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#1 2008-04-27 5:45 pm
- sitdry
- Member
- Registered: 2008-04-27
- Posts: 4
Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
I have a 17 inch MBP purchased in January (MacBookPro3,1). After a day or two of uptime I've had a problem with windows or dialog boxes becoming suddenly psychedelic (see pictures). At this point, I get a cycle where everything will freeze including the mouse for 30 seconds followed by ten seconds where I can move the mouse again. After a while the kaleidoscope of colors will spread to the whole screen and I have to turn it off. Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas on what could be going on? I'm running 10.5.2 with graphics update and latest firmware update. Graphics card is geforce 8600 GT. This has been happening since I purchased it. I used to have a 17 inch powerbook G4 that never had this problem.
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#2 2008-04-27 5:49 pm
- FutureDreamz
- 1.1.2.3.5.8.13.21.34.55
- From: カナダ
- Registered: 2007-01-07
- Posts: 4502
Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
zap the PRAM (restart while holding down option command() P and R at the same time)
Last edited by FutureDreamz (2008-04-27 5:49 pm)
Thanks for clicking.
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#3 2008-04-29 1:09 pm
- pottymouth
- Uncreative
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Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
Might be time for a trip to the Apple store
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#4 2008-04-29 1:53 pm
- sitdry
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- Registered: 2008-04-27
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Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
PRAM reset may have worked but I haven't had the two days of uptime (no restart/shutdown but sleep) around which this seems to happen. As far as the apple store, I'm currently out of the country and will be away until May '09. So I'm looking for a DIY solution. Thanks for the replies.
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#5 2008-04-29 2:14 pm
- dvpierce
- Negusa Negest
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Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
Could very well be a bum video card or something. Can you buy Applecare and take care of it when you get back?
Otherwise, it's back to the 1990s - restarting a computer every day. (I think you'll live.)
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#6 2008-04-29 2:56 pm
- sitdry
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Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
I suppose I could do that. So if it's out of warranty (or applecare coverage) I can just buy a plan, bring it in to an Apple Store and they'll repair/replace the GPU? It happens sparingly enough that I'll be fine until then. Thanks for the help.
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#7 2008-04-29 5:09 pm
- macforme
- The Terror of Zombies Far & Wide
- From: Malton, Zombie Central
- Registered: 2001-08-04
- Posts: 348
Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
You have to buy Applecare within a year of buying the machine. If you got yours in Jan. this year you should be all set, I think. Guys, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the 1 year warranty you get with all new machines is the same as Applecare, until the year is up.
"You are coming to a sad realization, cancel or allow?"
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#8 2008-04-29 9:48 pm
- zoees
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- From: Maryland
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Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
This happened to mine.
I took it back as soon as the problem appeared ( two days after I got it). They replaced it. You may have waited too long-
I'm pretty sure most companies have a limit.
One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we've been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. It is simply too painful to acknowledge even to ourselves that we've been so credulous. -Carl Sagan
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#9 2008-04-29 10:58 pm
- sitdry
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- Registered: 2008-04-27
- Posts: 4
Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
Just happened again. I am going to be in New York for 2 days in June. I'll try to bring it to the Apple Store there. Zoees, did you need to reproduce the error in the store? Mine seems to do it every 2 days of uptime (I'm going to start a log including console messages at the time of the crash). Maybe if I time it to coincide with my visit it will work out. I'm assuming if all I have are photos a replacement or a fix are unlikely.
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#10 2008-04-29 11:50 pm
- thelegendofjohn
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Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
I bet if you have those photos it will be enough.
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#11 2008-05-03 10:32 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
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Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
macforme wrote:
Guys, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the 1 year warranty you get with all new machines is the same as Applecare, until the year is up.
I believe after 90 days you have to pay for your own shipping if you don't have AppleCare.
sitdry's issue looks like it could be a problem with the logic board? Take it with you to New York, there is a 24 hour Apple Store on Fifth Avenue. If you have your discs you might want to go ahead and do the hardware test before going to Apple?
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#12 2008-05-05 5:26 am
Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
WhirlinGraphics wrote:
macforme wrote:
Guys, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the 1 year warranty you get with all new machines is the same as Applecare, until the year is up.
I believe after 90 days you have to pay for your own shipping if you don't have AppleCare.
No. After 90 days, free phone support ends without AppleCare.
Don't buy AppleCare until your normal warranty runs out, and even then consider it very carefully. AppleCare makes Apple money, it's just an insurance policy like any other.
.tsooJ
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#13 2008-05-05 11:18 pm
- rufio
- Let the funeral start, hear the casket close...
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Re: Laptop in the Sky with Diamonds (MBP)
Or consult this list while you're still under warranty to see if an Apple Authorized Service Provider near you can take a look at it without charging you money. Many will honor an Apple warranty (especially AppleCare, but sometimes the limited warranty) just like a US-based Apple Store.
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