MacBook Pro on the fritz

[AlpiNord]

Help! All of a sudden both screens pixelated, I rebooted and now it keeps restarting. What's the safe mode key command or others to try? Thanks

[::: :::]

To load your Mac in Safe Mode, after the beep, press and hold the Shift key while it boots. You can stop holding the Shift key when you see an Apple logo and progress bar. To leave Safe Mode, just reboot your Mac without holding the Shift key.

this what you need?

[mall walker]

You can attempt to enter recovery mode by rebooting and holding Cmd-R as well.

[AlpiNord]

Thanks guys.

I thought that was it on safe mode....

It's hanging after about 2/3rds on the status bar. I'm not sure if it just needs lots more time or I should try recovery mode.

[mall walker]

Fwiw: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201255

There are a variety of options, including I think an option for debug https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201573 which might at least give you the satisfaction of displaying some text saying what the hell is going on (verbose mode).

[rewbn]

Looks very much like this: https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/ - Call Apple!

[AlpiNord]

The issues match the descriptions listed, but the MacBook Pro is a Mid 2010. It is earlier than those listed.

After multiple times shutting it down for a while and restarting, I'd get to a login screen before it 'pixelated' (cool special effects) and nothing worked. Again, just earlier while getting it to boot in safe mode finally. Then it 'pixelated' again. I tried a regular restart and things are back to normal. Very strange and it feels like I'm on borrowed time. The only difference now is that I turned WIFI back on during the previous attempt.

Currently, hoping to get current on back ups and running Techtool tests.......

[54-46]

I have an older MacBook Pro 15" I could sell for cheap. PM me if interested

[AlpiNord]

It was the logic board. I'm planning on yanking the HD and put it in an enclosure for a backup disk. Anyone need the RAM?

Also, just wondering is there any way a laptop screen can be 'repurposed'? Probably no or or not easily, but it'd make a nice little utility screen for something.....or parted out for someone needing a replacement??

[BrokeSomeRibs]

If there are no takers here, things like that sell pretty well on ebay. Just mark it as "for parts" and detail the issue in the auction description. Should be able to sell for 100ish I'm guessing.

[Fenris]

Sometimes you can limp some more life out of a logic board issue like that with regular PRAM resets (Option-Command-P-R till you get a second startup chime), but the logic board is probably on the way out.

It looks like it's around 350 for the board from iFixit, so you could probably find it cheaper elsewhere, or try to get Apple to depot it, which is often a fixed cost to take care of all issues on an older machine often around the same amount.

[AlpiNord]

Thanks for the PRAM reset reminder....it's been a while since using that command. Excellent ifixit instructions resource too! This is a 2.53 GHz version. Per ifixit it is $1,000 for for theirs and $300 for 2.66 GHz. Any reason I couldn't consider a 2.66 GHz in this machine?

I transferred data to a mini and for a few hundred bucks (or less) plus a couple tools, I could get portability back for a while vs looking at the new crop at $1,000 on up. The 2.6 GHz Mini is faster and snappier than the MacBook Pro, which makes me wonder if the logic board has been fading for a while??? Or, if it's just the nature of a portable vs desktop?

EDIT: the ifixit options are all 'Out of Stock'. Other sources?

The local Apple dealer quoted $600 plus for new one from Apple.

Also, as an aside for anyone interested, I disassembled my previous MacBook Pro and put the hard drive in a $20 enclosure from MacSales which works fine as an extra drive.

[Fenris]

I would try to take it into the Genius Bar at an Apple Retail store, or try getsupport.apple.com.

Often an Apple Store will give you the option of replacing it on premises or sending to the depot. If it goes to the depot they will fix everything they find wrong for a flat price (as long as there is no damage), basically like they were refurbishing it.

Dealers aren't required to offer depot repairs when they have the option.

[bluenext]

Mine has had the same issue. Sold on gazelle for about 140 + 5%, turned out to be around $153. Parting out on eBay is too much work. Or if the screen is worth it to you, it can be taken apart and repurposed. But you gotta be somewhat savvy.

[AlpiNord]

Well, I wish I knew about this before! $341 shipped and refurbished. Good program for out of warranty Macs. After owning many Macs, it's nice to get some help in return from Apple.

Thanks for the head's up Fenris.

[bluenext]

Wished I had contacted Apple now. Dang. I have been eyeing a Lenovo though, all I need is an excuse.

[AlpiNord]

We'll see how this works out after the refurbished MBP return due by midday.....pretty quick turnaround.

Using target mode, I copied the HD to a Mini. After using Time Machine to back up the Mini, is it possible to use Restore from the BU drive for just the files that have changed since the copy from the MBP? Is there another way to do this using target mode or another method?

TIA

[alfajores]

You can restore from Time Machine BU on the MBP if you want. It wont carry the system folder over and thus the drivers and any hardware related data will be excluded. Target mode would work too. It is pretty close to the same to be honest. Time Machine is just an image of the machine that has incremental updates and a software interface. Time may be a different factor, but migration assistant will do its best either way.

[AlpiNord]

Thanks. I'll try the Migration Assistant.

After being encouraged by the initial responsiveness, I discovered that the processor was changed from 2.53 GHz to 2.4GHz. It took better than 2 hours between chats and Apple Advisor hand offs to finally get a shipping label to send it back for the 2.53. A positive customer service response turned to a 'WTF Apple'?

On top of this our iPad is now disabled. After trying the Restore to default methods, I'm looking for other ways to get it working again.