Q: Lion randomly crashes - black screen

wow looks like bulwerboys got a better deal! I read somewhere earlier in this thread that not all logic board replacement will solve this problem. It seems like there is a percentage of defective boards from Apple. For my case, one logic board replacement completely solved the BSOD issue.

I guess, if your MBP is still under warranty, you should heed bulwerboys' advice and try to get a new MBP replacement, even if it is going to take 3 logic board replacements.

OK so they ordered me a new logic board, but if its the same graphics card and still switches -- why would it fix the problem? I am confused. I will give them time, but Apple should recall these machines. Mine is under Warranty and I have apple care. I will not accept anything that is not Lion working the way it should.

Well, what a surprise! Apple reports 85% growth for the year ending 24 September.

Strange then that many Macbook pro owners have been voicing their anger on Apples support communities for many months regarding problems with their Macbook Pros purchased during 2010 and early 2011. These concerns have been totally ignored by Apple and owners have been frustrated and left wondering why Apple have not acknowleged that there is a problem with these Macbooks. How convenient then that on 12 October Apple released an Article MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010): Intermittent black screen or loss of video

Last Modified: 12 October, 2011
Article: TS4086
Symptoms
Apple has determined that a small number of MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) computers may intermittently stop displaying video on the built-in display or on an external display connected to the MacBook Pro. In this situation, you may also see a restart warning message before the video is lost or the display turns black or gray. Affected computers were manufactured between April 2010 and February 2011.
Products Affected
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)
Resolution
Apple is aware of the issue and is working on a solution. Keep your software up-to-date using Software Update

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4086 - The link to the support article. Prayers answered? (To St. Jobs?)

"Keep your software up-to-date using Software Update." - er... no :-)

I have my MBP mid 2010 sent to Apple`s Authorized Service Center.

As they pointed out very clearly. Buying a logic board will amount to almost 80% of the cost of a Brand New MBP.

Since I am already out of service warranty it would be impractical to purchase the logic board where in fact adding a little more to that price can buy me a new MBP.

So you see the dilema.

Buy a high end MBP and after a year. something would go wrong. you will be left out in the dark wandering. you will be ignored by apple and end up buying another brand new MBP.

That is why they have these huge success in sales. HAHAHA

@deborah16: Two things:

1- It seems we are just "... a small number of..." users :-P and

2- "... using Software Update..." means most of us are right about the "small issue" having a software fix, and not a hardware one.

Very interesting link indeed, thanks.

Official reseller in Greece just informed me that my MBP 13'' Feb '11 will have a replaced logic board. I ll let u know as soon as I recieve my new macbook

hi everyone

i am having the same problems since april this year, and exchanging the logicboard (twice) hasn't solved the problem.

But, has anyone of you tried with a windows installation in bootcamp (not using OSX at all)?

I can't try it myself at the moment, as my computer is being repaired again - but i'd like to hear if that was a "workaround" or if there also are graphiccard related crashes in bootcamp.

Running windows the mac would at least stay a computer (instead of a deadload on my desk ).

cheers,

jan

I just got back from the Genius Bar - the Genius trashed my sleep image and my spotlight index.  Since, then not one BSOD, when I used to get three per day.

I have this problem as well. Its not Lion, its the Macbook Pro Mid 2010 models. Check it out.

Apple knows apparently.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4086

Also, here is a facebook support group.

https://www.facebook.com/applebsod

This is a defective piece of hardware (my assumption is the logic board and/or motherboard) and should be replaced for no charge. My laptop is only 3 months out of the warranty, and for this to happen and they not recall the product for a replacement part or computer (if its the motherboard) is absolutely unacceptable.

I look forward to how Apple resolves this. It will determine whether or not I buy a PC for my next computer.

Hi everyone, (sorry this is a re-post, as I just found this thread).

I've read about the "Black screen of Death" thing on the forums, but I never thought it would happen to me!

Well it did, this evening!

I've got a relatively new MacBook Pro i7, 17" 2011 (2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB Ram).

My mac was in sleep mode and when I went to hit the space bar.......nothing...black screen.

I tried any key....nothing.

I tried track pad....well at this point I was trying anything......nothing.....just black screen.

I tried holding down the power button and at first I couldn't even start up the computer.....I was getting worried.

I left it and went and made a cup of tea.....

On my return I did the hold down the button for a count of ten and it started up again.....feeewwww!

It's never happened to me before. And perhaps has something to do with the recent 10.7.2 update, because before everything seemed to

be fine.....well O.K. The os still seems a bit buggy.....

I'm really looking forward to 10.7.3 or 10.7.4 perhaps...? (I'm starting to really miss Snow Leopard...it was stable)

Well I have had BSOD since I upgraded my mid 2010 Macbook Pro to Lion. Raised a call with Apple Care in August, After many conversations with the support guys  they agreed to replace my logic board even though I was out of warranty. Got my machine back today and so far so good. They also turned my machine around in less than 24 hours. So like others have said in this thread it is worth pushing for a logic board replacement. Will let you know if this is a complete fix for me over the coming days. Good luck to you all I know what a pain this problem is.

Cheers Mike

I installed Lion on a 2007 Macbook Pro that uses an ATI x1600 card. Same thing happens to me - every so often I get the Black-Screen-of-Death that needs a hard reboot.

I don't think its a hardware problem... 'cause let's face it... all your macbooks worked fine before you installed Lion, right?

Gotta be a software bug that somehow gives macbooks indigestion.

"I don't think its a hardware problem... 'cause let's face it... all your macbooks worked fine before you installed Lion, right?" - no. Some have had this issue under SL to begin with, and those who had the problem under SL and upgraded to Lion, the problem got worse. For many it has only happened under Lion and going back to SL corrected it some instantaces while for others the problem persisted. It's a mix of issues, primarily hardware, the fix may be a firmware update or a recall on all affected systems(which it should seeing this issue has been circling for at least the past 10 months and Apple has only acknowledged it offically as an issue two weeks ago). The issue itself seems to be caused by different situations for different people, for some typing causes the screen to shut off, using the trackpad, slight movement, doing anything graphics heavy; it also happens using either the intergrated graphics or the dedicated nVidia card.

Some forums are saying disabling this and that sensor, using only the integrated graphics, disabling graphics switching, seems to help or eliminate the problem all together, that coupled with the fact several posters here have said they've gone through multiple logic board replacements, untill either finding one that "worked" or Apple gave them a new 2011 model, points directly at an issue with defective hardware from the factory, whether or not that issue can be fixed with software/firmware is anyones guess.

OK, point taken. Some people had issues before. However, I can only go on my own experience which is that once Lion was installed, I started to eperience the BSOD, triggered by various actions similar to what you described above.

I have never experienced a BSDO before this. And the only change was the upgrade to Lion + the upgrade (which didn't seem to address the issue anyway).