Macbook pro retina flicker

I bought my daughter the MBPro with retina display in Sept. after suffering through several years of Dell issues. As a previous Mac user/owner--I really believed Apple would be a good investment to avoid technical glitches that would elude and defy customer service. However--after using the rMBP for about a month--my daughter who lives away at school is having the same issue you describe. I took it to apple store over the holiday and they ran "diagnostics" on it for 5 days--found nothing they said--I wouldn't just walk away--I thought perhaps is it a powersupple issue so they gave me a new powercord. Now--it is happening again--intermittent--more often--and I was on the phone with Apple care for 2 hours last night--their solution is to wipe the computer and reinstall the OS but that means I have to get the computer backed up effectively and/or take it to the store to run more tests--putting it back into my lap to fix--totally inconvenient since the laptop is with my daughter in Chicago--anyway--I am so frustrated with Apple--after reading several threads it appears this is a very very common problem--they deny they have ever heard of it...I just spent $3300 to avoid this--I really think I had better service with Dell--replacement and in home service came with it! Any more ideas/solutions on this since Dec.?

Hello,

In my case, deleting (or first renaming) /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist solved the issue !

thank you for your help/post--but I'm not sure what you mean--how do I go about doing this--can you give me a step by step to provide for my daughter? Thank YOU!!

"Did you get to keep your data when they replaced the logicboard? The SSD isn't soldered on there is it?"

I took my 15" rMBP into the Apple Store in early December with the screen flicker issue. They replaced the logic board and wiped the SSD. All was fine until last weekend, when the flicker started again. It's worse this time than it was last time.

It's REALLY annoying as my TimeCapsule thinks it's a new computer because of the new logic board, so I've lost easy access to my backups. Now I'm going to have to go through it all again it seems.

I had the problem for a while now as well. I took my rMBP to an Apple Premium Reseller for repair on Monday and got it back yesterday. They told me that the problem could not be fixed by them, since it is NOT a hardware issue. It seems to be a software bug, probably in the EFI/UEFI and can only be fixed through a software update from Apple. They told me that Apple is currently investigating the issue. So I guess we have to wait for an EFI Update from Apple.

At the store they told me that they had the same problem with another rMBP earlier and ended up replacing the Screen Panel and the Logicboard twice on the rMBP, but it didn't solve the issue. So they contacted Apple and they told them that it is a Software bug.

This problem is so ridiculous it is funny. I've been using primarily Macs since 1990, and I'm really starting to hate them for their consistant denial of widespread problems such as these. On two other occasions, I've gone in with well documented (on their own forums no less) problems, and the response is always, "I haven't heard about that."

I really do hope this flicker problem is software (seems unlikely though). I've still not taken mine in, as the flicker problem happens so infrequently, I'm surely not going to be able to reproduce it in front of a "Genius". I've not been able to pin down any kind of reproduceable steps.

The best theory I've read in this thread in my opinion is that there is a problem (short?) with the wires to the display.

Cheers,

Ryan

All I can say is that I was consistently having the problem. Probably would accur about every twenty minutes. I sent my laptop to the apple depot in Houston on a monday had it back in my hands on wednesday. they replaced the LCD Clamshell and the MLB. I have had the unit back since December 26 and have not had a problem at all. I am personally a Apple Certified Technician and work at a Apple Authorized Service Provider and we have not recieved any information reguarding the problem nor have I seen any customers with the problem besides my personal laptop. So if many people have had their MLB replaced and it doesnt solve the problem could be the LCD Clamshell and also FYI the clamshell was a Samsung before and was a Samsung after just so you guys know. I will keep you updated if I have a problem.

Hey jps24, if you refer to one of my previous posts you will see I am in the same position as you. My screen, so entire top clamshell was replaced and since then I have not had the problem. I'm sure this is the solution to the problem.

so the obvious question I have for both cabralp and jps24 is how did you get them to respond to your needs? I can't get anywhere with apple support. it's ridiculous. any advice? sounds like I'm not the only one.

So I just took my MBPr into apple today. Brought a video in to show the flicker issue. We talked about what it could possibly be for a good while, they said it deff is not the screen. I mentioned a wire pinch and he said possibly that because I had my screen replaced before because it was an LG. They are going to run some test as usual and nothing will come up but he is going to replace the logic board. I have read multiple reports about how the logic board has fixed the problem and also how it hasn't. He also ordered an extra screen and said he might just replace both to see if that helps even though we don't think it's the screen (made sure I was getting a Samsung screen) -- but I will keep everyone posted.

I've also had this issue since I got my MBPr when it was released. I've had to send it in twice. The first time, they couldn't replicate the issue and they sent it back without any repair.

After many hours of being on the phone with applecare I spoke with a senior advisor and he was able to 'override' the diagnosis and go straight to replacing the logic board. After receiving it back a week or so ago the problem still persists. It's extremely annoying to have issues like this for such an expensive machine.

They told me they wouldn't be able to give me a complete replacement at this point, since it was purchased in July. So ridiculous...

Josh. Fight it. If you keep fighting it they should give you a new one in time. They sold us faulty products and need to do a recall on the ones doing this. Just keep calling until they replace it and don't give up. Let us know how everything is going.

Wen you got the logic board replaced did it work for a little without the flicker.

It's funny you mentioned that. It seemed like the issue was fixed when I received it back, but the flickering started back up again within a few days of having it back and using it.

We all need to keep fighting this until they fix it. Mine is at the shopping getting a new screen and logic board as we speak so I will be probably calling them in a week or so demanding a new product.

After speaking with applecare again, I am now sending in my computer for a third time for a screen replacement. After asking the advisor if they would replace my laptop if this doesn't resolve the issue he went on about saying this might be "normal", or an environmental issue and a full replacement wouldn't change it. I can't believe these people.

Hopefully this solves the problem, but I don't have high hopes. I'll keep everyone posted.