Q: Macbook Pro screen black, but machine is on. Is it dead?
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May 27, 2012 7:57 AMby tjk,HelpfulHi B,
Depending on which MBP you have, it could have the NVIDIA issue: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377
To see if the backlight has burned out, shine a light from behind the display through the Apple, and look at the front of the display to see if you can faintly see anything. If so, it may be a burned out backlight or bad inverter board.
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May 27, 2012 8:09 AMby BBuford,When I shine a flashlight through the Apple, I can make out the diffused light of the flashlight. I'm not sure what that tells me. Is there something that I might be expected to see? Thank you also for the link. The NVIDIA problem pertains to computers built between May 2007 and September 2008. I bought mine the last week of December, 2008, in France, and it seems possible that this could be the problem. If so, it would mean that the backlight has burned out prematurely, is that it? Or, more simply, that the graphic processor has just failed? Very grateful for your help. Yours, Bill
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May 27, 2012 8:18 AMby tjk,HelpfulBBuford wrote:
When I shine a flashlight through the Apple, I can make out the diffused light of the flashlight. I'm not sure what that tells me. Is there something that I might be expected to see?
If you can see faint images/the desktop such as when the display is working, then that means the data signal is coming through, there just isn't any light to make it show up (thus the flashlight from the back). In your case, it sounds like there are no images at all, suggesting it isn't the light, but something related to the data transfer, possibly the GPU or a cable.
The NVIDIA problem pertains to computers built between May 2007 and September 2008. I bought mine the last week of December, 2008, in France, and it seems possible that this could be the problem.
Given the timing of your purchase, it certainly could be an earlier model, built before 9/08, meaning it could be the NVIDIA issue. I would certainly take it in for free testing and free replacement if that's what the issue is.
If so, it would mean that the backlight has burned out prematurely, is that it? Or, more simply, that the graphic processor has just failed?
It sounds more like the GPU failing, again, possibly pointing to the NVIDIA issue.
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May 27, 2012 9:02 AMby tjk,You're welcome. Hope to hear back with good news.
One more thing (if it turns out you have the 8600GPU). There have been stories of, ummm, "uninformed" workers, so print out the article, familiarize yourself with it, and if you meet resistance, politely/firmly stand your ground and ask for someone higher up the food chain if need be. The GPU is part of the logic board, so "repairing" it means replacing the logic board (Some workers have tried to play word games, saying the logic board needed to be replaced so it wasn't a covered repair because it wasn't just the GPU. Grrrrrr!). Good luck!
