Macbook Pro (15" early 2011) horizontal lines on screen and not booting...?

The program starts tomorrow moron958. If you're outside of the States or Canada, it starts February 27.

I still don't understand Apple's reasoning behind the way they have set up the recall unless they truly don't understand at all what is going on with their manufacturing process. The way it reads, it looks like their simply going to keep replacing logic boards, except now they're doing it for free. Why not just give everybody a free 2014 MBP and call it a day? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that's probably going to be cheaper for them and it's going to satisfy their customers better. But who cares, at least repairs are free. Maybe they'll change their mind later.

Released Feb 20th, there is now a quality program for 15" MacBook Pros that exhibit video issues. Contact apple technical support or visit your nearest service provider to see if yours was an affected model

I'm new to this forum so I'll apologise for anything stupid I might say.

I have a Macbook Pro (late 2011). Last week the computer wouldn't boot. The screen showed a green apple with horizontal lines during startup and it would not progress past a blank gray screen with the fans going nuts for some time. Restarted several times and nothing. Reseted the NVRAM/PRAM and also nothing happened.

I took the MBP to a AASP (TSI Informatica) in Sao Paulo (Brazil) and after a couple of days they called me reporting that the laptop had a problem in the logic board and it needed to be replaced. They also said this issue wasn't related to "video" and therefore was not eligible for the repair program announced by Apple on February 19th this year. Since the computer was not in the program the cost of the repair would be 700 usd.

I'm not convinced with the AASP response. The same problem was extensively discussed in this thread, with dozens of users reporting the same issue suggesting this might be a graphics card issue.

Does anyone know if this is in fact a video issue? Has anyone with the same problem as mine that has gotten their MTB repaired by Apple in the repair program?

Thanks for reading.

Sounds to me like the people at TSI - Informática don't know what in the blue moon they're talking about. Your problem is the same as everybody else's here from what I can tell. If you have lines across the screen during startup, that's a clear sign that something's wrong with the graphics.

The GPUs on MacBook Pros are imbedded into the logic board, so of course you have a logic board problem. It is also a problem with the video card and should be eligible for the repair program. The repair program will allow the entire logic board to be replaced.

I would try to convince them that your problem is the same as everybody else's who is eligible for the repair, and if they still don't repair it for free try somewhere else.

Do you have an actual Apple Store in your area? That's where I took mine, and they've been great about repairs. They eventually just gave me a brand new laptop for free (although they probably wouldn't now that the repair program is in place). I did have to drive an hour to get there, but it was worth it. I'm in the United States though, not sure how it is in Brazil.

I'm traveling right now so I thought the best thing I could do from where I am was to call Apple Support (also there are no Apple Stores in Sao Paulo).

I just spoke on the phone with a guy from Apple Support in Brazil. He basically said that if the tests the AASP ran on my computer did not show any defect in the graphics processor, the macbook is not in the repair program and therefore they would not replace the logic board. However, he said he would call tomorrow to the AASP to learn what kind of tests they did and understand what is happening (and maybe tell them to ran new tests on the MBP).

I'll have some news tomorrow night when he's going to call me with new information.

Have a good one.

Good news. Earlier today I got a call from Apple Support. The guy didn't wanna give me much information, only that the people from the AASP reviewed my case and that someone from the AASP would call me later today. Someone from TSI Informatica (the AASP) called me, he basically apologized for te misunderstood, blamed Apple network being down (not sure what that means), so they couldn't update my computer problem status and Apple could authorize the repair on my computer. I should get the MacBook with the logic board replaced by the end of the next week with no charges.

Thanks for the help. Next week I'll post new info.

Just got my computer back from the AASP with the logic board replaced. So far so good.

What really bothered me was the customer service at the AASP (TSI Informatica). I had to speak to Apple Support (which was really considerate and efficient, I should admit) so the AASP would acknowledge my MBP was part of the repair program.

Best,

Filipe

Well this might be a new twist but i have a late 2007 15 inch MBP. I had a display issue in late January and had the logic board and battery replaced. The issue cropped up again a month ago and they replaced the display, all under Apple Care. Tonight I was using Chrome, running only iMessage, Chrome and Mail and Chrome stopped loading things. I closed the laptop and walked away from it only to hear it restart while closed. When I opened the screen it was restarting with the jagged red horizontal lines then boots into a blank gray screen, then reboots itself and starts all over. None of the key combinations talked about earlier in the thread have helped. Fortunately the logic board and display are both still under their 90 day warranty. i have a call scheduled with apple in the morning and an appointment at the genius bar on Thursday, which was the earliest I could get.

Has anyone heard of earlier model MBPs having this issue?

" It was returned as fault not reproducible, for which I had to pay £78."

Many years ago there was a similar recall and my client's Mac was rejected for recall for the same reason. A Mac Tech friend of mine and I ran the ASD for her machine on loop for over 4 hours when it finally kicked out an error code. I gave her the code and she went back to the Apple Store. Result - free repair and all other expenses reimbursed.

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That's what I would suggest doing. Get a program that is designed to stress the graphics card and run it until the machine breaks. What I found in my four GPU failures was that the machine tended to fail after cooling down from being outside in the sun for half an hour to an hour or so, so you might try that. Anything to get the GPU to snap. Once it snaps, Apple shouldn't give you any quarrel about the repair. I don't see why they would charge you 78 pounds just to have the machine sent off when they didn't even do anything to help repair it.

On another note, you may want to drive to your nearest Apple Store instead of a local Apple dealer. In my experience, the people at the Genius Bar are willing to do a lot to help you get what you need. I was not able to reproduce my graphics issue one time while I was up there (the computer suddenly started working as soon as I pulled it out to show the guy... go figure), but the guy at the genius bar had the logic board replaced anyway, free of charge (I was still under warranty from my previous repair).

I'm currently waiting for my check for $330 from Apple for the original repair. The advisor I spoke to on the phone almost bent over backwards just to get me the extra $20 in taxes that I didn't even know I paid and told him it wasn't necessary to pay me back for.

I have had this issue a couple of times in the not so distant past and my MacBook started a downward spiral last night. Working on a project then black screen. On reboot lines, spinning wheel then grey screen. Tried everything and found that holding the power button after a period of inactivity was the only thing that would let me boot back in. I even got a real blue screen of death a couple of times while trying to reboot.

Twice today it has happened to me which led me to this forum. I'm glad there is a fix for selected models unfortunately when I enter my serial number it does not acknowledge that it is effected. I have booked a call tomorrow and will discuss the issue then.

Could it be possible to have these issues and still not get a repair done on the extended program. I have had MacBook Pro's for 7 years now and have had my company buy apple devices for stock. I work in events and have an awards show tomorrow and need to now find another MacBook Pro or use my iPad for award stings and sound system balance. If this happened mid gig I'm sure I would be chased for compensation from my client. I hope Apple appreciate that purchasers of their products do so because they work (or are meant to) when asked to and are used in the highest regard by proffesionals because they are dependable. It's a shame that they have let this issue go for so long without comment.

I will post again tomorrow after I have spoken to apple.

Regards,

MAlcolm

Cosmic dolphin,

I know its been nearly a year since your post, but I did find that pressing the power button and keeping it pressed till it completely boots up worked! I was down for about a week and was freaking out. I hope it continues to work..... Thanks for starting the thread!

Same problem with my early 2011 MC723LL/A I am currently in India, where there are no Apple stores - Apple operates via Apple authorized re-sellers and Apple authorized service providers.

Anyway, I took it an AASP who confirmed the problem and explained that the logic board would be replaced free of cost. However I would be charged INR 2000 (about 32 USD) as "Service charges" So much for a "free replacement" 🙂 I spoke to Apple support and apparently the AASP is authorized to levy such a fee.

After having read through this thread, I now know that this replacement wont resolve the problem permanently; and given that i need to pay every time i get a "free replacement" I think i will have to tiptoe around my Mac's graphic card and avoid doing everything Mandolin Guy has suggested 🙂

Anyone through the Apple repair process can tell me if the logic board replacement is permanently effective?

I am having the same issue; Macbook Pro 17" early 2011. It happened about three or four times. All freezes, I hold start button, then restart, and the red stripes appear, and then a grey screen. I spent hours trying to boot, and eventually it works. Now it's working normally, but i've noticed the scrubby zoom in photoshop was not enabled, so i had to go to GPU settings and enable openGL drawing.

I hope my problem will be eligible for the repair program.

Thanks for this thread! I own a 15 inch MacBook pro early 2011 and suddenly 4 days ago all the images in the screen crashed and it didn't respond, so I restarted it by pressing the power button but it wouldn't start, it was frozen displaying the Apple logo and red horizontal lines no matter what I did, even the screen would turn blue if I would restar it pressing R + cmd. I read this thread so I took it to my nearest authorized reseller (we don't have Apple stores in Mexico), they did some tests and said my laptop was eligible for the quiality program or something and they would replace the logic board for free. I just got it back yesterday and it works like it used to, I hope this solution lasts. I'm kind of pleased because the service was great and it took them less than 2 days to repair it.