Q: Lion randomly crashes - black screen

I have a MacBookPro mid 2010 i7 2.66Ghz 4GB RAM DDR3 NVIDIA GT 330M.

It has been over a week since my logic board was replaced. Not one single black screen of death, not one problem waking up from sleep.

Btw, none of the diagnostics at the Apple Store indicated a probelm with the GPU. They based their solution off the logs when the black screen appeared - I asked for the issue to be esacalted to engineering.

Also, I saw somebody state that they went into the Fifth Ave NYC store and they told you they never heard about it. I was in that store 2 days after Lion came out. They also were the store that took my laptop in to have the logic board replaced. If you go back there, may want to speak to a manager.

Hi there...I may be in the exact same position as you, and since I'm not near the NYC store that handled your problem, could you please explain what you mean when you say that "- I asked for the issue to be esacalted to engineering." What does that actulally mean...also was all the work done on your computer in the store, or did they have to send it out to Apple. Thanks for your help...

So the genius was not sure exactly what the issue was, but felt it had something to do with the GPU based on the logs he saw. So he said I had two options: try to do a clean install or have it escalated to engineering and they would come back with an answer. I had a backup laptop to use and I thought Apple would release a fix and I would be fine, so I choose engineering take a look at it - did not want to have to reload my whole computer.  Well it actually took a week for them to get back to me and they said I needed a new logic board. Honestly, I thought there was no way it was a hardware issue, as I had no issue with Snow Leopard and just started with Lion. But I figured what did I have to lose. They took the laptop, shipped it to their repair depot.  Got it back in a couple days and now have a working computer. If you are not near a store, just call AppleCare even if your warranty is over, they will most likely help you. Many folks seem to have their logic board replaced for free even if out of warranty - that includes me.

I've been trying to avoid having to replace my MB, but it seems like it's the only real way to fix this issue right now. Since Apple is taking their sweet time to acknowledge the issue and release a statement or fix, I will take it to the local Apple store and see what they can do.

But first, quick question to all who have been replacing your motherboard. Are they keeping your hard drive intact? I don't want to go through the hastle of reinstalling all of my software and my Boot Camp installation. And how long is it taking for the replacement? Thanks!

A question poped out after reading all the posting about logic board replacement.

Who's going to pay for that if your mac is not supported any more with an Apple Care aggreement ?

In some way, IF it's confirmed the problem is cause by Lion, Apple has some responsibiltiies in this.

That said, my iMac late 2009 has some stabiltiy issued that never had before with Snow Leopard. This mac is not covered with an Apple Care, so rather than paying for a new logic board, I would better reinstall Snow Leopard, sell it and buy a new one.

On a side note, I would be very surprise this is really a hardware problem, I would much bet on a problem with certain revisions of video chip set or logic board rather than a hardware problem that magicly Lion would triggered.

Just my 2 cents based on my computing experience.

Thanks for walking me thrugh the nuts and bolts of this process. Fortunately, I am still under warranty, but the only reason I'm hesitating to send my computer in is because I don't have a spare computer, and the problem only occurs sometimes and only when it is coming out of sleep. If I remember with horror from my windows days, this sort of points to a driver issue. I have used iphoto, Photoshop, Dxo, Aperture, etc - by themselves and all together, and I never get a black screen while the computer is under load with active graphics switching...it is only the sleep issue. I can go for a week with noting happening, and then it happens again for a day. I think if I send it in now, my computer will not exhibit the problem, and I'll just get it back the way I sent it...have to make up my mind (what's left of it) what I'm going to do...again, thanks so much!!!!

I guess I should look into a motherboard replacement. Question for the group: I've modified my 2010 MBP with an SSD. I also took out the DVD drive and put in a second HDD. Do I need to revert the inerds to the original equipment in order to send it in? I of course will do a back up, in case they wipe out the data, but does the hardware need to be in stock condition?

Wow.  That is cool.  How did you get a second HDD in the MBP?  Is there a kit we can order.  I put an SSD in mine too.  But would like to replace the clunky DVD drive with a HDD.  -- Barry (Virginia Beach)

hi guys !

i had today my first ever black screen in my computing life while ''waking up'' my late 2009 27'' iMac i7. i googled it  up  , found this thread & after reading extensively MOST posts the only thing that occurs to me is MOST DEFINITELY we should all do what i ALWAYS do when thing go weird : definitely post here AND SEND FEEDBACK TO APPLE !!! right here :

http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Apple doesn't read this forum ( at least not ''officially''... ) but they DO read the feedback sent in - personnaly i have had proof of this time & again even if because of minor grievances - they have come back to me & so far managed to offer solutions, REAL solutions not workarounds or what i call ''gaffer tape fixes''....

so please, please  : everyone do us all a favor & send in feedback + feedback + feedback until we all go blue in the face , you know what i mean ? if they get flooded with the bloody things they ARE BOUND to take notice

i freaked out when my iMac went black on me ( still could see some form of ''backlighting'' through but.... ) Man, had i known i would have so many troubles with Lion I would have left the cat in the App Store, specially since for S.Leopard was absolute bliss

  since i use my iMac for recreational use only, i can't even begin to imagine the distress stuff like this causes to you guys who need them running perfectly to make a living - my sympathies to you guys

what a mess....

My update, since I haven't posted here in a while.

Background: 15" MBP 2010 i7 2.66 which never crashed on Snow Leopard and suddenly started crashing like crazy in Lion, especially when using Powerpoint and scrolling through pages using arrow keys.

So I started using gfxcardstatus on Integrated and no BSOD for over a week. Got confident, switched it to Discrete. No BSOD at for 2-3 days. Disabled gfxcardstatus and used Lion au natural with Graphics Switching set to OFF (so it always used Discrete card). No crash for 2 days.

During all of this time, I've regularly tried to crash it by loading 2-3 PPT presentations and quickly scrolling through the pages by holding down the arrow keys. No BSODs. I even overtax the system by using Lightroom 3 to manage a bunch of RAW files from my Canon 7D (the fans kick up hard and still no BSOD).

So today I get really overconfident. Set Graphics Switching to ON. Load 3 PPTs. Hold down arrow key...

BSOD. Almost immediately upon holding down the arrow key. Just like day 1.

I know we all may have slightly different problems (especially those whose MBPs were crashing in Snow Leopard). But for me, this tells me there is something wrong with the graphics switching process (whether its driver, firmware, I don't know I'm not a technician) in Lion with my generation of MBP.

I've turned auto switching to off and will see how far I get tonight before another crash.

In my case, it was a pure hardware issue.  I have a MBP bought in mid 2010, 8GB RAM, and had tonnes of black screens after I upgraded to Lion.  After AppleCare diagnosed it to be a hardware problem, I brought my MBP in to the AppleStore, where they diagnosed it as a logic board problem.  They said it could take up to a week to replace the logicboard as it was out of stock, but they made it happen within 48 hours. Since the logicboard was replaced, I have had no blackscreens whatsoever.  No matter what graphic intensive work I do, no crashes.  Lion is just working amazing for me now.  I don't recommend downgrading to SnowLeopard if you're still haunted by this problem ... just keep on Apple. If they replaced the logicboard and it's still happening, my experience implies they should replace it again.  Very happy with Lion now.

I was going to update to lion but I have seen this post and I decidead to give up for the moment.

I live in Europe and apple care may not give such service as you are getting in USA. Talking about changes of logic boards or other ardware.  I have a Macbook pro march 2010. I was wondering if all 2010 macbook are experiencing problems or are we talking about just a bach of it? I mean there are any happy upgrader of macbook pro 2010 around that did not experienced problems like black screens?

Thanks for your input

orsa47,

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DDAMBS0GB/

It works great - I have one - hadn't thought about it when I dropped off my MBP with the Genius Bar - we'll see what they say.

David

With all the problems with the Lion release, I was looking for a word that I could relate to.  My mind went straight to Microsoft the former top dog company (when Apple was still lean).   The seriously flawed Lion... the analog is VISTA.  Microsoft's obstinance over fixing it ASAP led to lost market share.  Win 7 is better but it came to late and the damage was done.

Caveat... I do like the speed of Lion.  But for me, a heavy user, upgrading to Lion really screwed me up.  We're left holding very little leaverage in the MBP 2010 community.  Apple can just wait us out.  I hope though that there is enough spirit left that they will acknowledge the serious flaw in the new OS and deliver an update.  It would also be nice to know from Apple as well, when we could expect the update.

Curious, is there anyone following 10.7.2 build and if Apple is including the MBP 2010 issue?

-- Barry (Virginia Beach)

orsa47 wrote:

 

With all the problems with the Lion release, I was looking for a word that I could relate to.  My mind went straight to Microsoft the former top dog company (when Apple was still lean).   The seriously flawed Lion... the analog is VISTA.  Microsoft's obstinance over fixing it ASAP led to lost market share.  Win 7 is better but it came to late and the damage was done.

 

Caveat... I do like the speed of Lion.  But for me, a heavy user, upgrading to Lion really screwed me up.  We're left holding very little leaverage in the MBP 2010 community.  Apple can just wait us out.  I hope though that there is enough spirit left that they will acknowledge the serious flaw in the new OS and deliver an update.  It would also be nice to know from Apple as well, when we could expect the update.

 

Curious, is there anyone following 10.7.2 build and if Apple is including the MBP 2010 issue?

 

-- Barry (Virginia Beach)

As of yet, Apple has only said that 10.7.2 is an update enabling iCloud. There have been no official statements saying there were bug fixes.