MBP Graphics Dead? Please Help!

arty

arty

arty

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
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Location
Cambridge
Yesterday I switched on my 2.2Ghz 2007 MBP and was greeted with a totally black screen. I tried rebooting it a number of times, resetting the PRAM and NVRAM amd doing a 'safe boot' without success. Then I went out to a gig :p

Today I plugged it into an external monitor, expecting it to work. It didn't - the external monitor gets no signal at all. 'Uh-oh,' I think, and boot up my Mac Mini using the MPB in target disk mode. Joy; it works!

I've now set up Screen Sharing on the MBP and am VNCing into it from my PC. This works, but the MBP will simply not detect either the external monitor or its screen - in Display options it just gives a default list of resolutions and the display isn't 'named'.

Most worryingly, when I go into System Profiler and look at the Graphics / Displays tab, the program crashes almost immediately before displaying any information :eek:

My MBP is my main work machine, and I use it for probably two gigs a week with various bands. I literally use it for maybe 8 hours every day on average, and so not having it is a problem! Kind Appley people of OcUK, if any of you have any advice as to possible ways to fix this problem or alternatively whether it's completely dead / requiring a repair, I'd be very grateful indeed for your assistance :)

arty
 
nVidia 8600M GT in it?

If so that sounds like the GPU failure that got nVidia and Apple into lots of trouble. It's a known issue that nVidia eventually owned up to.

You should be able to get something done by Apple.
 
NickK said:
nVidia 8600M GT in it?

If so that sounds like the GPU failure that got nVidia and Apple into lots of trouble. It's a known issue that nVidia eventually owned up to.

You should be able to get something done by Apple.
Click to expand...

It is an 8600M GT, yes. I remember hearing about that issue but I wasn't aware that Apple had acknowledged it. The machine is almost 2 years old now so well out of warranty - as a result, do you think they'd be likely to resolve it free of charge?

arty
 
Nip down to the apple shop and explain the problem, they probably will sort it for free as its an acknowledged problem (my flatmate had the same issue with his 2007 mbp a few months ago).

It takes upto 5 days to fix but chances are you can get it done for free.... (apple care doesnt look like such a bad idea now too)
 
pingwing said:
Nip down to the apple shop and explain the problem, they probably will sort it for free as its an acknowledged problem (my flatmate had the same issue with his 2007 mbp a few months ago).

It takes upto 5 days to fix but chances are you can get it done for free.... (apple care doesnt look like such a bad idea now too)
Click to expand...

Interesting - I've just found this article on Apple's Support pages which implies that it might be a free repair job - great!

Unfortunately it looks like I'll have to trek to the store in Cambridge. I can't really do this until next Sunday which means another week's wait, as they don't appear to be open tomorrow.

I may see if this is covered by my home insurance, as I'm sure that will be quicker than faffing about with Apple.

Thanks for the advice gents :)

arty
 
arty said:
Interesting - I've just found this article on Apple's Support pages which implies that it might be a free repair job - great!

Unfortunately it looks like I'll have to trek to the store in Cambridge. I can't really do this until next Sunday which means another week's wait, as they don't appear to be open tomorrow.

I may see if this is covered by my home insurance, as I'm sure that will be quicker than faffing about with Apple.

Thanks for the advice gents :)

arty
Click to expand...

home insurance wont cover a manufacturer's fault, apple will repair it for free, unless of course it has an accident then your home insurance will cover it
 
Indeed - I've just got back from the store where they are going to fix it for free as they believe it is caused by the Nvidia graphics card issue. Thanks for the heads-up NickK and pingwing; you were absolutely right and no insurance faffing around required. I'll have to wait another week to get it back but I've managed to get most things running on this PC in the mean-time :)

arty
 
Sorted - got it back this evening with no problems at all, and prompt service considering I only took it in 3 days ago. It's now working fine again - woohoo! :)

arty
 
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