New MacBook - pink line on display

Question

Level 1

115 points

New MacBook - pink line on display

My new 2.0gHz black MacBook has developed a vertical pink line running from near the top of the right-hand side of the display to the bottom dock area.

I haven't reinstalled 10.4.6 or reset the PRAM; has anyone else experienced this same problem?

The line appears to be a single pixel wide and is fairly faint, but noticable. I've had this machine for a month and have just noticed it's there.

Ideas appreciated - a trip to the Apple Store is next!

G4 PowerBook, MacBook, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Aug 8, 2006 5:37 AM

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Answer 1

Shaffer22

Level 2

400 points

Aug 8, 2006 9:40 PM in response to Jim Moore PhD

Don't take your MacBook back just yet. There are a few things you can try. First, reset the PRAM. Do this by Restarting your Mac, and before the screen turns grey, hold down on the Command-Option-P-R keys. Keep holding until you hear two startup chimes, then let go. This will reset your PRAM. If this doesn't help, post back and let me know.

Jason.

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Answer 2

Jim Moore PhD Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 8, 2006 10:59 PM in response to L00k uP

Was your mom's laptop a MacBook?

I don't think this is a harddrive issue ... I've owned almost every PowerBook model since the 100, and this strikes me as a logic board or video card problem.

I do, however, think I should exchange it quickly ... thanks for the advice!

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Answer 3

Shaffer22

Level 2

400 points

Aug 9, 2006 8:39 AM in response to Jim Moore PhD

Ok, lets try resetting the PMU. Shut down the MacBook, and remove the battery as well as the AC adapter. Once all power is removed, hold down on the power button for 5-10 seconds. Then put the battery back in, and the AC adapter and boot it up.

If that doesnt work, go to System Preferences and in the second row select "Displays". Then all I want you to do is select a resolution other than 1280x800. Let the screen refresh, and then select 1280x800. Then restart your computer and see if that solves it. If not, there is one last resort we can do, but try these things and let me know.

Jason

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Answer 4

Jim Moore PhD Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 9, 2006 1:47 PM in response to Shaffer22

Jason, I don't know what I've written thus far that's convinced you I'm a Mac newbie ... but like you, I've owned about every piece of gear Apple's ever produced! I've had every major PowerBook version since the 100. I've been an early adopter of every Apple innovation including Newtons and MacBooks ... and lived to regret it!

This isn't a PMU problem. It's either a physical screen defect or a logic board problem. Unfortunately, I don't have time to screw with it ... if I did, I might have bought a Windows machine long ago instead of becoming a Mac fanatic!

I was hoping someone else would have experienced the same problem, but obviously not ... so I'm heading to the Apple store and let them worry about it.

Thanks!

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Answer 5

Shaffer22

Level 2

400 points

Aug 9, 2006 2:33 PM in response to Jim Moore PhD

I'm sorry for the incorrect assumption. I was just going through some typical troubleshooting steps to rule it out, thats all. It doesnt hurt to try those things. However, did you try changing the display settings, I have seen some posts that claim that will work. If you don't want to try that, its fine, just thought I would offer some advice.

Good luck at the Apple store

Jason

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Answer 6

Jim Moore PhD Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 10, 2006 1:12 AM in response to brian231

Brian, I tried resetting the PMU some days ago ... the pink line was still there at restart.

I've just finished trying to reset the PMU again, and really wish I hadn't. The machine won't restart properly, and the screen is filled with gradually darkening vertical lines.

I'm just going to take it in and see if the Genuis Bar can help. I'll let you know the outcome!

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Answer 7

Shaffer22

Level 2

400 points

Aug 10, 2006 9:00 PM in response to Jim Moore PhD

Heres the fix from Apple:

First, reset the PRAM, and the boot into OS X as normal.

Once you boot into OSX, change the screen resolution, to 1024-768 (streched). Reboot again, and then change the screen resolution back to the default settings. No more colored lines.

This is a defect with 10.4.7 that only affects some MacBooks. Apple told me they will have a update soon which will fix the problem.

Hope this helps

Jason

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Answer 8

EricLErak

Level 2

380 points

Aug 11, 2006 9:11 AM in response to Shaffer22

I think the defect your talking about shaffer is a much different defect the colored lines your talking about are colored lines that dont allow the computer to boot and the resolution change was the fix for it

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Answer 9

siusplau

Level 1

0 points

Aug 11, 2006 11:15 AM in response to Shaffer22

Shaffer,

This fix you posted worked for me. I don't understand why, but it did work.

I hope Apple bring up a new firmware for this problem, becouse it just doesn't let the OSX begins.

Thanks,
SiusPlau

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Answer 10

Jim Moore PhD Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 13, 2006 12:46 AM in response to siusplau

I took the MacBook to the nearby Apple Store ... the Genius in residence says the LCD is faulty and sent it away for replacement. He spent all of 30 seconds looking at the machine.

I don't like to point fingers, but I bought this machine from MacMall. In all, I've purchased three Apple laptops from them and all have had problems. I'm sure it's the luck of the draw, but I do find it interesting that I can purchase machines from Fry's, CompUSA and the Apple Store and have nothing wrong!

Thanks to everyone who offered their input. The Genius with whom I spoke said he'd never seen a single pink line like mine, so perhaps he's right ... the LCD may really be the culprit.

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Answer 11

Jim Moore PhD Author

Level 1

115 points

Sep 5, 2006 1:00 PM in response to Jim Moore PhD

Just a brief update for anyone who may still be following this thread: After more than a week waiting for a repair, I started making repeated calls to Apple UK. Finally, I spoke with a customer service manager who was very helpful - Apple replaced the MacBook and I received it last Thursday. Thus far, the new iteration is working wonderfully.

Persistance does pay off with these folks ... I think they finally got the idea that (a) I am an American and thus used to a higher level of Apple customer care than they are accustomed to offering in the UK and (b) I wasn't going away.

As far as I know, they're still waiting for LCDs from China or wherever.

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Answer 12

L00k uP

Level 1

8 points

Aug 8, 2006 8:58 PM in response to Jim Moore PhD

Exchange it as soon as possible. This happened to my moms laptop, it starts getting more and more lines, until the screen is unusable, and the harddrive just fried itself.

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Answer 13

Jim Moore PhD Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 8, 2006 11:00 PM in response to Shaffer22

Jason, resetting the PRAM has no effect. Thanks!

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Answer 14

brian231

Level 1

0 points

Aug 10, 2006 12:10 AM in response to Jim Moore PhD

Did you try resetting the PMU? I had the exact same symptoms a few minutes ago. After resetting the PMU, my pink line went away. I had assumed that I had a bad LCD screen from the symptoms.

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