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A Major Problem of An Unknown Kind?

B

BondPPQ

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 20, 2016
7
0
I have a major display problem with the graphics card or something that has grown also into a boot problem. I have run 2 types of virus scans, Norton and Sophos and they didn’t find any problems. So I don’t know how else to diagnose it really or what it is?

The computer shut down on its own one day and since then I am seeing my screen lock with my desktop image not centered and pushed off the screen’s boundaries, sometimes a graining or fuzzy layer will cover my whole screen, during boot up I’m getting purple and blue thick vertical “lanes” on the grey boot up screen where there’s the Apple logo, (same when I try Safe Boot) then the full grey screen thereafter but then nothing, I can’t start it up after that. It also doesn’t like to shutdown normally.

I’ve been reading it could be a DRAM problem but I don’t think so it seems to be working properly. I have installed gfx card status app and that seems to have helped albeit very little. It doesn’t help during boot or shutdowns at all. I’m running a 2012 MBP 17” with Snow Leopard.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
 
Is your particular MBPro covered under the motherboard replacement program for 15" & 17" models with defective GPU's?

I know that 2011's are, but aren't -some- 2012 models covered, too?

I suggest you take it to a brick-n-mortar Apple store "on the double"...
 
My mistake it is an early 2011 model, would a graphics card problem hinder the boot up though? I'm having trouble booting up and shutting down which is why I think it could be a virus as well. Is there a better anti-virus for Mac out there? Also I'm reading things about PRAM Resets, would this help fix or diagnose it?
 
BondPPQ said:
My mistake it is an early 2011 model, would a graphics card problem hinder the boot up though? I'm having trouble booting up and shutting down which is why I think it could be a virus as well. Is there a better anti-virus for Mac out there? Also I'm reading things about PRAM Resets, would this help fix or diagnose it?
Click to expand...

Video issue can cause all sorts of issue. You can try a PRAM reset, and if that does not fix it, take it in and see what Apple says.
 
BondPPQ said:
My mistake it is an early 2011 model, would a graphics card problem hinder the boot up though? I'm having trouble booting up and shutting down which is why I think it could be a virus as well. Is there a better anti-virus for Mac out there? Also I'm reading things about PRAM Resets, would this help fix or diagnose it?
Click to expand...

Yes the graphics problem will eventually stop it booting a all. It is very likely to be the GPU so get it to Apple if you can.
 
OP:

You've been advised what to do.

The 2011 MBPro 17" has a [possibly] defective GPU.

Apple has a FREE logic board replacement program, but it runs out at the end of this year.

So… take it to a brick-n-mortar Apple store RIGHT AWAY.
They'll check it out.
In all likelihood, they will replace the logic board.
 
tubeexperience said:
Yes, problem with the graphics can prevent your MBP from booting. (The same thing happened to me.)

You are entitled to a free repair:
https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/
Click to expand...

good to know cause I didn't think a graphics problem would have any affect on the boot up and/or shutdown process.

I'm going to try the PRAM reset today and hope for the best but I think I should take advantage of this closing window of the free board replacement obviously before the end of the year.
 
OP wrote:
"I'm going to try the PRAM reset today and hope for the best but I think I should take advantage of this closing window of the free board replacement obviously before the end of the year."

What are you waiting for?
Take it in NOW.
Apple will diagnose it free and perhaps give you the free replacement logic board.

Stop hemming and hawing.
You've been properly advised of the situation...
 
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BondPPQ said:
I'm going to try the PRAM reset today and hope for the best but I think I should take advantage of this closing window of the free board replacement obviously before the end of the year.
Click to expand...
The PRAM reset isn't going to resolve this hardware problem.
 
well I'm not hemming and hawing it's just that I have other stuff to do but yes I realize that it can't be fixed without going through the replacement program so I will start this process now. The Odd thing is is that the problem started after I was watching a video from Facebook, so be warned anybody. I thought Facebook had virus protections or something but that was the source of frying my chip.
 
BondPPQ said:
The Odd thing is is that the problem started after I was watching a video from Facebook, so be warned anybody. I thought Facebook had virus protections or something but that was the source of frying my chip.
Click to expand...
It's just a coincidence. Faulty manufacturing is the cause of the failure, not watching videos.
 
chrfr said:
It's just a coincidence. Faulty manufacturing is the cause of the failure, not watching videos.
Click to expand...

well to be honest with you it was a porn video on Facebook which shut down my computer completely, it just turned off on it's own while it was playing and then after that i immediately had the graphics chip problem, and I have never had a graphics chip problem before with this MBP so I have to think that it was something sent through this porn video like a virus or power surge or something which fried my graphics chip somehow.
 
BondPPQ said:
I have to think that it was something sent through this porn video like a virus or power surge or something which fried my graphics chip somehow.
Click to expand...
No! It's a defect in the computer. It was purely a coincidence.
 
chrfr said:
No! It's a defect in the computer. It was purely a coincidence.
Click to expand...

Could a graphics card problem be caused from trying to install another OSX on a 2nd partition? Because I think I'm starting to experience that on a 2nd MBP that I have as well.
 
BondPPQ said:
Could a graphics card problem be caused from trying to install another OSX on a 2nd partition? Because I think I'm starting to experience that on a 2nd MBP that I have as well.
Click to expand...
No, again, this is not related to software. If your other computer is of the same 2011 generation, it too is vulnerable to having the same problem.
 
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