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17" 2011 - Black Screen?

choreo

choreo

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 10, 2008
910
357
Midland, TX
I have a 2011 17" MacBookPro - 2.2 GHz - 16GB Ram - Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500GB - El Capitan 10.11.3

Never had a problem until last night and while in Safari, when I clicked on something the screen went black? Had no choice but to hold down the power button to shut down.

Restarted, no problem. In Safari about 2 hours later, screen went black again after watching several tutorial videos. After shutting down, I reset the PRAM upon restart and desktop appeared as usual. I then shutdown and unplugged the power supply overnight.

Today I reattached the power cord, fired it up and after the Apple appeared and the Progress Bar... black screen instead of desktop!

Rebooted using Command-S and did fsck -fy - all showed good. Rebooted, black screen?

Tried several shutdown cycles like this and it finally came back up (am typing this message on it now). So what would cause this? The screen does not appear to be bad, just the desktop goes black when it loads sometimes after startup or in Safari (so far).
 
^ They have an extended repair program through the end of this year.
"The program covers affected MacBook Pro models until December 31, 2016"

Get it to an Apple store or call and send it in...
 
austinpike said:
^ They have an extended repair program through the end of this year.
"The program covers affected MacBook Pro models until December 31, 2016"

Get it to an Apple store or call and send it in...
Click to expand...
There is no Apple Store where I live, so I would have to send it in (about a 6 hour drive to the nearest one).

What number would I call at Apple to get an authorization?
 
Midland, TX?
You can also take it to an Apple Authorized Service Provider - these guys probably qualify....?
  • Simply Mac - Apple Premier Partner  
  • Midland Park Mall
  • Address: 4511 N Midkiff Rd, Midland, TX 79705
  • Phone (432) 897-4646
I don't know that they would do the actual fix there, but could at least run the diagnostic to verify the issue and initiate the repair.

Or I assume 1-800-SOS-APPLE would work.

Make sure you do a backup while it is still working, before you take it in or send it anywhere.
 
austinpike said:
Midland, TX?
You can also take it to an Apple Authorized Service Provider - these guys probably qualify....?
  • Simply Mac - Apple Premier Partner  
  • Midland Park Mall
  • Address: 4511 N Midkiff Rd, Midland, TX 79705
  • Phone (432) 897-4646
I don't know that they would do the actual fix there, but could at least run the diagnostic to verify the issue and initiate the repair.

Or I assume 1-800-SOS-APPLE would work.

Make sure you do a backup while it is still working, before you take it in or send it anywhere.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I will try to give Apple a call. I looked up the "Simply Mac" store earlier and all I saw was a never ending string of One-Star Ratings!
 
choreo said:
There is no Apple Store where I live, so I would have to send it in (about a 6 hour drive to the nearest one).
What number would I call at Apple to get an authorization?
Click to expand...
Take a closer look at the link I provided. There is a Mail-in section with a link that you can click on for Apple contact options. I live 3 hours from the nearest Apple store and I arranged with Apple for mail-in diagnostics and repair (see my sig).
 
CoastalOR said:
Take a closer look at the link I provided. There is a Mail-in section with a link that you can click on for Apple contact options. I live 3 hours from the nearest Apple store and I arranged with Apple for mail-in diagnostics and repair (see my sig).
Click to expand...

Thanks again... I will give that a try. Looks like there is mixed feedback as to whether or not the repairs last, but that is the only option for me since Apple no longer sells a 17" laptop and apparently never really got the bugs out of it.

I have been using Apple exclusively since 1985 and this is the first Hardware failure I have ever experienced. I think I have had almost every generation of Mac, MacPro and several laptops - sold my old ones to friends and they are still going - some for 20 years or more!

Apple lost me from the MacPro line when they went to the latest design - I bought one of the last internally expandable 2012 MacPro models before they decided to switch to whatever that trash can thing is? That is all I need - to purchase a bunch of new peripherals and string cables all over my workstation! If they still made a 17" laptop, I would order one tomorrow!

I have never owned a cellular phone or a tablet, but may have to consider an iPad Pro as a replacement, but would much rather have my Macbook Pro with a real OS.
 
UPDATE: I contacted Apple Tech Support today and they were very helpful. They agreed to fix my issues at no charge under the Extended Program. As I purchased my MacBook Pro in July of 2011, it was over 4 years, so the extension until the end of this year saved me!

They are sending me a FedEx box within 2-days for me to return the unit to them.

Thanks again for all your guidance! (Sure hope they have better replacement parts than the original, but I have seen mixed reviews).
 
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They'll replace the logic board with a refurbished logic board, it will buy you some time, but I think you're reaching the functional end of life on the laptop
 
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Reactions: CoastalOR and Queen6
maflynn said:
They'll replace the logic board with a refurbished logic board, it will buy you some time, but I think you're reaching the functional end of life on the laptop
Click to expand...

So Apple never could build a Laptop Logic Board that was not sub-standard? This is the first Apple Hardware failure I have had in 30 years and MANY Apple devices. I know a couple people still using their old SE's from 1985 to run an accounting package! In fact, this is the first Apple device that I will not be able to sell to make a down payment on a replacement in good conscience.

Now, my Brother has had all kinds of problems with iMacs - even new out of the box, but I have never bought an iMac. I was always under the impression that their laptops were relatively stable. Even my first Apple laptop from back in 1999 is still running strong albeit slow.
 
choreo said:
So Apple never could build a Laptop Logic Board that was not sub-standard?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure I understand your point, or perhaps I was not clear in my post.

The GPU is failing on your current computer, so to fix it, they will take what was a previously failed logic board (but repaired) and give that to you. This in no way resolves the design issue that the GPU will fail. This repair will buy you time, but the GPU will fail again.

This has nothing to do with Apple's prior Mac computers that have run for many many years, but rather a design failure with Apple and discrete GPU.
 
My 15" 2011 MBP is back at the vet for the same GPU issue after having the board replaced last summer, so the "new" board lasted 9 months. It's kind of a crapshoot. At least it's getting fixed for free again. Just need it to last a few more months so I can finally upgrade...
 
UPDATE: I have to give Kudos to Apple Support for fast/first-class turnaround. I had the Fed-Ex Mail-in box on my doorstep the next morning. The packaging was extremely well designed specifically for my 17" model to protect it. They notified me the next day that they received it and did the repair and reshipped it the same day! Should be back tomorrow.

Now if they could just put the same effort into either the design or manufacture of whatever component or procedure is causing this failure. They surely know by now what the weak link is, and I don't understand why they cannot repair these reliably? Maybe it is just lack of desire and thinking they can just keep selling disposable new units?

My 2001 Corvette that I have driven every day for 16+ years has several minor issues that GM never addressed. The A/C head LCD screen is known to go dim due to poor soldering - I took it out 12 years ago, resoldered a few joints and I have had any problems since. On the other hand, the Oil Pressure Sensors, EBCMs and Fuel sensors for these cars are sub-standard. either poor design or poor construction, but GM apparently just did not care enough to correct the issue.

I have a 2002 Hot Spring Prodigy Hot Tub that I use every day - never missed a beat!

I have a Sleep Number Air Bed now for 16 years - never had an issue.

My point is that cars, hot tubs, and air beds get a lot of daily abuse. As much as these things cost today, they should be replaced because they are made obsolete, not because a $10 part fails that you cannot replace!

As I mentioned previously, I have purchased LOTS of new Macs over the years, but NEVER because they "broke" - always because Apple built something better at some point.
 
The issue is with the lead free solder used, and this issue afflicted most PC manufacturers, and just like Apple they too have noted the issues and not repeated them in later models.

At what age do you expect PC's typically become obsolete?
 
ron1004 said:
The issue is with the lead free solder used, and this issue afflicted most PC manufacturers, and just like Apple they too have noted the issues and not repeated them in later models.

At what age do you expect PC's typically become obsolete?
Click to expand...

Like I say, there is a difference between "worn", "obsolete" and "boat anchor". Most tangible items "age" and have components wear out over time, but you should be able to replace failed components within a reasonable period of time at a reasonable cost without losing all functionality. Even Apple apparently agrees that someone who purchased a $2,500 laptop in 2011 should still expect it to work at 100% if taken care of or they would not have extended this program.

My 2001 Corvette (while it looks and drives like the day I purchased it) has had parts wear out that I have had to replace, but it still can take me wherever I want to go with as much confidence as I had when it was new if properly maintained. 16 years later, while a few parts are no longer available (new) for my Corvette, I could still drop in an entirely new drivetrain at a fraction of the cost of a new Corvette if I choose. I have owned 10 new Corvettes over the years and I never purchased a new one because my old one no longer worked - I was always able to sell my previously used Corvette for enough to make a sizable downpayment on the next one (In fact, my first 1972 Corvette is still being driven today by the guy that bought it in 1980!).

To answer your question from my perspective "obsolete" is when a better tool (through materials, design, functionality) is made available at a reachable price point. For instance, there is not a single thing that a brand new Macbook can do better than my 2011 model in the realm of tasks that "I" use it for - so it is anything but obsolete. Faulty soldering does not render something obsolete, it is poor design and/or quality control - it is exactly what I would expects from some cheap Chinese knock off - not a top-of-the-line 2011 Mac sporting the name "Pro". I have never complained once about the Premium price of Apple products largely because of their "reliability" - I am now having to re-examine that. Any hardware product can have a faulty component that fails early for unexpected reasons, but when the solution is to plug the hole with another unreliable part it is not reassuring.

For years I replaced Macs because of the promise of more processing power and speed they offered (never because my previous models had become unreliable from a hardware standpoint). Once PCs reached the insane speeds that the current benchmarks show, the software developers found more and more ways to bog down even the fastest PCs with bloatware.The latest mindset is so distorted that people actually purchase iPhones and iPads from connectivity providers with the understanding up front they they will trade them in within a few months FOREVER! These people are spending sometimes thousands of dollars a year on a phone that does just about everything except STAY CONNECTED! I think I am the last person on the planet with a 1968 Mickey Mouse phone that cost $40 that I still use every day AND NEVER ONE DROPPED CALL!

BTW - I received my 17" back from Apple today, so far so good! Great service!!!
 
redhatcode29 said:
I am sorry to barge in here..... i need some views... Have u come across such lcds or is it just the picture ? I am thinking of getting this but the lcd gives me a scare https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-this-lcd-issue-serious.1966564/
Click to expand...
That's really off topic for this thread, ......what makes you think that's a GPU issue, is it one of the models listed with it?

Edit: Please don't respond to my post here, .....rather go to your thread and post the response there.
 
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