Macbook pro 5,4 boots to black screen

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Macbook pro 5,4 boots to black screen

My macbook pro 5,4 boots to a black screen sometimes. There is sometimes a chime (mostly not) and the caps lock key lights up green when pressed but I can't see the screen. What helps is that I do a SMC reset and then restart again and it boots up normally. I usually shut down when I'm done and then when I attempt to restart the next day I run into trouble. It can sleep for short periods without a problem.

Any ideas?

This is what the console reports just I attempt to turn computer on:

3/10/15 4:59:36.859 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: assertion failed: 14C109: launchd + 160074 [A205063E-A036-3409-A251-C95F96607511]: 0xe

3/10/15 4:59:36.884 PM sntp[292]: time set +446864286.013074 s

3/10/15 4:59:36.859 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: assertion failed: 14C109: launchd + 160074 [A205063E-A036-3409-A251-C95F96607511]: 0xe

3/10/15 4:59:37.140 PM ntpd[141]: peer time.apple.com. @ 17.253.16.243

3/10/15 4:59:37.244 PM ntpd[141]: drift PPM:0.000 -> 95.456

3/10/15 4:59:37.273 PM cloudd[294]: Could not create primary backing account

3/10/15 4:59:37.524 PM Spotlight[270]: applications query - finished in 4.5e+08 seconds

3/10/15 4:59:37.881 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.spindump[297]) Service exited with abnormal code: 75

3/10/15 4:59:37.881 PM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.spindump) Service only ran for 0 seconds. Pushing respawn out by 10 seconds.

3/10/15 4:59:37.913 PM UserEventAgent[17]: Captive: CNPluginHandler en1: Authenticated

3/10/15 4:59:38.239 PM callservicesd[279]: Failed to get the bundle id

3/10/15 4:59:38.379 PM apsd[54]: Reporting com.apple.main-thread is hung

3/10/15 4:59:38.662 PM sandboxd[132]: ([84]) authd(84) deny file-write-create /private/var/db/mds/system/mdsDirectory.db.sb-0d96b865-fS0uRO

3/10/15 4:59:38.865 PM apsd[54]: Illegal subject name missing 'courier.push.apple.com' (2.5.4.3): ({

label = "2.5.4.6";

"localized label" = "2.5.4.6";

type = string;

value = US;

}, {

label = "2.5.4.8";

"localized label" = "2.5.4.8";

type = string;

value = California;

}, {

label = "2.5.4.7";

"localized label" = "2.5.4.7";

type = string;

value = Cupertino;

}, {

label = "2.5.4.10";

"localized label" = "2.5.4.10";

type = string;

value = "Apple Inc.";

}, {

label = "2.5.4.3";

"localized label" = "2.5.4.3";

type = string;

value = "courier.sandbox.push.apple.com";

})

3/10/15 4:59:38.923 PM sharingd[209]: 16:59:38.923 : SDStatusMonitor::kStatusWirelessPowerChanged

3/10/15 4:59:38.000 PM kernel[0]: en1: BSSID changed to 90:72:40:1a:20:5f

3/10/15 4:59:38.000 PM kernel[0]: en1: channel changed to 36,+1

3/10/15 4:59:39.111 PM configd[27]: network changed: v4(en1:10.0.1.53) v6(en1+:2605:e000:1313:4171:61be:fb2d:6143:e4b0) DNS! Proxy SMB

3/10/15 4:59:39.000 PM kernel[0]: BUG in process suhelperd[289]: over-released legacy external boost assertions (1 total, 1 external, 0 legacy-external)

etc etc

Thanks in advance

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Mar 10, 2015 6:07 PM

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Answer 1

my ginger

Level 5

4,904 points

Mar 10, 2015 6:42 PM in response to carlomed

First try a pram reset. Command/Option/P/R keys for three chimes. Then you can try going to recovery-Command R or Option R. use the utilities option and do a check/repair of your boot volume. Also repair permissions.

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Answer 2

carlomed Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 11, 2015 6:52 PM in response to my ginger

Thanks- still boots up to black screen every time I start. An SMC reset and then pressing power button boots it up without a problem

I also notice I have to have the macbook plugged in to boot. The battery works fine after I boot- I can disconnect the power cord.

Here is a log using Linc Davis's script I have seen elsewhere (Thanks!)

http://pastebin.com/jZ9gKSqs

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Answer 3

spudnuty

Level 5

7,116 points

Mar 11, 2015 7:20 PM in response to carlomed

Are these all related?

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6868307

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6870996

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6871006

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Answer 4

my ginger

Level 5

4,904 points

Mar 11, 2015 8:45 PM in response to carlomed

Try removing and reseating your memory. If you have changed memory and have the original try that.

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Answer 5

carlomed Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 19, 2015 3:44 PM in response to my ginger

Thanks my ginger

Reseating RAM didn't work

I'm thinking its a hardware issue as the only way to boot the machine is to 1) connect the power cord (it won't without plugging AC power in), 2) press the power button..it then boots to black screen..then 3) SMC reset and then magsafe turns green then orange-- 4) boot again. I can then take the power cord off and use as usual with battery. Battery seems ok

I ran AHT which was ok (although just once)

I ran Apple service diagnostic and there was a problem with the Thermal Interface TIM test - there was an ERROR that the Theta dh too high-- I use SMCfancontrol now to monitor

I also noticed these console errors:

1/1/01 2:00:20.475 PM WindowServer[141]: CGXMappedDisplayStart: can't open any framebuffer

1/1/01 2:00:20.476 PM WindowServer[141]: CGXDisplayDriverInitialize: No Display drivers loaded

1/1/01 2:00:20.498 PM WindowServer[141]: mux_initialize: Couldn't find any matches

1/1/01 2:00:20.710 PM VDCAssistant[146]: GVA warning: failed to get a service for display id: 1104977152

1/1/01 2:00:21.140 PM loginwindow[65]: ERROR | -[LoginProgress startingProgressRectForMainScreen] | Could not locate the boot display

1/1/01 2:00:23.000 PM kernel[0]: USBF: 11.309 The IOUSBFamily was not able to enumerate a device.

when it is at the black screen- probably graphics card issue?

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Answer 6

my ginger

Level 5

4,904 points

Mar 19, 2015 4:34 PM in response to carlomed

At this stage I would try to boot to recovery and if you get a screen run the disk utilities and permissions. Command R. If you can do this but still have a problem, go to recovery and reinstall the operating system.

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Answer 7

carlomed Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2015 12:19 PM in response to my ginger

Thanks

Ive tried disk repair and permissions from the recovery partition--even home folder permissions using reset password from Terminal but problem persist

I can consistently boot up- it just takes the SMC reset after the initial boot to black screen- but I fear that the computer is not going to last for long.

I also notice console messages like:

3/25/15 11:10:18.792 AM apsd[50]: Unexpected connection from logged out uid 501

3/25/15 11:10:18.946 AM apsd[50]: Attempt to set push wake topics without dark wake enabled: ()

3/25/15 11:10:21.974 AM garcon[238]: Failed to connect (colorGridView) outlet from (NSApplication) to (NSColorPickerGridView): missing setter or instance variable

3/25/15 11:10:20.890 AM BezelServices 250.13[65]: ASSERTION FAILED: dvcAddrRef != ((void *)0) -[DriverServices getDeviceAddress:] line: 2727

before I finally SMC reset and then it boots normally

I think I may need to re-install OS again--if that doesn't work then live with SMC reset every time I need to boot up or until machine fails

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Answer 8

my ginger

Level 5

4,904 points

Mar 25, 2015 2:00 PM in response to carlomed

Have you tried a pram reset as was suggested? Command/Option/P/R keys at startup for three chimes. Also, can you start in safe mode holding down the shift key at startup until you see the apple logo. What would happen if you pressed the power button for 5 seconds and then press it again? This is a hard reset. When you do get it to startup. Does it go to desktop or login?

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Answer 9

carlomed Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 29, 2015 5:51 PM in response to my ginger

Every time I need to boot my machine I have to plug in the power and then press power button (nothing happens on battery)

I hear the chime usually and then it boots to a black screen.

I cannot do a PRAM reset or safe mode boot unless I SMC reset out of the black screen-- only then i can reset PRAM or safe boot without a problem. I then usually disconnect the power cord and use the machine to do my tasks on battery without a discernible problem.

After I'm done with things I shutdown and next time I boot (usually the next day) it still boots to black screen (then I have to SMC reset and reboot like usual for the machine to work).

Doing a hard reset from the black screen goes to desktop - no login screen.

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Answer 10

my ginger

Level 5

4,904 points

Apr 3, 2015 2:32 PM in response to carlomed

When you boot up without doing the SMC reset, do you see the light on the MBP light up? Does it stay on? Then when you use SMC reset it boots and the light goes off? Can you try pulling out one memory stick at a time and see if it will start up? Have you tried a clean install? It is ether not recognizing the display or the graphics driver on normal startup.

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Answer 11

carlomed Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 9, 2015 9:40 PM in response to my ginger

the 'apple' light on the back of the laptop screen does NOT light up but the keys do (caps lock turns green when i press it, etc) when I boot to the black screen

when i SMC reset it it boots normally and that light does come on

I'll try the memory thing and the clean install if that doesn't work

thanks again

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Answer 12

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Apr 10, 2015 6:28 AM in response to carlomed

Connect the MBP to a monitor. If the monitor shows a black screen, the odds are there is a faulty GPU. If you get an image, then the display or display connection on the MBP is faulty. In either case, make an Apple store genius bar appointment for FREE evaluation.

Ciao.

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