Macbook Pro 2011 hell

[simnik123]

Hello,

Three years ago my early MPB 2011 15" with dGPU started having a blue screen and die. This was probably caused by video issues with the computer and was before Apple started covering this problem. I got it fixed at my insurance which isn't a Apple Covered repair center.

I have changed the HDD in my MBP to a SSD and have thrown away the original.
I have also changed the RAM in my MPB and thrown away the original there too.

At the moment, my MBP cannot boot into OS X, neither El Cap, Yosemite or Snow Leopard, it just boot at a grey screen. It cannot start any safe-mode, internet recovery and so on. The internet recovery downloads everything and then goes grey.
I am able to boot into Windows but this just crashes.
I am able to boot into Ubuntu by disabling the dGPU and run this without any problems.

Could this mean that this is the same error as the Video Card errors that Apple are covering at the moment, and would Apple be able to cover me after the changes i have done in the computer?

Tl;dr Macbook Pro broken, don't know if I can get Apple to cover the problems.

 

[maflynn]

I'd say its the GPU, and Apple is still conducting the their repair program for 2011 MBPs. The issue however is, that they repair your logic board by replacing it with a previously failed logic board. Given that the issue is a design/manufacturing problem, the failure will reoccur. With them continually recycling these failed boards, the failures seem to be coming sooner and sooner.

If it at all possible, I'd look to replace the laptop.

 

[JTToft]

Does sound like the classic graphics issues. If it is, Apple will repair it - upgraded components notwithstanding.
When I had mine repaired for the issue, I brought it in with upgraded RAM, upgraded AirPort card and no HDD/SSD. They didn't raise an eyebrow.

 

[tubeexperience]

Welcome to the group of 2011 MBP owners!

There is no way to permanently fix the dGPU issue on the 2011 MBP since the issue is with the design itself and Apple has chosen to go the cheap route and refurbished the flawed failed logic board instead of redesigning and releasing new logic boards without the flaw.

 

[Fishrrman]

Sounds like you have a "RadeonGate" affected MacBook.

Take it in to a brick-n-mortar Apple store, see if they'll swap out the logic board.

The program (as far as I know) is "still on" and it's free.

So... just do it!

Final thought:
Even if the replacement fixes the problem, be aware that the replacement boards often fail, as well. You should -still be able- to get ANOTHER replacement from Apple for as long as the program runs (I think to the end of this year?).
BUT... sooner or later, it's going to be time to write this one off and start looking for something new...

 

[tubeexperience]

I'd say its the GPU, and Apple is still conducting the their repair program for 2011 MBPs. The issue however is, that they repair your logic board by replacing it with a previously failed logic board. Given that the issue is a design/manufacturing problem, the failure will reoccur. With them continually recycling these failed boards, the failures seem to be coming sooner and sooner.

If it at all possible, I'd look to replace the laptop.

Apple really screwed over its customers with the one.

When Apple found out that it cannot satisfactory repair these laptops, it should have replaced them.

 

[simnik123]

I would like to thank everyone here!

My MBP 2011 just got home from repair after a single day at Apple, free of charge.
Also, i have sent in a bill from a repair 3 years ago, and will receive the full 1000$ for the repair back then.

To everyone else with the same problem - call them right away!

 

[tubeexperience]

What I want is for Apple to replace my logic board with a redesigned one that won't fail over and over again, but no, it's apparently too much effort on Apple's part

 

[kevinkyoo]

Psst... If they do this 4 or more times within a year, you can ask them to replace it with the current year's model.

 

[simnik123]

Psst... If they do this 4 or more times within a year, you can ask them to replace it with the current year's model.

Well, I live in Denmark. If we have 3 repairs in the whole lifetime of the product with no more than two years apart on the same error, we'll get all the money back

 

[tubeexperience]

Psst... If they do this 4 or more times within a year, you can ask them to replace it with the current year's model.

Well, I took it to the Apple Store and the Apple Genius said that it's fine since it's passing the Video System Test.

 

[yukari]

Well, I took it to the Apple Store and the Apple Genius said that it's fine since it's passing the Video System Test.

Their test is a joke. Mine passed too even though it had issues. A week later, dGPU on my late 2011 15" MBP failed.