Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I just had my computer returned after a repair under this program.  So far, so good.  We'll see how it works out.

I just wanted to bring in my Macbook Pro15", 2011 for repair to my local dealer in Switzerland. After running the Apple provided test he said that Apple would not cover the logic board. Even tough the same gpu problems apply and he could even reproduce it. The Apple test brought an error message but not the error necessary to be eligible for the repair program, he said. I then called Apple Care and was on the phone for some time with them to explain the situation. Unfortunately it came to no solution for me. I can't believe it, my Macbook produces the EXACT same gpu problems (scrambled video and crash afterwards) as mentioned in all the posts and websites about this topic and they still refuse to help. They now want CHF 700.- which is about USD 715.- for the replacement of the logic board. I definitely won't go for that "solution". Shame on you Apple. Had this story with my old, white Macbook G3 once. At some point they refused to repair also only after like three years of use. I'm completely dissappointed in how Apple handles these issues and at the moment I can't imagine investing in another new MBP. I bought the MBP in Mai 2015 and now it's a piece of technocrap.

I can't believe people are still getting the run around from Apple over this issue.

I've just picked up my machine from my local Apple Store, which had it's logic board replaced FREE OF CHARGE after it's second GPU related failure. Thankfully I think I was lucky with the genius I saw, who just took my word for it, and realised I knew what I was talking about (seeing as I'd been through it all before), so didn't mess me about.

I disabled the AMD graphics drivers before I took it in, so I could at least get the thing to boot. Apple had left my hard drive in exactly the same state I'd left it in before I dropped it off, so it took me a while to figure out how to reenable them again to ensure it was all working again. After a few reboots and repaired permissions I managed to get the AMD drivers back in the extensions folder again in order to test the repair.

Well fingers-crossed so far, so good. I'm typing this post on it right now. Let's see how long the repair lasts this time  before it fails again...

obwianMacobi wrote:

 

I can't believe people are still getting the run around from Apple over this issue.

 

...................

 

Well fingers-crossed so far, so good. I'm typing this post on it right now. Let's see how long the repair lasts this time  before it fails again...

We know that others, like each of us, do the best job they can or have a reason for doing otherwise.

The people representing Apple are doing the best job they know how.  For decades I traveled the world fixing issues with electronic devices.  The vast majority of the time those problems were the result of faulty instructions.  When the instructions are cleaned up, the problem gets fixed in short order because no one likes to end the day accomplishing nothing.

There are people within Apple who know this problem with MacBook Pros and know how to fix it.  If all Apple representatives follow instructions to the letter some of us will get our machines fixed.  Some of the repair supply chain will be reliable and some will not.  We can probably collect enough information on the repeat failures to put a circle on a map of the worst places to get a replacement motherboard, the worst Apple stores to bring your failing MacBook Pro.

We can review the comments on this list for frequency of names mentioned and get a good idea of where to go and where to avoid.

Will you post your results here when you have completed the research please.

Csound1 wrote:

 

Will you post your results here when you have completed the research please.

Which city are you in today?  London, Chicago or ? 

Yes....

Neither, and why are you asking for personal information? instead of answering the question.

Once you have finished the research you outlined can we rely on you to post the results here for the benefit of other posters?

Csound1 wrote:

 

Neither, and why are you asking for personal information? instead of answering the question.

 

Once you have finished the research you outlined can we rely on you to post the results here for the benefit of other posters?

I asked where you are today because you volunteered the information in the past during one of your previous contentious responses.

My answer was "Yes".  Is englsh a second language for you? 

Your question was:

Csound1 wrote:

 

Will you post your results here when you have completed the research please.

My answer was:

"Which city are you in today?  London, Chicago or ? 

Yes...."

Is your interest sincere?  Why?

Again with the personal information requests, I am feeling that you are showing an unhealthy interest in me lately Jim.

But I will look forward to the results of your research keenly all the same, I'll even remind you about it when if it doesn't appear.

Csound1 wrote:

 

Again with the personal information requests, I am feeling that you are showing an unhealthy interest in me lately Jim.

 

But I will look forward to the results of your research keenly all the same, I'll even remind you about it when if it doesn't appear.

My previous response was removed.  I used the word contentious in association with this person's response.  Please click on the authors name and check the Activitiy tab.  Read a few responses.  Maybe "contentious" is not a complete description.

My interest in the author's location arise from cities Csound1 mentioned in previous responses, nearly a year ago, along with the explanation of having offices in several locations.  Those comments are part of the comments listed under the Activity tab.

When presented with a statement including "... when if it doesn't appear."; would a reasonable person see this as a passive agressive statement?

I concluded my deleted response as needing to get back to the question at hand.  Why does Apple have an Extended Warranty program for the MacBook Pro 2011 when other, less faulty, products do not have an Extended Warranty program?  According to the editors of this discussion that factual statement is conjecture.  I further said there is a growing body of evidence that repairs made under the Extended Warranty program are being reported by participants, in this discussion, as also failing.  That too was called conjecture.  Your responses to this list are not considered to be factual by the editors of this discussion.

This same information has been made public on other discussion sites.

My previous response was removed.  I used the word contentious in association with this person's response.  Please click on the authors name and check the Activitiy tab.  Read a few responses.  Maybe "contentious" is not a complete description.

 

My interest in the author's location arise from cities Csound1 mentioned in previous responses, nearly a year ago, along with the explanation of having offices in several locations.  Those comments are part of the comments listed under the Activity tab.

Your post was removed because I find your continuing obsession with where I am located disturbing, it's as if you are stalking me. So I reported it. It is none of your business where I am located, nor why I post here. Tend to your own house.

Hi - first time posting -

Our early 2011 MacBook Pro 15 inch froze 5/2015 shortly after horizontal lines, split desktop screens, and blue screen. "Failed Logic Board" fixed for free under Apple quality program by local shop "The Mac Guys" in LaCrosse, WI, US. Now I am having occasional return of horizontal lines and split desktop after heavier use of laptop, but it restarts fine. We are not sure if we are going to simply get a new computer or try to keep working on this. But if there is a tally somewhere that is tracking concerns after the logic board is replaced, I would contribute our information. 

Oh joy. Adding myself to the list. I started experiencing problems in the last 7-9 days. Last night the machine shut down on me and will not restart. Have an appt to take it in to Apple store today. Surprised I made it this long.

I was told by an only slightly reliable source that the repair should be good for 1 year, so should it fail again within 1 year you should be ok even if it's past Feb 2016. Hoping that is the case.

Will update after I get my computer back.

I had upgrades and they fixed mine.