Macbook screen flash / blink

Question

Level 1

17 points

Macbook screen flash / blink

I downloaded the firmware update

support.apple.com/kb/DL1502

I am running 10.6.8, I do have 8GB memory, it is a macbook. Is says "the software is not supported on your system" and yet I still have the flashing / blinking problem. Does this only work on macbook pro? The Boot ROM version is currently MB51.007D.B03

I just had a fan replacement. The previous fan was making a very loud horrific noise periodically. I am not sure if everything if fixed and this flashing has got me worried. Here I thought I found a solution and it won't install.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Late 2008 unibody

Posted on Aug 10, 2014 4:47 AM

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Answer 1

kaz-k

Level 8

49,104 points

Aug 10, 2014 5:22 AM in response to ShDe

Firmware of my MacBook 5,1(Late 2008 aluminium unibody) is MB51.007D.B03 which is supposed to be the latest.

You don't need to update.

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Answer 2

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 10, 2014 5:29 AM in response to ShDe

Please see this link - EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs

There is a last modified date at the bottom of the link, the current one is 8 Aug 2014.

There is a piece of software called EtreCheck, which produces a comprehensive report. If you want to run it then the flashing/blinking problem can be analyzed further.

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Answer 3

ShDe Author

Level 1

17 points

Aug 10, 2014 5:50 AM in response to Loner T

Okay so the version is correct. Then what might be causing the display problem?

The blinking is very fast, almost unnoticeable, almost. From what I have been noticing lately it happens more often when I am running more things. Almost like the video and the game do not like to share a resource, but I don't see how that would affect the display; the computer has does not become slower.

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Answer 4

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 10, 2014 6:48 AM in response to ShDe

Can you run a Hardware test - Using Apple Hardware Test?

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Answer 5

ShDe Author

Level 1

17 points

Aug 12, 2014 10:10 AM in response to Loner T

I ran the extended test and there was nothing wrong.

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Answer 6

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 12, 2014 11:30 AM in response to ShDe

The Extended test is time consuming, but does not always report issues. If you have the luxury of time, you can probably run it overnight, once more.

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Answer 7

ShDe Author

Level 1

17 points

Aug 14, 2014 2:47 PM in response to Loner T

I do not need to run another test when the first one turned up nothing. I will not burn out my hardware.

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Answer 8

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 14, 2014 3:13 PM in response to ShDe

One option is to take it to place that put the fan in and let them try and diagnose it? Does this happen on an external monitor as well?

The nVidia 9400M may also have issues.

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Answer 9

ShDe Author

Level 1

17 points

Sep 17, 2014 5:09 PM in response to Loner T

They should have run the diagnostics while I was there that day; they also should have put the screws all the way back in. The place was an Apple store.

I do not have an external monitor and even if I had a tv/monitor to hook it up to I do not have the adapter/cords to do so.

I will be taking it back in for them to to the diagnostics that were skipped over.

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