Q: Lion randomly crashes - black screen

I disagree that it's totally the fault of hardware providers, because I had a situation where SSD of OCZ went Blue Screen of Death on me, but when I upgraded the firmware to the latest version (i.e., firmware of OCZ SSD), SSD of OCZ never had experienced Blue Screen Of Death again, consequently my Windows 7 machine never had BSOD afterward.  It tells me that the same story is occuring here.  Whenever I use Snow Leopard for MacBook Pro 2010, I never had a single occurance of Black Screen of Death ever since the day I bought the darn machine.  After upgrading to Lion, Black Screen of Death occurs all the time.  Went back to Snow Leopard confirmed me that Black Screen of Death had went away.  So, either we need a software fix or firmware fix for hardware, then Black Screen of Death should be fixed for Lion.

In conclusion, I say it's software problem, not hardware!  Why?  How you explain Snow Leopard is OK, but Lion isn't for the same machine?

WOW! 110 pages of posts, over 1600 replies...and no concrete solution from Apple. Well, after a couple months of getting multiple emails a day from this thread I wanted to follow up my own situation and remove myself from the discussion.

I have the exact machine giving the problems, mid-2010 i7 15" MB Pro with 8 gig Apple-installed RAM. Had the BSOD randomly, couldn't solve it with ANY of the fixes, not the gfxCardStatus utility nor any other reinstall, reset, rollback procedures. I do have Applecare. So I took my computer to the Apple store in San Mateo, CA and after a lengthy discussion with the Genius there, running of diagnostics, but most of all demonstrating the BSOD effortlessly with the "Photobooth second page of effects" trick, they agreed to replace the logic board.

I wanted to give some reasonable time to see if this had solved the issue. I'm pleased to say that after a solid month of use, (heavy Photoshop/Lightroom use, videos, etc), not a single BSOD. None. Works exactly as I expect Lion to, and I'm really happy to be able to stick with Lion (although I understand that rolling back to SL hasn't solved the issue for many - ugh).

So, I will leave the debate as to whether it's hardware, software, firmware, or alien abduction to others. Based on my OWN experience, all I can say is that replacing the logic board completely resolved the issue. In my case, which admittedly may not represent everyone else's.

Best of luck to all, I would keep pushing for hardware replacement if you are suffering from this nonsense. Obviously overshadowed by the loss of Mr. Jobs this month, but what a terrible "un-Apple" run of events with this particular issue.

Goodby winglet. I am waiting to pick up my Mac with a newly replaced logic board today and also hope to say goodbye to you all soon there after. But I am having Snow Leopard reinstalled and will stay with it untill I have heard the problem is really fixed. The little pleasures of Lion are far outweighed by the pain.

I've been following this thread for quite some time. I first had the problem after upgrading to Lion on my Mac Pro 2010 15", like everybody else. Actually, the reason for buying and upgrading to Lion was mainly that I had lost my system cd and I needed to clean install OS X again. I went out and bought a new copy of Snow Leopard, only to find out I couldn't boot my machine since the revision was too new, or something like that. Coming from the PC world, I was really frustrated that I couldn't just put an install cd in my computer and run it, as I would have with any Windows version, be it XP or 7.

Anywho, like I said, I upgraded to Lion and was able to make a clean install and everything seemed fine for a couple of days until the first BSODs. I found this thread and realized the problem was probably due to a bad firmware update in the Lion upgrade. It's been a few months now, and I'm still waiting for Apple to

1. Acknowledge the problem.
2. Tell the customers you screwed up.
3. Fix the problem.
4. Give some kind of compensation for all the users who has not had a working computer for months.

As a customer, I don't really care who's to blame for this, if it's Nvidia that should have released drivers in time or not. I bought an Apple computer from an Apple reseller, and I use Apple's OS and when I upgrade said OS my computer is no longer usable. I just wish Lion had been released within a year after I bought my computer so that I (like so many others here) would have had the warranty still.

If Apple don't fix this problem soon, and at least show their customers that they're sad for what they've done, this will be my last Apple product ever. I can't support a company that's so arrogant any more.

I know that Apple is reading this and I would really like for them to make a statement soon, it's been so long and the customers' faith in Apple is falling. Please, Apple, contact me.

Don't know whether it is a coincidence. My MacBook Pro logicboard went wrong after the Lion install. Got it replaced. I am waiting for 10.7.2 to get released. Currently it runs Snow Leopard.

I agree with pikzell, I can't believe apple is so arrogant. I know they are aware of the issue but still they remain silent. It has to be a software issue because how do you explain my mbp running perfectly fine in snow leopard for a whole year...

And yeah, I don't care who's to blame, apple or nvidia or someone else, I paid a lot of money for my mbp, money which I earned very very hard and it just makes me very angry not being able to use my laptop! If apple doesn't fix it soon I will boycott all apple products and I suggest all of you do the same!

OK KIDS... get this.. MBP i7 Mid 2010

• spent Thursday on phone with Apple Care

• clean installed Lion

• BSOD recurred after clean install

• Friday morning Apple Store appointment, crashed for them - new logic board replacement

• MBP delivered back to me today

--------

• BSOD crash on boot

• After reboot, BSOD crash in classic "photobooth" method

• AppleCare phone support tells me to reinstall Snow Leopard. "Ok Fine...."

-------

• SL will not boot from reinstall disc (C at Boot, Option at Boot, nor Sys Prefs will allow the boot to occur)

• Back on phone w/AppleCare, now they tell me it's a power inverter issue... appointment this weekend at Apple Store.

MOTHERFFFFFFFF................

Reinstalled Snow Leopard, black screen appears now with Photo Booth.

Apple has to say that they are aware of the problem.

If it's a software issue them make an update.

If it's hardware then make a recall.

I can't work anymore with my computer. I can't belive I spent over 2 000 € for this s...

DO YOU REALLY CALL THIS A PREMIUM COMPUTER ???????

I do not trust Apple anymore, I won't buy anymore apple product, I need to change my phone, I think I will buy any smartphone wich is not IPhone.

My next computer will be a PC with windows (at least it works).

And if someone asks I will say DO NOT BUY APPLE.

agreed, this is f***** bull****. I could've spent a third of the money I spend on my mbp and had a linux or windows laptop! I can't even sell my laptop because of the freakin crashes! if apple doesn't address this issue soon I'll sell my iphone and ipad and never buy an apple product again!

Ok everybody,

stop being stupid & making childish claims!! Apple probably doesn't even really read this thread...

Just contact Apple (or make an apointment) and demand a logic board replacement or a new machine....

(it worked for me, Lion working perfectly on a mid 2010 15", i7 while before i had crashes in 10.6.8 and 10.7.1)

Maybe not even 1% of the MBP's have this problem....

That doesn't mean Apple shouldn't solve your problem, but I don't think a public statement or recall is really neccecary...

I disagree, how do you explain my laptop running without a single crash in snow leopard for a year ( and I use it intensively) and down to almost daily crashes in lion? It can't be a faulty logic board, it has to be a software issue. so all apple needs to do is release an update. it can be released silently, I don't care if they make a public statement, I just want my laptop back!

you wnat to say that over 1000 people in this discussion and a lot of people arount the world who only read this discussion - its not even 1% of these mbp's 2010 ? haha

my mpb is out of waranty and apple can tell me only two things about it: 1) replace logic board. 2) buy new mbp. all of it - for money...

not to mention that for a lot of users, logic board replacement doesn't do the trick. so it's wasted money most likely. but even if it is, when you buy a laptop, you kinda expect at least a couple of years of proper use. especially considering the 2000 EUR pricetag!

gree_shanti wrote:

 

you wnat to say that over 1000 people in this discussion and a lot of people arount the world who only read this discussion ...

Right. And think of all those who never found this forum  :

-Those who think they're all alone... "I must have caught a virus or something..." And they're paralysed.

-Those who have no idea such forums exist, they don't know what FGY means, they're just not geeks.

-Those who don't understand english.... - Yes dear US friends, some earthlings don't speak english
-Those who just panic thinking THEY messed up something (ooops, what is dad gonna say ? / Junioooor, what did you do with your goddam games ?)

We're the visible part of the iceberg - that's for sure.

-Those who don't understand english.... - Yes dear US friends, some earthlings don't speak english

 

heh mate, I'm from Ukraine