Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

eezacque wrote:

 

Csound1 wrote:

 

Darrell Stall wrote:

 

You haven't literally said "butt out",

You can't stop making stuff up can you.

 

So, you did literally say "butt out"? 

As I told young Darren, no.

But feel free to quote where I did.

kfitzpat3 wrote:

 

I'm wondering if the issues I describe below could be a result of the graphics card malfunction and especially since upgrading to Yosemite.  Since upgrading to Yosemite, my 2011 MacBook Pro 15" would take considerably longer time to boot.  I've had weird flickering of the screen which includes strange colored lines appearing, my computer overheats and the fan will sometimes run continuously for no apparent reason.  And as of yesterday, my computer will not boot AT ALL but gets stuck on a gray screen with the Apple Logo and a progress bar that freezes about a third of the way across.  And the computer overheats while it's trying to boot which causes the fan to run constantly.  My laptop is always in a stand which is slightly elevated on an angle for better air flow, thinking that would help to keep the laptop from overheating.

Also, I was able to do a hardware test using Option + D, even though my computer wouldn't boot.  The end result was "no trouble found".  Hmmmmm.

So in short, I have NO laptop at the moment.  Very frustrating. 

I've read all over the internet that there are issues with this particular model.  Hoping Apple will do something to rectify this problem that so many users are having.  I was considering buying an iMac, but now I'm not sure.  Apple's reputation seems to be headed downhill recently. Maybe I'll just switch back to a PC.  :-/

It would be in your best interest to start a new discussion regarding the problems that you are experiencing with your MBP.  Many others than could come to your aid and and advise you.  Here your post is buried and not very visible to the ASC community (despite the large type>

Ciao.

We need to keep our focus on the problem at hand.  Each of us has a MBP with a failing graphics system.  None of like the idea of paying for a top of the line machine and getting far less than we paid for.

We can scratch each other's eyes out or focus on the mountainous problem of getting Apple to pay attention.  There are no individuals at Apple that think of themselves as devious, yet few of us would say that Apple is acting as a virtuous actor in this situation.

Other than the graphics system our MBPs are highly reliable.  Only one part in thousands is causing all the issues being discussed.  Solder process is the same for all those other parts, yet only this one part is failing and at alarming numbers.  By searching the internet we can find other manufactures that used the same chip.  They clock it at a higher rate and do not experience the epidemic of failures we are reporting.

We need evidence that will get Apple's attention in businesses where ethics is not a primary mover, money is.  We need to impact Apple's bottom line.  As evidenced by the often repeated stories of people getting new machines after a succession of failed repair attempts.  They got the machines because it was cheaper than continuing to make repairs that did not have a long term successful outcome.

We are here.  We need to work together. 

What is the next right thing to do?

<Edited By Host>

OGELTHORPE wrote:

 

kfitzpat3 wrote:

 

I'm wondering if the issues I describe below could be a result of the graphics card malfunction and especially since upgrading to Yosemite.  Since upgrading to Yosemite, my 2011 MacBook Pro 15" would take considerably longer time to boot.  I've had weird flickering of the screen which includes strange colored lines appearing, my computer overheats and the fan will sometimes run continuously for no apparent reason.  And as of yesterday, my computer will not boot AT ALL but gets stuck on a gray screen with the Apple Logo and a progress bar that freezes about a third of the way across.  And the computer overheats while it's trying to boot which causes the fan to run constantly.  My laptop is always in a stand which is slightly elevated on an angle for better air flow, thinking that would help to keep the laptop from overheating.

Also, I was able to do a hardware test using Option + D, even though my computer wouldn't boot.  The end result was "no trouble found".  Hmmmmm.

So in short, I have NO laptop at the moment.  Very frustrating. 

I've read all over the internet that there are issues with this particular model.  Hoping Apple will do something to rectify this problem that so many users are having.  I was considering buying an iMac, but now I'm not sure.  Apple's reputation seems to be headed downhill recently. Maybe I'll just switch back to a PC.  :-/

It would be in your best interest to start a new discussion regarding the problems that you are experiencing with your MBP.  Many others than could come to your aid and and advise you.  Here your post is buried and not very visible to the ASC community (despite the large type>

 

Ciao.

There is a good chance you can get your MBP to boot again but it will be handicapped in what it can do.  It will boot into operation if the integrated processor is the only processor used.  Based on the symptoms your are reporting and my experiences as soon as the discrete processor is activated the machine will begin to fail.

You can reset some startup functions by reseting the SMC and PRN.  Then disconnecting the MagSafe will give priority to integrated operation when the machine boots.

SMC is done from a powered off machine with the MagSafe Connected.  Press at the same time shift, control, option and the power button.  Hold for 20 seconds.  PRN is done at power up so the MagSafe can be disconnected.  At power up press and hold P R  option   command   You will hear the bong continue to hold until you hear it for the third time than release and cross your fingers.  Its never worked for me on the first try after the graphic card started acting up.    For what its worth pressing command and R during power up seems to have the most success.    Command and R is what I use to access my Diskwarrior memory stick but there is nothing else plugged into my machine so I have no idea what it does or if its witch craft.

Worth a try.

What is PRN? I thought the commands you gave for that are for resetting NVRAM.
See - How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

SMC is System Management Controller.
See - Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) - Apple Support
Command R is "Recovery.

See - OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support
I've done the SMC reset before, but this time held it down for 20-30 sec. instead of only a few.

Had also reset NVRAM, but did it again.
Now instead of just starting up and hanging at solid gray screen, screen went from solid gray to blue, then to something so bizarre I took a photo and will post image later, then back to blue.

Starting up in Recovery mode (Command R) brings up spinning globe Internet Recovery.

What is PRN, did you really mean PRAM?

Csound1 wrote:

 

What is PRN, did you really mean PRAM?

Yah... at my age there is a lot of CRS going on and I was too lazy to lookup the acronym.  The computer doesn't seem to care if I remember the acronym as long I remember the keys.  Yah... I am old enough to remember the words for MODEM and RADAR and how core memories, disk paks, tape drives, punch cards worked and the evolution from Napoleon to teletype to the ASCII codes used yet today.

My digits have rung more salt water out of my socks then you have sailed over.

for some reason I was not receiving emails from this thread on my phone for the last 7 days anymore, all of a sudden, got +160 messages, read them all.

still amazed to see that half of these posts are related to csound1 little fights, the one that's always complaining about how diluted this thread is.

there might be a small percentage of people reporting problems with computers that are not 2011 mbp's but you're the only one complaining about it and there's far more useless/disturbing posts from you.

even make it harder for a new comer to find a useful post, thanks to you.

worst of all, just like Apple won't ever fix these poorly designed but highly expensive computers, you will never leave this thread alone and keep annoying everyone like you're on a mission.

so wonderful.

Add me to list   My 2011 Macbook Pro is showing all the same issues.......Apple, please fix it!!!

flowflowerz wrote:

 

Add me to list   My 2011 Macbook Pro is showing all the same issues.......Apple, please fix it!!!

Have you contacted Apple directly about this? Posting on a forum asking them to fix it will get you nowhere. Either call them or book an appointment with a Genius. We need all the numbers we can get.

Poscar wrote:

 

For what it's worth, one more Apple customer feeling screwed....

 

Macbook Pro early 2011 (8,2) with the graphics failure issue.

Had it once, got it repaired under warranty, now the same problem on the new board (which is out of warranty now).

First it corrupted, then it won't boot. Unusable computer. Recall time!

Have you contacted Apple directly about this? Posting on a forum will get you nowhere. Either call them or book an appointment with a Genius. We need all the numbers we can get.

gayankankanamge wrote:

 

I have the exact same problem. My MacBook Pro stopped working with the symptoms described in this forum. It won't start up!

Have you contacted Apple directly about this? Posting on a forum will get you nowhere. Either call them or book an appointment with a Genius. We need all the numbers we can get.

My 2011 MBP started to 'act' up a few weeks ago while in Windows 7 via BootCamp. I got a 'video driver stopped working' exception and the OS automatically booted itself. At first, I thought it was the video driver that was used in BootCamp (it was a few versions out of date), so I updated to the latest and it seemed to work fine for a few hours. The exception happened again so I booted back into OS X and that was when I started experiencing all of the 'flickering', 'purple / yellow / green' screens at start-up, etc. Eventually, I was unable to start up into OS X at all, as all that would come up was a yellow screen.

I immediately found this thread, read comments, and decided to take it in. I made an appointment with a 'Genius', explained the problem (in which he stated he was aware of, and was also aware of this thread), and recommend me to do the flat-rate fix for $310 for a 'possible logic board replacement'. The $310 fixed rate is definitely the way to go if looking into taking it into an Apple store. The $310 is not necessarily for a 'logic board replacement' but for any replacement part that is deemed needed when performing their tests.

I do understand this fix is not a 'permanent' fix, as many other have stated that they still had the same issue after getting the logic board replaced. Though, I need the laptop ASAP, so this was my only option.

jimoase wrote:

 

Csound1 wrote:

 

What is PRN, did you really mean PRAM?

Yah... at my age there is a lot of CRS going on and I was too lazy to lookup the acronym.  The computer doesn't seem to care if I remember the acronym as long I remember the keys.  Yah... I am old enough to remember the words for MODEM and RADAR and how core memories, disk paks, tape drives, punch cards worked and the evolution from Napoleon to teletype to the ASCII codes used yet today.

 

My digits have rung more salt water out of my socks then you have sailed over.

So, PRAM it is then.

Same issues with my MBP 2011.

The workaround that seems to be working for me is running:

sudo nvram gpu-power-prefs=%01%00%00%00

to force the integrated card on from EFI . See: https://github.com/codykrieger/gfxCardStatus/issues/184

If your system is unable to boot at all (like mine), boot in single user mode, move the AMD/ATI drivers out of the way first and try again. This makes it boot using basic VGA drivers which works but is super slow. You can move them back to where they were after you run the command above.