, but eventually progressed to the point where I could even perform the issue in front of the Genius Bar representative.

Apple Store returned my computer with a fresh logic board (as this was the original diagnosis), and the day I brought it home, I started to get a different kind of shut down. This time it was a kernel panic, but did not give me the panic grey screen with the power icon - the screen just went black and keyboard/trackpad froze, and back lights, which I had to force shut down (as opposed to before where computer just shut down on own without power loss).

Went back to Apple Store, spoke to same rep (3 different times), and he suggested it's a software issue since they performed all knowing stress tests on new logic board. I skeptically took his advice, wiped my computer clean, re-installed the OS and left it like that with only iLife '11 installed - which I did not run at this time. I then simply updated my computer's software, etc., and went online using Safari and later Firefox. Within the same day of reinstalling the OS on a clean computer, I was encountering the same shut downs - black screen (this was after all 4 different phone calls to Apple and 3 trips to the Store, with all resets and screensaver turned off, etc., basically everything the reps would run through as tests).

Took it back to Apple Store for 4th time, spoke to a different rep, demanded a new computer. He said he needed to send it to a 3rd party for additional testing, and would take 5 days. Today is the 5th day, and when I went online to check the status of my computer, it said 'ON-HOLD - need additional info, call Applecare'. Called Apple, spoke to 2 reps. Went through entire process again, and while on the phone with my rep, she received an updated phone call from the 3rd party testers. They ran every stress test they could on the hardware, and even the software issues I had them note, and they said there were no issues - days of testing, they said. However, they did the testing overnight, and when they came back they noticed the computer froze (black screen kernel panic), and needed to force shutdown.

My rep said they needed to replace a 'critical component' in the machine, test, and then send it back. I obviously asked what that 'critical component' is, and she could not tell me. She said, if I receive the computer back and have similar issues, then to call back and speak to a chief supervisor giving my case number.

That is where I am at, and of course, extremely frustrated - and falling way behind on my business needs...

Thanks for reading, and for posting on here. People need to hear other people's experiences, and it needs to be documented!

Hi inchwormdesign,

I read your post and I'm asking you to tell us all news that you came to receive about your problem. Your case is interesting because the 3rd party supposedly found the real cause of the MBP hard freeze. I hope your case could help all people affected by this problem and starts showing to apple the dimension of this problem.

Thks

Please keep us posted, I'm going through the same hoops right now... Apple care told me to reinstall everything.

I have a new SSD and cable, they replaced that yesterday but I still have the freeze with the blank screen.

@java and vfortier:

I happen to be going out of town for the next 5 days - will return on the 19th - and hopefully my computer will be back within the next day or so upon my return. I cannot wait to see the diagnostic report and find out what the 'critical component' they replaced - as I said, I have already had the logic board replaced. I originally thought it might have something to do with the graphics card and allocated memory, which would have something to do with why it was primarily shutting down on Photoshop and Flash vids, but I think this is now wrong.

I can only wait and see. When I return and get the computer back, I will certainly post the exact report I receive for you all to see (I hope they give me one).

Thanks!

If they changed the logic board, they changed everything, the CPU, the video card...

this is weirder... hope they find it.

Hello. I've read this forum since two weeks. I wonder, why Apple hasn't answered this Discussion until today and when they will post a statement. I want to buy a new macbook pro too. But since there are still problems, I'm not going to pay over $2000 for a new one. I hope that Apple will find a solution soon, because I need a new notebook for my business and because I'm an Apple-fan, I wouldn't like to buy one from an other producer. Best regards, Andreas

How can this be a hardware issue since it doesn't apear in windows?

This is supposed to be a third party forum but apple has deleted my post. The reason was that it was against the rules. So they are monitoring discussions here. I have made several attempts to purchase a 2011 mac book pro but now I am just watching to see what happens next. I cannot afford to have any problems whatsoever.

Message was edited by: Doye

I was lucky enough last Friday cause the store was out of stock & they told me they will get a new one by Tuesday , then when i went home i found this thread & now i won`t get my new MacBook Pro till i see what happens next cause here a MacBook Pro doesn`t cost 2000 it costs 19,000 so i won`t pay a penny until i`m 100% sure those issues are fixed.

Newb question please be kind:

Are any of the 13" Macbook Pro's getting this problem? as I have had System Crash.

I got a brand new MacBook Pro (A1278) 2.3Ghz, 4GB Ram, bought Logic 9 Express music package, loaded the demo, 2 bars in "Sytem Crash" (cpu overload) , have 20 years experience pulling out hair with Windows music PC's, today I did a Full Update the Firmware to 10.6.7 and 10 App updates, all ok so far, it plays the Demo no problem, and noticed much better CPU performance, BUT how to test for a Hardware Problem that might occour later? how should I test the hardware?

As far as I know, the 13 inch was neverpart of the problem.

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to report back after a week of adding the OS fix.
Haven't had a single issue with my 17" 2.3 since then. Not a single lock up.

Also, there's 4 people where I work who now also have the new macbook pro. 3 15"'s and 1 17" and they also haven't had a single issue since upgrading.

Regards,
Simon