Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

1)  I read gfxCardStatus used to allow the user which graphics to use, but that this is no longer an option in the current version

Some people said to use version 2.2.1, not the current one. You can donwload it in internet.

2)  How does one install anything on a laptop that boots to a grey screen?

After the grey screen, usually the laptop's fan start to spin, since it becomes hotter. Put the laptop in a closed bag. Wait for a moment, it will automatically shutdown because of the heat. Immediately after shutdown, take out from the bag, and turn it on. Usually it will boot using integrated graphics, so you can boot normally. Good luck.

You can boot your computer into safe boot if it locks on a grey screen, simply start your computer and wait for the chime to finish, then hold down the shift key, and continue holding it until a status bar is displayed, then you can release the key, it should boot into safe mode.

Then you can do what I did, based on earlier suggestions here, move all the AMD drivers to a folder on the desktop, I do not remember the exact folder they reside in, but there are many helpful suggestions in earlier posts on this thread that will give advice.

After I did that, my computer started to boot properly, mind you it is without the AMD graphics, but those were causing the computer to lock up on boot and are of no use anyways.

In my experience, Mavericks is NOT the cause of the failing graphics cards.  My early 2011 MBP was failing.  One of the things I did to in hopes that it would correct the issue was upgrade to Mavericks - hoping it was a corrupt file in the OS.  That did not solve the problem - it continued to fail and I maybe got one good boot into Mavericks.

Hmm... Sudden influx of late 2011 models now. Been wondering when this was gonna happen. Mine was a late 2011 MBP and it went down at the end of April (bought it January 2012). So sad. Does the MBP late 2011 use the same logic board as the early 2011? If so that would be even more unfair for us late 2011 users, because we are getting doubly-old parts through Apple repairs. So sad indeed.

Looks like I'm tardy to the party. My faithful sidekick born in early 2011 succumbed to this tragic epidemic tonight. Nothing but a fancy white or blue screen paperweight now. I hope they still offer fixed rate repairs on 17 inch books. This should have at least run for another year.

I've had no major issues with Apple until now. With so much outcry over this issue it's disappointing that nothing is being addressed. As a consumer, disappointment should not come to mind when considering future investments...

I doesn't work with me

when I pressed shift key and the status displayed, my macbook screen goes blue

Je suis également affecté par ce maudit problème de GPU je ne peux me servir de mon Mac seulement sur la carte intègre avec l’appli GFXCardStatut

J’ai appelé Apple pour leur signaler le problème, je suis sûr qu’ils sont bien au courant, car c’est eux même qui m’ont conseillé d’utiliser GFXCardStatut !!! Pourtant ils ne font rien pour reconnaitre le problème, je serais bien curieux de savoir combien les échanges de carte mère leur ont rapporté

J’espère qu’ils vont finir par reconnaitre ce problème et le résoudre, car c’est un vice caché, ce qui est sur c’est que moi je ne lâcherais pas l’affaire.

traduction google:

I am also affected by this problem cursed GPU I can use my Mac only on the map integrates with App GFXCardStatut

I called Apple to report their problem, I’m sure they are well aware, as it is themselves who advised me to use GFXCardStatut! Yet they do nothing to recognize the problem, I’d be curious to know how trade motherboard reported their

I hope they will eventually recognize this problem and solve it, because it is a defect, what is certain is that I do not lâcherais the case.

That's how I got my early 2011 to boot. I held shift key down till it showed hard disc

and recovery mode. I chose heard disk, and it took time but the second tiime I did this it booted onto my regular screen with password. I haven't turned it off since. That month around July 5th.

Sorry. My iPad keeps replacing my words.

Another case of early 2011 MBP 15'' coming from Croatia... all the same well known symptoms with final crash at the end.

It looks like we are shouting without voice

Let me tell you my experience:

1) Two weeks ago I suddenly had a red flash and eh screen going black. I restarted it and I came at a grey screen. The second time I restarted verything seemed to be normal again. I looked on the net what the problemwas and quickly found out that the GPU could be failing

2) My MBP was always in a Speck case, so I topok it out to have the best possible airflow possible. everything seemed to run correctly. However after a few days the problem returned and was worse. Only leaving the computer cool down for 20 minutes would allow to restart again. I installed gfxcardstatus and only kept on using the integrated crd. That worked 8and works) but obviously that was not a viable option on the long run.

3) Contacted Apple support and after a few days they called me. The technician immediately understood that the GPU was the problem

4) Back with general support I asked them what they copuld do for me. apple does not recognize the problem as general so I should have to pay for the repair myself.

5) I told the guy that I wopuld rahter buy a new laptop then investing in something that probably would be broken again in a few months.

6) after much hassle, he conceded me a discount of 100 euro on a new laptop. However, as i am a student and have the student discount, that discount is not valid. I asked for it anyway to give it to my dad.
7) Pity that such an expensive tool fails. However, actually it is a good reason to get rid of the noise machine that this MBP 2011 was. it always was hot with fans spinning. I hope the new MBP will be more silent.

Pity that such an expensive tool fails.

Billion dollar Space Shuttles fail, cost does not = perfection.

I think the point was that the MacBook Pro model that most of us are having problems with is the top of the line computer. Mine sold for just under $3000 and it is not even 3 years old. That is a lot of money per year compared to the my PC and effectively, to date the cost of ownership has been 14 times more when compared to my PC.

I am not one that is going to argue that Apple has an obligation to fix this issue, but there is obviously a design or component flaw that existed when it was manufactured, but did not manifest itself until recently. By selling AppleCare, Apple implies even if not stated directly, that they believe their product will perform for at least three years without significant issues. I did too! I am just hoping that Apple will do as I have seem them do when under Jobs direction and fix the issue even when out of warranty.

At least, I want Apple to state if they will NEVER issue a recall program on this GPU issue in the future ASAP.

Too many users are stuck inside the horrible state.

Then we all can finally move on.

The most effective way to let Apple know how you feel is via the Feedback line. Here all you are doing is complaining to other Apple users like yourself.

Some will sympathise, some will not, none can have any effect on your problem.