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MacBook Pro Monitor Won't Turn On

John Doe 57

John Doe 57

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 26, 2008
1,333
3
Los Angeles, CA
Earlier this summer, my iMac suffered a crashed Logic Board. Thankfully AppleCare took care of the $900 it would have cost to replace it.

Earlier today I put my MacBook Pro to sleep by closing the lid. About 2 hours later I went to open the lid and the monitor never turned on. The white light is on in the front. I restarted it and the light remained on and the monitor did not turn on. I unplugged all devices and restarted and still no luck. The Number Lock key lights up and the sound works fine - but no display.

Could this be another failed Logic Board or a failed chip set from here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377

Are there some other types of methods I should try (PRAM Reset, etc.) If I have to bring it in, thankfully AppleCare covers this Mac for another year. What horrible luck - college just started.

Thanks!
 
The SMC and PRAM resets are definitely applicable in this situation. You can also try booting to the install disc which will identify whether the issue is with software or hardware. If you have video booting to the install disc but not when starting normally, it's software. If you still got no video with either, it's hardware.
 
JediMeister said:
The SMC and PRAM resets are definitely applicable in this situation. You can also try booting to the install disc which will identify whether the issue is with software or hardware. If you have video booting to the install disc but not when starting normally, it's software. If you still got no video with either, it's hardware.
Click to expand...

Well explained. I'll try SMC and PRAM and then the disc. Thanks!
 
did you find a solution because mine does the same thing every time. If I close the lid the screen won't shut off and the mouse disappears, the comp freezes and I need to restart (even happens if I click :apple:>sleep). Also if the display does shut off, it will never come back on after reopening and I'm forced to restart... :(
 
ZionSV said:
did you find a solution because mine does the same thing every time. If I close the lid the screen won't shut off and the mouse disappears, the comp freezes and I need to restart (even happens if I click :apple:>sleep). Also if the display does shut off, it will never come back on after reopening and I'm forced to restart... :(
Click to expand...

This happened a lot to me and then it just stopped for like 6 months or something. This is the final straw as it looks to be a Logic Board failure. You should get yours checked out.

SMC Reset - Failed
PRAM Reset - Failed
Boot From Install CD - Failed, Still No Video

I'm also going to get a new CD/DVD drive because mine is bent and rattles every time I insert a CD or DVD. I can't even burn a disc without covering the computer with pillows and blankets to hide the incredible loudness of the process of burning.
 
John Doe 57 said:
UPDATE

I can mount the MBP on my iMac via AirPort and Target Disk Mode
Click to expand...

Do a permissions check/repair using disk utility. Be prepared to wait though the one time I tried it, took 18 hours but that was cos I basically screwed the while systme lol:)

PTP
 
Just looked at this page again:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377

"In July 2008, NVIDIA publicly acknowledged a higher than normal failure rate for some of their graphics processors due to a packaging defect. At that same time, NVIDIA assured Apple that Mac computers with these graphics processors were not affected. However, after an Apple-led investigation, Apple has determined that some MacBook Pro computers with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor may be affected. If the NVIDIA graphics processor in your MacBook Pro has failed, or fails within three years of the original date of purchase, a repair will be done free of charge, even if your MacBook Pro is out of warranty."

I got my computer for Christmas 2007. I believe I qualify for this as this conversation already exists here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10193532#10193532

But I'm curious how to find out my Serial Number and Graphics Card information without being able to see the screen?

I know this off the top of my head:
Specs:
17-inch MacBook Pro
2.66GHz Core 2 Duo
4GB DDR2 SDRAM
200GB 7200rpm HD
Leopard 10.5.8
 
John Doe 57 said:
How will I be able to see what happens?
Click to expand...

When you plug the MBP into the imac- turn off the MBP before you do, then press, and hold T. It will boot into target disk mode, this will then mount the MBP as if it was any other drive.

Using disk utility you will then be able to access the drives disk health as such, and perform disk verify/repair, and also do a permissions verify/repair.

Looking at the other posts you posted, i went to wikipedia... so if you skip down about a page on this here wiki link, theres a big long ole list with the whole of the macbook pro line.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbook_pro

It would seem that the 8600GT M, Which is the faulty card model, as you noted in your post is the one in your machine. I would take it to a genius bar to comfirm that. The machines have a 3 year guarantee, provided by Apple to get customers outta sticky situations :)

If it does indeed turn out to be screwed up, you should also be able to backup your stuff using the afore mentioned target mode

PTP

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377- this should give you some reassurance :)
 
MWPULSE said:
When you plug the MBP into the imac- turn off the MBP before you do, then press, and hold T. It will boot into target disk mode, this will then mount the MBP as if it was any other drive.

Using disk utility you will then be able to access the drives disk health as such, and perform disk verify/repair, and also do a permissions verify/repair.
Click to expand...

I didn't realize I could do it like that. I've used Target Mode twice today but never knew I could repair permissions via TDM.

MWPULSE said:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377- this should give you some reassurance :)
Click to expand...

You forgot to remove the "-" in the address. I'm almost positive that this is the issue. There is no Genius Bar anywhere near me. Thankfully there is a authorized Apple Dealership 45 minutes from where I am.

Thanks for the Disk verify/repair info. I'll try that later tonight or tomorrow. Since there is only 39GB remaining on the 200GB hard drive, I presume it will take all night or even longer to complete the task.
 
John Doe 57 said:
I didn't realize I could do it like that. I've used Target Mode twice today but never knew I could repair permissions via TDM.



You forgot to remove the "-" in the address. I'm almost positive that this is the issue. There is no Genius Bar anywhere near me. Thankfully there is a authorized Apple Dealership 45 minutes from where I am.

Thanks for the Disk verify/repair info. I'll try that later tonight or tomorrow. Since there is only 39GB remaining on the 200GB hard drive, I presume it will take all night or even longer to complete the task.
Click to expand...

Yup i believe the target disk mode has been built into OSX since panther, if not then definitely tiger. Good luck with the video card. It is definitely an acknowledged problem by Apple, and i think nVidia have put out something a coupla months back. So it should be a question of getting them to look at it, and then they swap out the card. :)

PTP
 
Just Verified the Disk. It took about 8 minutes.
Picture 2.png

Should I go about Repairing the Disk? I am supposed to back up everything before or after I repair the disk?

Thanks.
 
John Doe 57 said:
Just Verified the Disk. It took about 8 minutes.
View attachment 194155

Should I go about Repairing the Disk? I am supposed to back up everything before or after I repair the disk?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Generally you don't have to backup the machine before or after at all. Asides from the normal backups you do anyways with superduper,ccc or time machine. If the volume says it's ok. Then I would just back up your stuff asap. N get it to an apple place asap. Backing everything up before you take it in-should be able to use carbon copy to do a complete copy of your entire os. Even though the drive is in another computer due to it being effectively just another drive that the iMac can see. :)

PTP
 
I would be backing up 146GB of data. The iMac has 70GB of free space and my external HD has 140GB of free space. Is there a way I can divide what I want backed up?
 
Yea you might have to look around for some program that can specify how much you want to copy. To my knowledge the ones I suggested don't work like that :s

Other than that. Copy n paste??

Sorry I can't be of more help in that area. Good luck:)
PTP
 
Well I back up all my important stuff via Target Disk Mode. I just dragged and dropped the files I needed.

On Friday I brought the computer to the shop and told the owner of the store of the problem with the monitor and the CD/DVD drive. I'm completely covered by AppleCare. So the only real loss here is not having my computer for 2 weeks. Oh well, it could have been worse.
 
It happened to me, as well, just last week: I booted up my MacBook Pro one day and no display. Using keyboard controls, I could tell it was on and running, but no display.
I took it to the Apple store that agreed it was the graphics board and offered to fix it, at NO CHARGE to ME, even though I bought the computer three and a half YEARS ago. They told me it would be 3 to 5 days, but they called me back that afternoon (maybe four hours later) and said it was ready.

Oh, and since they can't just change out the graphics card, they change out the whole motherboard (logic board). Even though it's the same speed chips that were in before, same hard drive, all my same info, it seems like the computer is brand-new FAST!

FANtastic customer service!
Walt D in LV

P.S. You can find your Serial Number underneath the computer, under the removable battery.
 
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