Frequent Panic NVRM[0/1:0:0]: Read Error 0x00000100

migsevilla-

You have the same panic report and the same Mac Book Pro 6,2 that correlates with the Hardware problem described in the article. Print out a copy of that article and take it with you to your Apple dealer. Ask them to run the SPECIAL diagnostic for this problem. Do not leave until they have run the special diagnostic and it either PASSED or FAILED. The overnight test will not find this problem.

TS4088- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010): Intermittent black screen or loss of video

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

That does seem like a Hardware problem. Software does not tend to crash when you push on it. Your motherboard may be loose or some other wacky problem.

But if you can reproduce it, they can fix it.

I just got it back today with a new logic board. I would like someone to compensate me for the days I've lost because of this issue.

Good luck on that

Allan

I also have the same issue....as it became apparent now with Mountain Lion (I have been using Snow Leopard for the last few years and no graphics intensive app).

Of course, warranty is not something that I have anymore....

Stupid question but considering it is a hardware flaw, do I have to pay to Apple to replace the Logic board ?

It's not like I got a good product and it got damaged...I always had a crappy one with a known design flaw.

Of course I can always get a quick, cheap and dirty fix for it at an electronics specialist by having him use his reballing station to remake the connections but I'd rather have the official one.

The Apple Depot Repair is a flat rate of $310. Better off with the new logic board that will get you than paying more for a reballing which is known not to work long. For me it was a relief to get it fixed.

Well, the problem is that the reballing is around 50$ 🙂

If I get a new logic board and after overheating / increased usage the same thing happens...(I know this problem is a frequent one with other laptops and Nvidia graphic cards)...than those 310$ are a pretty bad investment.

Is it normal for this to be charged by Apple considering it is a known hardware design defect ?

I thought I would try to write a post that sums up the process required to repair a mac suffering from this issue. In hope that it can get referenced every so often when new people come to the thread and ask the same questions over and over.

Step 1: Verify that you have been getting regular kernel panics with the error "NVRM[0/1:0:0]: Read Error 0x00000100" and that you have a MBP 15" Mid 2010. If you do not have this exact combination then the following does not apply to you.

Step 2: Take your machine to an authorised repair centre.

Step 3: Explain the issue and ask them if they are familiar with the fault. If not get them to read TS4088 (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4088) and look at their internal operating procedure OP555 which is available on the Apple GSX site (this will mean something to them).

Step 4: They should then run AST free of charge and perform the normal hardware tests. (AST - Apple Service Toolkit is a quick set of test that run in their own environment and is intended to find quick and obvious hardware faults. Eg, faulty temp sensors, fans that don't spin, etc.)

Step 5: After running AST they will have the option to now run VST. Run VST. (VST - Video Service Toolkit is available as a test that can be launched from the home screen within AST but only on machines that meet the requirement (15" Mid 2010 MBP) and only after the normal set of AST tests have been run and the machine rebooted.)

Step 6a: If VST reports a failure then they should organise a repair as per OP555 at no cost to you. (Assuming you are still within the time frame of the free repair offer, which is either 3 or 4 years from the date of purchase irrelevant of Apple Care status on the machine. Sorry I don't know for sure if it is 3 or 4 years.)

If you are interested to know what VST looks like when it detects the faulty Nvidia chip then here it is: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sku03qbz217iyqe/IMG_0273.jpg

Step 6b: If VST does not fail (prints a big green 'PASS'), then you have a different issue, you are not covered under the free repair program and you're on your own. Sorry 😟

So to sum up some common issues:

Do I need apple care? - No

Apple should fix this for free! - They do providing you actually have this fault and don't exceed the free repair offer timeframe. OP555 clearly states that the repair is to be provided for free!

My local repair agent is giving me grief! - Be polite, they may not know of this issue. Encourage them to read TS4088 and OP555. Ask them to run AST and VST to get a definite answer.
My repair agent couldn't run VST. - Either they didn't follow the process (steps 5 & 6) or your machine is not an eligible MBP 15" Mid 2010. If it can't suffer from the issue then VST will not be presented as an option to run.

What actually is this fault? - It's a hardware issue with the Nvidia graphics chip and cannot be repaired without swapping the logic board. It only shows up in 10.8 due to this version using the hardware differently which exposed the error.

I hope this helps clear things up and helps people get the service they are entitled to. 🙂

Message was edited by: MrSparkle75 to fix spelling and make it a bit more legible.

Thanks.

I do have the Macbook with this problem 🙂 and your sum up article is realy great.

I'd offer you a friendly beer if I could 🙂

I am just worried that after I get my repair, the same thing might happen again after 1 year or so.

If the soldering is bad and has this issue with overheating, then there's no guarantee a new one would be better (as it is the same design and same graphics card).

Am I wrong ?

Added an answer to that question in the original post but to clarify...
It was a design flaw in the chip. The fault has been there since day one.

Software patches were released to avoid the fault in 10.6 and 10.7 but for some reason that wasn't a practicle option in 10.8. I don't know the details as to why but it might be to do with the fact that 10.8 dropped kernel support for 32bit. Maybe the fault only shows when using 64bit so pre 10.8 you could avoid the problem by using a 32bit driver. Just a guess...

I expect that Nvidia would be giving Apple a rebate for every repair they do so I doubt that it is costing them anything per say. I'm sure that in the contracts between the two companies there is a statute of limitation which is the driving force behind the time limit to claim the repair.

PS: If you live in Adelaide Australia then I will happily accept your gift 🙂

Thanks also for the extra clarification 🙂 my fault for not reading it in the original post..I tended to somewhat go diagonally through all the pages in this article.

I was also used from other laptops to some issues with Nvidia cards and then requiring reballing or complete changing (there have been some pretty ugly historical cases).

Ah, Australia..too far away 🙂

I'm originally from Romania and now here in Switzerland since almost 2 years, doing my Netadmin/Sysadmin stuff.

If you ever come into the country of milk, cows and clocks...the offer does not have a time limit like the Apple replacement one 🙂

I have a 2010 Macbook Pro 15" with this exact issue. Every symptom described in TS4088. I bought the laptop in June 2010, so it's within the 3 year warranty period being offered in TS4088.

I took it to the Apple Store where they kept it for a week for testing. The Genius confirms that the logic board fails the tests, but he is refusing to repair it under warranty. He first said the TS4088 coverage ended in December 2012. Then he said that TS4088 only covers graphics fault, not logic boards, even though they're one and the same thing in this particular case.

They've given my laptop back but it's crashing frequently and is basically unusable. I'm pretty unhappy with the whole situation.

Hello MrSparkle 🙂

Thanks for all your help.

With me, here in Switzerland, it was pretty easy...

I just went there, told them that I have a macbook pro 2010 with this issue, told them I saw the kernel panics in the console and told them it is still covered in warranty by Apple, something that they can check.

To my surprise, there was no argument or anything, the lady there was very polite, knew about the issue, took 15 min with me to make the VST test and it showed as failed.

I left the laptop there for 3 days (they had to order the MLB) and then got it back working.

I also saw the invoice value in case I would not have had it covered and that was around 700 usd for the MLB + 150 for the 1.6 work days effort (that I doubt is a real value as I changed by myself the casing and keyboard and it took me 2h, so the MLB can't take 1.6 days but that's how the financial world is).

nathan262-

You MAY be able to get some sort of compromise solution by enlisting the help of the store manager. Your calm, businesslike discussion of what the impact is on your use (just like what you wrote above) may go a long way toward convincing them. Perhaps they can find a way to make the repair at a reduced cost to you.

The store manager has more discretion in what out of warranty repairs can be covered. Apple wants you to be a happy customer. People who scream and threaten to sue everyone will never be a happy customer, so they tend ot get nothing. In cases like this, your mileage may vary.

Hi Grant, Nathan

@Grant: I tend to disagree with you on that.

The Service Center where I went told me that the warranty is for 3 years, which means till end of 2013 in their words.

I do not think that a service center has the right to override this just because they want to save their own cost and probably not wait to get the effort reimbursed by Apple.

If I were in Nathan's place, I would first inquire the issue with Apple and if Apple says it is covered in warranty, then tell them that one of their authorized partner's services is not cooperating and abiding by the terms....

The rest will be solved automatically....and people will magically become more polite (although they will certaintly have a "nice" bad atitude behind your back after).

mhvrr wrote:

If I were in Nathan's place, I would first inquire the issue with Apple and if Apple says it is covered in warranty,

Good advice and that was my plan-B. I took the laptop with good grace and a polite thank you, then called Apple this morning. The support engineer reviewed my case and said Apple will cover this at their expense and he''s updated my case file to reflect that. I'm taking the Macbook back to the store tomorrow and fingers crossed it all works out.

This is one of the (many) reasons I buy Apple laptops. Even when I got the rejection initially the staff were polite and professional. Apple knows how to keep it customers happy and that's why we keep coming back. I'll get this laptop fixed and hand it down to my brother. Then it's about time I bought myself a new Macbook before the EOFY. 😝