Artevino

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

I know there are multiple discussions out there dealing with this problem, but I have yet to see one of them resolved.  I'm hoping someone out there has a real resolution to this problem, and would be willing to post it here.

 

I'm running an Intel Core i7 2.66 GHz MacBook Pro (video card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M), often with a Dell external monitor---either with the laptop clamshell open or closed;  however, this problem happens whether the monitor is connect or not, clamshell open or closed . . .

 

Seemingly at random, the screen (both screens if the external monitor is connected) goes black.  It can happen when very little software is running, and I am doing something as simple as just moving a Finder window from one location to another.  It also happens when I am working in Photoshop and other software.  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 then get a automatic report generated to send to Apple (I've sent them about 100 by now).

 

I do not have "hot corners" activated, I have unchecked "Automatically adjust brightness as ambient light changes" in the display prefs, and I've unchecked "Automatic graphics switching" and "Automatically reduce brightness" in the energy saver prefs, since these were some of the suggestions I had read in previous posts.  None of this has made a difference.

 

I have spoken to Apple support, who suggested this could be a problem with over-heating.  I've installed iStat Pro to monitor the temps, but they don't seem out of whack at all.  I can go days without the screen going black at all, and then I can have a day where it happens several times.  I'm trying to avoid bringing the computer in to a technician because, inevitably, I won't be able to replicate the issue in the shop, and then I'll be paying $150/hr. for nothing.

 

Does anyone out there have a resolution for this problem?  I'd be eternally grateful for a post.  Thank you.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on May 2, 2013 2:29 PM

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

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  • by Pindify,

    Pindify Pindify Oct 15, 2015 6:38 AM in response to rtp544
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 15, 2015 6:38 AM in response to rtp544

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

  • by pukucho,

    pukucho pukucho Jan 21, 2016 5:34 AM in response to Ned Block
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 21, 2016 5:34 AM in response to Ned Block

    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?

  • by judobscure,

    judobscure judobscure Jan 28, 2016 8:35 AM in response to pukucho
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 28, 2016 8:35 AM in response to pukucho

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

     

    I never knew there was a recall.

  • by Niteshooter,

    Niteshooter Niteshooter May 12, 2016 4:58 AM in response to judobscure
    Level 2 (454 points)
    May 12, 2016 4:58 AM in response to judobscure

    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….

  • by Niteshooter,

    Niteshooter Niteshooter May 12, 2016 5:23 AM in response to pukucho
    Level 2 (454 points)
    May 12, 2016 5:23 AM in response to pukucho

    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?

  • by Jane McWill,

    Jane McWill Jane McWill Jun 1, 2016 12:47 PM in response to Niteshooter
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 1, 2016 12:47 PM in response to Niteshooter

    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.

  • by lucore,

    lucore lucore Jul 21, 2016 4:21 PM in response to Pindify
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 21, 2016 4:21 PM in response to Pindify

    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.

  • by russellfromreservoir,

    russellfromreservoir russellfromreservoir Sep 21, 2016 5:39 PM in response to Artevino
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 21, 2016 5:39 PM in response to Artevino

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

     

    Russell.

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