[MAC] MBP Video Controller error

[DanF]

I need some help from the Apple technicians out there.

My main laptop is a MacBook Pro 15" 2.2GHz, with 2GB of RAM. Lately, well not exactly, I am having problems with distorted display... that is quite a popular problem with MBPs.

Not knowing much about this myself, as I usually repair IBM machines, I've searched about the problem and found out about the Apple replacement due to faulty NVIDIA GPUs out there. Took the MBP to our local Apple authorized center to find out that mine does not qualify for the free replacement. Considering it doesn't happen often (unless the system is stressed out / sometimes even if not), I decided to pay the fee and move on without replacing the logic board; since it would cost a fortune. I would also be able to get it cheaper and replace it myself ONLY IF I'm sure it's the logic board and not something else.

Today it happened randomly again, just switched the MBP on this morning and got the distorted display (full of vertical lines that makes it difficult to read text, sometimes it also turns yellow, purple and some random colours). What I have decided to try now was to connect an external monitor, a 24" display, to find out that it turns out crystal clear BUT NOT the MBP display.

After around 5 minutes using the external display the MBP display returned to normal. Now, since the external display was fine, I am wondering that it is not actually related to the GPU (thus the logic board), but to the monitor (connection or something else), or any other part.

From your experience with MACs, what do you suggest about this issue?

Thank you guys

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

What I have decided to try now was to connect an external monitor, a 24" display, to find out that it turns out crystal clear BUT NOT the MBP display.

Now, since the external display was fine, I am wondering that it is not actually related to the GPU (thus the logic board), but to the monitor (connection or something else), or any other part.

If the external video is fine, that pretty much rules out the GPU. Also, vertical lines are usually something to due with the display itself in my experience. What happens if you apply pressure to the display? try moving the lid up and down and apply pressure on the back (not on the LCD itself, unless you want to make things worse). If you can make the distortion happen that way, its just about a gaurantee that its a busted LCD.

Otherwise, it may even be a loose connection with the LVDS cable itself though I kind of doubt it but still worth checking. It could even be a software problem. If you get the distortion at the grey screen before the OS loads, that would pretty much rule out software or testing while booted to another OS.

Pretty much how the GPU replacement works is Apple authorized shops run the test from a bootable thumb drive. It runs the test through EFI and an OS. If it fails it will generate a validation code and save the validation code on a text file it saves on the usb drive. In my opinion, the software is pretty good at finding the faulty GPUs. There are a few cases I've had to fight with Apple to get machines covered, but this is because the GPUs were so far gone that I couldn't even get the machines to POST and run the tests, when in Apples opinion, even with a faulty GPU these machines should still POST and be able to run the tests. I've ran into this three times, and each time I was able to get the machines covered, BUT in these cases I had to send the machines to Apple and request a review. Also these machines were all in nice shape (been well maintained).

I'm sorry to give you the bad news, but I really think your issue is most likely a busted LCD. Even though there isn't an obvious impact point it is most likely broken somewhere in one of the layers.

 

[DanF]

To be honest I have tried to move the lid around, but it remained the same. I also tried to close the lid, let the system go to sleep, then open it again... most of the time it stays the same, other times it just returns to normal... a couple of times returns to worse.

This morning it's not booting into the OS, it just stays there with a kernel error. It happened a couple of times, but it usually boots up after a couple of restarts. Do you still think it's related to the LCD?

I think I will open it up this evening to check the connections you mentioned, just in case. Will keep you informed, and thanks for your help

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

This morning it's not booting into the OS, it just stays there with a kernel error. It happened a couple of times, but it usually boots up after a couple of restarts. Do you still think it's related to the LCD?

No, a kernel panic could be a lot of things but highly unlikely the LCD. Most of the time the HD or RAM, but could also be software. In my personal experience, kernel panics at startup I'd be checking the HD. Try booting to another volume or the install disks and see if it still does it. Won't tell you definitively, but if it still does it trying to boot to another volume it is less likely to be the drive.

You could boot to the install disk and run a disk utility repair and post what it says about the drive.

 

[DanF]

Is it when you press D on start up? Cause it keeps ejecting the drive (even when on the disk it says to press C to boot from the optical disk, which I tried)

At this point in time I'm running an extended test, and it's running tests on the memory, (though it looks as if it's stuck) and fans are spinning at quite a high speed. I've done normal tests previously and always resulted to Video Controller Error.

Thanks for the help Just sent you a PM as well.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

The memory always takes a while to test and will seem like its stuck there. If you press D at startup with the install disk it will take you to Apple Hardware Test, which you are running now. If you hold C at startup it will take you to the installer in which under utilities, you will find disk utility. But might as well let it finish with the hardware test.

 

[DanF]

Results:

4VDC/1/40000003: VideoController.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

4VDC/1/40000003: VideoController.

I don't know? A lot of people are pointing to that error with AHT being connected to the faulty NVidia GPU. When you took it to the Apple authorized shop, what did they say was the reason its not covered? Did they actually run the test? Is the machine in good condition(no dents, external damage, spills, etc..)?

 

[DanF]

Absolutely good condition.

They said that it doesn't qualify for the logic board replacement. The technician over there told me that he saw the problem () and told me that he will leave it another 24 hours to see if it happens again (). After almost 2 days I phoned and told him that I would need it for work (have entourage installed and can't transfer files to the PC easily).

Then he told me that if it happens again he will test the RAM. Now I have two sticks (2 X 1GB) and I have already tried switching them and booting one at a time, but it didn't solve the problem. So I highly doubt it's the RAM.

By the way, after the test it's now working again.

Could it be the video drivers?
Could it also be the OS itself?

I'm just hoping it's software, hehe.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Could it be the video drivers?
Could it also be the OS itself?

I'm just hoping it's software, hehe.

From what you are describing with no problems with external video and vertical lines it seems like the LCD itself. But with that failure code on AHT, everything I'm finding online points to the GPU. Now AHT is only intended for users to use on their own machines and in and of itself isn't enough to make it qualify for the GPU coverage. You still haven't really clarified if they ran the actual test or not. There is one circumstance we had a machine that passed the test until we got the machine good and warmed up, and then it failed and qualified for the GPU replacement coverage.

 

[DanF]

As far as I can remember he told me that he checked and it doesn't qualify for the replacement. So, by that, to me it means they did run the software. What I can do is send back an email (still have the originals), quote the invoice number and ask them in order to find out if they actually ran the software.

One thing I'm sure of is that they charged me €50 and solved nothing.

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

As far as I can remember he told me that he checked and it doesn't qualify for the replacement. So, by that, to me it means they did run the software. What I can do is send back an email (still have the originals), quote the invoice number and ask them in order to find out if they actually ran the software.

One thing I'm sure of is that they charged me €50 and solved nothing.

I'd try bypassing him and call Apple customer support (800-767-2775). Let them know what you are finding. Sometimes with Apple the squeaky wheel gets the grease if you catch my drift.

 

[DanF]

Got it hehe, the problem is that I'm from Malta.

Will try to send an email. Do you have a specific email address you recommend?

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Got it hehe, the problem is that I'm from Malta.

Will try to send an email. Do you have a specific email address you recommend?

I don't know about email. Phone would really yield best results. Plus you could use the argument that there is not an Apple specialist for miles around to your benefit. I suppose you could try a live chat?

 

[DanF]

Will check about the chat hehe.

Using the distance argument is not valid for Malta, it's only an island of 121sq mile

Will keep you informed about any news. Many thanks for your time and help.