MacBook Pro screen goes black at random ... does anyone have this resolved?!?!

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook Pro

Model Identifier: MacBookPro6,2

Processor Name: Intel Core i5

Processor Speed: 2.53 GHz

Number Of Processors: 1

Total Number Of Cores: 2

L2 Cache (per core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 3 MB

Memory: 8 GB

Processor Interconnect Speed: 4.8 GT/s

Boot ROM Version: MBP61.0057.B0C

SMC Version (system): 1.58f17

Hardware UUID: 1166147B-DF5D-5598-8ACD-86470D60380F

Sudden Motion Sensor:

State: Enabled

I'm out of luck, right? No AppleCare, warranty probably expired. It fades to a blank screen and is unresponsive, forcing me to hold down the power button to get back up and running. At first I thought it was my hardware for dual monitors but I wasn't sure, so I tried to isolate the issue by ditching the dual 27" for my Samsung 45" TV to see if would only happen w/ my monitors but it happens on the TV as well very randomly, I just started using my TV since Tuesday and yesterday it happened once and also today. A few weeks ago it was 4-6 times a day, maybe once every few weeks to a month for the past 3 months (roughly guessing). The frequency doesn't seem as bad as some cases read here. This is exactly why I failed to update to Apple's Mavericks and everything else, don't fix it if it ain't broke type of mentality after so much stress from other Apple devices.

I've had so many issues w/ their software updates effecting my devices in different ways depending on device (Ipod2, 32GB, iPad2) over the years that I told myself I wouldn't let that happen to my MBP that upgraded from the stock MBP 15" so I'm still running 10.6.8. I have all my music apps like Logic and ProTools AND my poker programs and settings saved and I can't afford to mess that up and cost me time which is money plus fees for repair and new parts (not cheap at all). To be fair they were mostly issues w/ syncing properly and not functioning all the time but if I pay top $ for devices, I shouldn't have to deal with so many problems. Just the thought of having to send this off to get fixed makes me mad, and that's IF they'll do it, which I doubt. So I'm going to have to spend $350-$800 to repair this? I can't have the MBP crashing on me during sessions and I'm afraid it'll only get worse if I update any software.

I haven't tried using the MBP on it's own but I'm not interested in using it solo, I need my monitors. I read someone posting that overheating had to do with it and I would agree that being the culprit for a few reasons, but another posted his 2015 MBP was not hot at all and still faded. So confused and frustrated. Backing up all my files preparing for the worst. Always been a PC user pre-MBP, I wanted Apple for it's stability and it was worth every penny, until I had software, syncing and other issues w/ my devices. My MBP crashed maybe twice since now and has been a rock up until the last few months. If not for this issue, I would've been a MBP user for life, but now I'm not so sure. Probably not buying anymore Apple products either way. If Apple loses it's stability either in the software or hardware, the price tag is not worth paying IMO. The iphone didn't have any issues, flawless. The ipod has syncing issues like the ipad2, I can't put new files on them. Now this?

I have this problem too and it seems to be a magnet issue. It only happens when the laptop is resting on a case with a magnetic latch.

Hi,

My Mac Pro (Mid 2010) has been running through the random black screen issue for quite a long time. I've sent hundreds of reports to Apple anytime it happened and NO answer has been received.

I´ve just seen your post saying an Apple recall was in place to deal with the issue. Unfortunately, it is today that I am aware of it so the recall is no longer active. I wonder how to get Apple involved in this problem so I could get my laptop repaired for free ASAP. It is interesting to know that I stopped by an Apple Shop long time ago and no word was given as to the recall you mentioned in your post....

Thanks

I in the same boat with you rtp544. Why did Apple close the recall?

Thanks Ned, This is my problem with my early 2015 macbook pro! When the magnet from my case goes directly beneath the left side of the machine it goes black. If I move it again quickly enough it just comes right back but if it stays there for a second or two then I have to press any key to get it to come back to life.

Does anybody know if this causes the machine any long-term problems? Does anybody know if this can be "fixed" or covered by warranty?

I too have noticed the black screen magnet problem with my late 2011 MacBook Pro.

I never knew there was a recall.

A couple of things, my friend has a Mid 2010 MacBook Pro and it just suddenly crashed then would not restart being stuck on the spinning wheel. He took it to an authorized repair depot who told him his video card was bad after running the VST test and failed. His MBP is considered obsolete and apparently no repair parts are available.

Now this was the first time he has had any problems and had not had a black screen crash to the best of my knowledge. I worked on the laptop after hearing his issues and figured it was a bad hard drive. It was as a replacement solved the issue. After running it over night to reinstall his applications the following morning it booted into a black screen! Knowing of this issue I did a hard reboot and it came back. It went black once more but since then it's been ok.

Prior to replacing the hard drive I did notice a fair bit of dust in the fans so took a compressor and blew out the dust. This is something I typically do to any computer I work on out of habit. We have had many laptops come through with dust issues that have cause hardware crashes so that's just something I do now. After reading this thread I'm going to get the laptop back and do a more thorough cleaning.

Now what was interesting after quizzing hime some more about his laptop is he tells me he uses a base with cooling fan and my guess is that this is why he's only just started to have a problem. I never used a base when working on his laptop so that could be why it decided to fail even after cleaning. For those with this laptop and having these issues try checking and cleaning your internal fans. Also see if one of the many cooling bases on the market help.

On a different note I have an early 2011 MacBook pro and there is a recall/extended warranty on them which expires in Dec 2016 so it might be prudent if you have one of these like me to go make an appointment at your local Apple Store and get it checked. https://www.apple.com/ca/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

This issue seems to be a lot more widespread then they let on….

Regarding the magnet issue.

That is very interesting, my first thought on this is that it is affecting the fan located close to the left side. Might be that the fan is getting a bit bogged down by a layer of built up dust and crud and the magnet causes just enough 'pull' to cause the fan to slow down even more or stop. Since there are two fans you might not hear it or do you notice that the fans get really loud?

I just had the black screen for the first time on a MacBook Pro that I use only off site. I've been using it more in the past two weeks for maybe 5 hours at a time. Today it had been on for 4.5 hours and worked fine until the screen went almost entirely black, so black that I could not see enough to do anything more than hit the return and hope I was escaping all programs and shutting down. By some miracle I didn't lose anything. I'm not using an exterior fan or base.

How can I find out when the machine was built? It was a hand-me-down from my son in 2011 to replace my even more elderly MacBook.

I have the same problem as well, along with rtp544. I never knew there was a recall. Your post is from almost a year ago. Did you contact Apple? Any progress with your MBP?

I'd hate to dump this laptop just because of this if it could be fixed, but I don't want to spend $5-600 on an old (mid 2010) computer.

I have also tried upgrading and reinstalling OSX. Neither strategy seems to help. Have you found a solution yet?

Russell.

Hey Artevino,

just came across your post here. I have the exact same issues with my rMBP late'13.

I had my display replaced at the Apple Store in the wake of the whole "staingate" thing. After the display was exchanged, I started having the same issues you described.

There doesn't seem to be a specific task that brings on the black screen. Even tho the screen is black, the computer is still audibly running, and the ONLY thing that brings it back is a hard shut down by holding down the power button for several seconds, and then pressing the power button again to start up.

I can go days without the screen going black at all, and then I can have a day where it happens several times.

I have the same observation about this malfunction. And also I'm trying to avoid turning in my Macbook to the Genius Bar, because it's uncertain whether the malfunction occurs when under revision by a technician. And I really don't want to have to leave my Mac for weeks at the store.

I have found that resetting the NVRAM and SMC helps to fix this problem temporarily, but I would like a permanent solution.

I realize your post is 3,5 years old, but have you found a solution yet? Or anyone else who might have the same problem? ANY help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Early 2015 mac book pro. Screen goes black. Sometimes shutting the lid and waiting a minute will start it again. Sometimes it just springs back into life.

I just recently got this problem. Did you get any resolution?

Today I found a solution that seems to have resolved my issue. Shoutout to the developer THANK YOU SO MUCH for this.

https://realmacmods.com/product/macbook-pro-nocrash-utility/