kdum8, I am also having the exact symptoms waragainstsleep described.
Your case is the only one I have found where Apple has fixed the problem under the 8600M GT program with these symptoms. It seems most report their macbook pro is actually booting and running, just no display. My computer is not making it to a 'running' state, so I am not sure what tests can be run.
How did apple distinguish your problem as with the GPU instead of any other failure of the logic board?
I am of course hopeful that my issue is the GPU since I am in the three-year window. But I am worried I will get a apple genius that doesn't want to make that call.
I have had no display artifacts leading into this, but for the last couple of weeks I have occasionally had problems where my computer would not wake from sleep. (It opens up with the same list of symptoms I am currently experiencing) The difference in all the previous cases is that I could get the computer to start back up by holding the power button for several seconds to turn it off the pushing it again to turn it on from the 'off' state.
Any more you can say about your experience would help. Thanks
*Update*
Took my MacBook Pro into the Genius Bar today. The tech said that with my symptoms, my MacBook does not qualify for the NVIDIA GPU free logic board replacement. Since my computer would not start up/ make it past the POST, it does not qualify. If it started up, just without display, then it would have qualified. Bummer.
The repair cost is more reasonable than I was expecting. $210 flat rate repair charge plus $100 labor. The bad news is that logic boards for this model are on back order for at least two weeks. I wonder why?... I sent my S/N to the
8600mgt@googlemail.com address. Maybe.... maybe... I'll get some money back some day when Apple acknowledges the scope of this problem.
Another Update
MacBook Pro came back super-quick. 1-day repair. Very happy. ... then I noticed the the listed Symptom (I read this as 'problem') on my repair paperwork was "Graphics Processor Issue on MLB".
So, I was a bit irked once the repair charge posted that Apple's technical repair facility diagnosed my MacBook Pro's problem as a GPU failure, but I was still charged.
I saw
this post , and decided to give Apple a call.
Well, I made a few phone calls to the Apple Care staff. They verified that the repair facility had confirmed the GPU had failed. (but I'm not sure how they do this) But, since my computer would not pass the power-on self-test, there was something else wrong on the motherboard.
It wasn't the easiest process, but I convinced Apple that, that it was unreasonable to say two unrelated failures happened at the same time and to hold me responsible for the repair cost. The GPU sits right next to the CPU and is connected in probably hundreds of ways to other stuff on the logic board.
Apple is refunding my money. I am reasonably happy and understanding about the whole process.