Q: MacBook Pro 2011 17" hard freeze

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...)

I don't know if this is of use to anyone as the thread seems to be about hardware issues, but I found a fix for my freeze issue.

I have an early 2011 MacBook Pro connected to a 27" Cinema Display. I was getting the freezes described in the thread, namely: Graphics freezing, cursor still moving, no app responding, freezing on log in, etc and the only way to resolve was to do a hard reset.

I did the following and my freeze problems have gone (48 hours now):

1. Installed smcFanControl (Fan revs high)

2. Installed gfxCardStatus (Although it defaults to Discrete due to connection to the Cinema Display, but I left it on Discrete, anyhow)

Neither of these made any real difference. On a whim I decided to:

3. Remove Spophos Anti Virus - Voila! Everything started working!

Since then I installed a copy of VirusBarrierX6 to see if it was a general anti virus issue but no problems and everthing is working as it should be. I've even returned smcFanControl back to default.

I've tried to load up the processor to see if that was the issue, but running all cores with yes > /dev/null & and running Parallels with multiple apps open didn't put a dent in it. Fans went crazy but I still couldn't freeze it.

Been good for 48 hours now. I'll let you know if it changes.

Hey guys

Just bought this Macbook Pro 15" (used) but its an primo 2011 too, and r unfortunately having the same freeze problems as all of u Ive had Macbook for 3 years now and loved my 13" Macbook - but wanted to upgrade it to something bigger. Ive have NEVER ever had any problems at all with the 13" Macbook, so Im very sad to realize the problem on the Pros. No wonder so many used (and not used for long) r sold here in Denmark - wish I knew before

So please Apple if u dont wanna loose u good reputation fix this problem, either by letting us have new hardware if thats the problem or fixing an update. I tried the recently update, but nothing worked

My lappy usually end up freezing when I close a program after gaming - World of Warcraft, Mumble aso - or in the middle of the game (this time I have only been playing a couple of hours when it happened - and the fan wasnt going mad at all).

Mette / Denmark

I have MBP2008 for over 2000Eur..So far worked perfectly.No issue,until OS Lion was installed.Then whole system crashed.I tried to reformat HD and reinstall snow leopard back but system still freezing .I can move with mouse but can't click or do anything.Just hard restart is necesary.Sometimes it is also hard to boot OSX.

I had a plan to buy another MBP but after this problem I would put hands off  Apple same as Apple put hands of  customers.

Just cheap Acer that was bought in 2003 still working fine.I can't believe that Apple failed.

Hope that Apple wake up and fix this problem asap.  :-(

MacBook Pro 17" (Early 2011) 2.3GHz Intel Core i7 ，ssd.

mac os 10.7.1

4 weeks old machine. i tried app store and the ''genius'' can you fix it.

i called app care, after erased and reinstall mac os, it still happens.

i am not playing any game or running big program. just watch news online...freezed ...shop on app shop...freezed.

Same here.. MacBook Pro 17" (Early 2011) 2.3GHz Intel Core i7, 8gb, ssd(128gb). all apple hardware.

Will freeze, make a screeching sound and then do 3 beeping tones, when browsing safari or after i get it out of sleep, haven't subjected it to any heavy processing, the most is some games.

Should i make an appointment with my local apple store, or will they just tell me to Re-install osx (which i have done) if i cannot replicate a freeze instore?

So... i just tried to inform the new CEO TimCook. Like Steve i think (hope) that he also has the same emailadressformat - so i write to <edited by host> - and for now, no "reply from Exchangeserver" came and told me that the mailadress isn`t there Maybe we got a little bit luck and what did i have to loose? nothing

Here is my email - no much information - just want to keep him an eye on this thread - day to day the problem grows faster.. :-(

Please Mr. Cook - help the - YOUR - community!!! Thanks

I'd like to tell you once again what happened to me, my happy ending story.

I had the same problems like you all - posted about it. Luckily enough, I bought my MBP from an Apple dealer, not from an Apple Store. The shop has its reputation to defend (and it is also legally responsible for what it sells), and they really helped me a lot. One fantastic tip they gave me: instead of reinstalling OSX (wasting a lot of time for a useless trial), install it on an external disk, or in a new partition. I have a 512GB SSD, so had plenty of space.

I did that. Installed OSX (snow leopard that time) on a new small partition, no specific software (perhaps Fusion, don't remember), started playing with my Mac and after a few tests... BAMMM frozen as usual. I went to the shop with this just reinstalled OSX and spent a bit of time there. Problem reproduced with a newly installed OS, and with original apple parts. This demonstrates it is not a software failure but an hardware one. I've pointed them to this thread too.

Apple at first didn't want to change the logic board and started asking the usual useless questions (format, reinstall, bla bla bla). The shop took position and they changed the logic board. Mine has the "old" 3Gb link speed. Not one single freeze since then. My mac works wonderfully and I'm very happy with it. Will continue to buy things from this shop, WILL NOT buy from Apple Store - they've shown they don't care about customers' problems.

Thanks to the tip, I could use my mac while not trying to crash it hardly (used the gfx utility to lock it into integrated mode). And after changing the logic board, a nice "delete" freed up the space taken by the new test partition.

Good luck to everybody. I'm very happy with my mac and lion now, and very concerned about apple support.

Maddeen, Hope you sent it to apple.com - even though I have no hope that Tim will read it. But you are right, why not to give it a try?

<Email Edited By Host>

thanks gldb - i´ve send it again to the .com mailadress. Thanks.

So... the email to tim cook was delivered - and i got a recall from a department called Apple Executive Relations EMEIA She said this is the highest department for support!

I told them about this thread and the couple of users who got the same problem. I also pleased her to redirect the problems to the Apple headquarters that sometime somebody will give a statement within this thread.

For myself i´ll have to wait for my appointment on 27 of september at the technical service - after that i have to reply to the person from Apple Executive Relations EMEIA if my problem was solved or not.

For now i have a good feeling - hopefully this persists after i´m back from the technical service without having problems.

I´ll give feedback as soon as i can.

Good one!

I can report that my MBP (17", 8BG RAM) is still playing up. Now I'm not travelling at the moment I'll ask Crucial to replace the RAM. If the fault continues after that, then it is 100% a hardware fault on the Mac.

Problems also found on the latest i7 Macbook Air !

My friend just use iPhoto to create an Album and order the Print online, but Apple said his Album sent to them was corrupted. So, he try to make it again and pay attention to the preview. He found there are many "random white corrupte blocks" in the image. Then he take his Macbook Air to me to have a look.

First, I try to boot in 64bit mode, the problem just like what was explained above. Then, I try to force it to run in 32bit, the problem just gone, but when I run other program that use CPU power at the same time, the image just get corrupted again. color shift, blocks.

Then, I try it again in 64 bit mode again, the same thing "random white corrupte blocks" in the image, If I start another program that uses CPU power, the "random white corrupte blocks" appear more frequent, 60% of the image were covered by such corrupted blocks.

It's likely that the image processing unit in the i7 CPU got some problem running at high temperature.

Use this Macbook Air to run the "WebGL aquarium" with Google Chrome or Safari with cause freezes.

Hi JanusFox,

Are you still experieincing the FREEZING issue on your MacBook Pro 15"?

I have a Macbook Pro 15" new 2.3Ghz 10.6.8. When I run Parallels 6 - Window 7

and when I shut down Windows 7 and exit Parallels 6 it freezes up when I turn off the computer????

It is really frustrating as this MacBook Pro should be fast and screaming.

Have you foundd any solution?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Hi,

me too, didn't find any solution! (MBP 15" early 2011)

It works a few hours, a few days - then it freezes.

Yesterday it freezed just after waked up and begin working (therefore I think, it isn't a thermal problem).

I think, Apple has a big problem with production. About 10% of Computers (iMac, Laptops etc.) are DOAs or will break down during Warranty (in Switzerland during the first year).

I dare say it is embarrassingly to Apple.

Peter