MBP - starting up but totally dark screen - help plz!!

just got off the phone with Apple .... seems like I might have a cursed NVIDIA graphics card...
had basically kept my MBP ('07 model) in sleep mode when I went to office. When i came back, the white light in the front wasn't pulsing anymore and it was replaced by a bright constant white light - proceeded to open the lid... and the screen was totally dark ... tried a few key combinations in random to get it up and running but to no avail .. then checked a few forums on this issue... seems like lots of ppl have the issue but a lot of them also managed to get the screen back on by resetting the SMC and PRAM (which I proceeded to try) ... unfortunately hasn't worked for me despite multipe resets of the SMC and PRAM. Gave Apple a call and all things point to the graphics card having conked out ... this sucks big time!! ...
The worst thing is that after switching on my machine, I can still load software by doing the keyboard shortcut for spotlight and typing the application ... e.g. itunes is working and I'm still managing to play songs through myh machine.. only issue is that the display is totally dark...
Now.. my big issue before I send it across to the service centre is backing up my "Downloads" folder....
Can someone help me with how I can go about doing this through terminal ? I think I just might be able to pull it off with the keyboard if I get sufficient and specific help!!!!
basically I'm looking for transfer of all contents from "Downloads" folder to an external hard disk with the name "Active" ...
help would be greatly appreciated!

Any suggestions on methods of backing up my data would be great!!...
Also, are there any precautions I should be taking/ things I ought to be wary of when sending my machine in to an authorized service centre?

 

This is why you make backups before it's two late, everyone. I would say pop the hard drive out, but I think that voids the warranty on the old models.

 

Let apple deal with transferring your data

 

apple wont save data.. but if its just a logic board replacement, they wont blank the hard drive... usually...

you can boot up your mac in target disk mode and use it as a hard drive and copy stuff off though, shouldn't need a screen for that.

I doubt pulling apart would void your warranty since I've done it many times and never got one voided, even when admitting to doing it.

 

I've had two MBPs with the same problem but the kids didn't need them for the week that they were gone. If you need the data, I think that you can boot another MBP off yours with a Firewire drive or boot off an external Firewire drive. You'd need a friend with a system to either create an external bootable drive or use his to boot off of yours.

 

thanks for the advice doh123 & mmoy... target disk mode sounds great... now... the next big dilemma... who in Calcutta (that I know of) has another mac machine ... hmmmmmmmmmmm

 

Just a shot in the dark here, but you did restart the computer, correct? Because one instance in which the screen is off but the power light is on is when the Mac is in external display mode, meaning it thinks there's an external display connected even when there's not. IF that's actually the problem, restarting the computer with no external display connected should fix it.

 

Yah... well.. thanks for that perspective... only issue is I don't have an external display .. so don't see how my mac could snap suddenly into that mode ... ahm... the one thing i've actually been recommended to do is try out the machine while hooking up an external display ... ... strange...

 

I'll still request some info for the following steps (in terminal)
1. open terminal
2. copy "download" folder present in the home directory
3. paste it into an external drive named "active"
finally resulting in "active" having a folder called "downloads" which contains folders, subfolders and all files contained within downloads.

this would be a breeze to do in DOS! damn... i should have spent sometime paying att'n to terminal .....

 

here's a thought, Install a VNC program, some how. :|

Also here http://macapper.com/2007/03/21/the-mac-terminal-ii-simple-file-operations/ Probably will be a pain to do it with out seeing.

 

Yea, that's why I keep screen sharing on by default on my mac. After two video card failures, its allowed me to access my mac while the card is dead, and you don't need another mac to do it (though it does make it easier).

Did you have screen sharing turned on?

Also, if you can't find another mac, but can find a pc with a firewire port, you could install something like Macdrive, of HFSexplorer and still be ale to access your information. HFS explorer is probably the easiest, cause its free and pretty basic.

 

I had this exact problem. Since i was out of warranty and Apple said I don't have the NVIDIA recalled graphics card (I still think I did) I was SOL and would need a new logic board. To hell with Apple, I took out my HD and sold the MBP for parts. Boy was I ever pissed though, $2200 on a laptop and the thing breaks after 2 years.

 

You "think" you did???

 

those 8600's are ticking time bombs.

 

If you have an Apple store near by, make an appointment with them. Let them access the HD and transfer the data for you.

 

alright ppl ... i think i might be having some light at the end of the darrrk darrkkk tunnel .... just need a li'll bit of help from you folks ...
basically ... none of my friends in calcutta have a mac .... and the one friend that has a mac is out of town for the next 10 days.. hence target disk mode method is not an immediate method ....

POSSIBLE SOLUTION
what i've proceeded to do instead is enable voice over in my mac (command fn F5) ... and so now .. even though i'm blind (dark screen) ... i can hear.... and boy on boy is that helpful ...
my plan is to open my home folder (shift command H) and copy the downloads folder, music folder, pictures folder and documents folder to a connected external HDD.... the only remaining hiccup is how to select the external HDD through a keyboard shortcut and paste the stuff there.... that's where I need some help from any of you having an external HDD or general knowledge... could you PLEASE PLEASE try some keyboard combinations (even something as elementary as tab keys, direction keys once you're in the default finder window and see what combination takes you to the left most list of all the drives connected/ takes u directly to the external HDD) and post some instructions here ... you don't have to worry about being perfect ... ballparks will do ... as long as I'm not presseing delete .. no harm done on losing any stuff....

i could then proceed to copy my folders to the HDD and once I'm done with it .. i can delete my stuff .. and empty trash (cmd + shift + option + delete).... and then send my machine across to the service centre ...
for those of you asking me to take it to an apple store.. unfortunately the nearest apple store is 2000kms away ... ... so all that is out.... macs still unfortunately haven't penetrated the Indian computer market ....
pretty nifty ehh.. the amount of stuff you can do without seeing ....

really looking forward to some interesting solutions to this ... i feel excited.

ohh.. one more thing... could you please give me the shortcut for cycling between multiple windows of finder!! ..
got this - command`

 

UPDATE:
i've got it working... presently in the process of copying folders in my home directory to the external ...
yaaay!!!
hopefully i won't forget any folders... then .... i have to delete my stuff ... and i'll be all set....

 

Don't over look the Library folder.... Apples stores a lot of user info in that folder...

 

um... did you try external output?
It could also be the backlight, or LCD display inverter failing in this case and not necessarily the 8600...

 

Even the ones on the revised logic boards

 

Usually, if the graphic card dies, the motherboard will not initialize and will not boot up. I suspect this as a display/LCD/connection issue rather than a video card problem.

 

yep I had 3 where I had the board replaced then they committed suicide again ... then I got mad and dumped them for newer revisions

on an integrated yes it normally will not POST but discrete cards are hit and miss as to if you will get an active system with a dead card. laptops roughly 60% of the time I find they will POST ... it is the same as many desktop units running headless, POST just takes longer but system does run

 

I disagree. From my experience, if you have a video card issue on a notebook, it'll likely not post at all. Black screen all the way through, and unless you have access to the EFI/CMOS you won't get any error codes. Desktops are different as the BIOS does a system check and usuallly has some sort of visual or audio error code, the motherboard is an independent component. Laptop boards are mostly fully integrated (ie; Apple) even if it's dedicated/discreet graphics, it's architecture is built heavily onto the system and if the GPU fails, it'll likely not work at all.

I would say in this situation, try unplugging both the battery and the charger cable for about 5 minutes. Then plug in an external monitor to the DVI or miniDVi port and the charger only and see if the Macbook Pro will boot with the external monitor. The other thing you should do is actually grab a very bright table light and shine it on the LCD panel, if you actually see dark image, then the display is working with no backlight. If the Apple boots fine with the external monitor, then the card works and there is either a connection issue or a failed LCD panel. If there is image in the LCD panel, then there is a failed inverter or LCD backlight. If there is no picture on the external monitor, then your video card is fubared.

 

it just depends whats wrong with the video.... some can post, some can not... doesnt matter if its integrated or not.

From what I've seen of the 8600s, when they first start dying, they sometimes work occasionally for a little while, then die again later... and eventually wont work at all anymore.

 

Ok. I understand what you are trying to say, but how is your suggestions even helping the OP with their issues?
I'm only posting possibilities and how to determine what is exactly is wrong with their notebook, and how to actually test their system so that at least they can operate it(if it can).

Just saying stuff like this without proper diagnosis means nothing.

 

since the OP already got it working and copied off the data, I don't see why thats still part of the topic.

 

Issue is that he still has a problem with it, and from the entire topic, nobody was able determine exactly what was wrong with the unit except for the usual "speculaton", I'm just offering my experience and suggestions that could possibly lead to him actually repairing the unit. Copying the files didn't miraculously fix the laptop did it?

 

I had that same problem. At first it would post but then when I took it to the Apple store it decided not to post. Apple took it in anyway and in the end I didn't have to pay for the repair. Turns out it was the Nvidia card which has an extended warranty due to a known defect. In the repair notes it also says that they replaced the super drive at no cost. Now it's more quiet and zippier

 

which is why I said I've seen 8600s that come and go.. work and stop... which is me saying that it could still be a bad 8600... but you didn't think that was a worthy answer.

 

No biggie, I was just trying to be more extensive. Not meant to step on your toes or anything.

I just hope that the OP can back to this thread and post any new development, and hopefully does my sugestions. I'm crossing my fingers for him that it's a simple LCD panel display fault somewhere, that would cut the cost down on the repair significantly compared to a logic board replacement.

I worked as a Mobile Technician for Staples. So I had my experience doing board changes all the time for PCs. Although I am no longer in the field, I do my own upgrades and repairs, so I would confidently say that I know notebooks and Apple hardware. I;ve had my share of hardware, PC notebooks, desktops, hardware mods and overclocks.

I actually upgraded my 2.4Ghz Late 2008 to an early 2009 2.66Ghz, as well as created my own optical SATA to SATA to support a 2nd hard drive (costed $15) and then upgraded both Ram and Hard drive to the best conceivable hardware. See sig.

 

Thanks for the inputs .....
it's an interesting discussion .... the exact effect a graphic card not working would have on the ability to still operate the computer. I don't have much knowledge on that apart from what Apple Customer Care conveyed to me - and the initial feeling of the person after having heard my attempts at reviving the display (resetting PRAM, etc, connecting to external display) felt that it might be a graphics card problem. Thankfully I'm still covered under the extended Apple Care and so I was assured that repair costs would not be borne by me. They did however tell me that there might be a need to extensively diagnose the computer, so - they would be checking a wide range of things (on top of that I had a few existing niggles anyways) ... What's important is that I've managed to backup my data and I'll be deleting the data in my computer prior to giving it to the service centre.

I have a question .... so .. as it stands, my computer is about 2.5 yrs old ... meaning i have about 6 months left on my apple care. Can I re-extend this?
Will update as and when I get any specifics from the service centre on the issues....

 

not that I know of.... there are some 3rd party warranty/insurance companies that cover computers, but Apple only does the 3 year thing. Apple warranty options are pretty lame.

 

D3X, from what the OP has explained so far, his graphics card has failed.
He also said he tried to connect to an external monitor(recent post), and it's still dead.
I've gone through two failures, and other people have said it's the same thing.

anyways, it sounds like the OP has been able to backup his data, and is on his way to getting it repaired.

Just a note to Zambie, turn on screen sharing!! only allow your own username to access it, and in the future if something happens you will be able to atleast use your mac on another pc.

 

My 8600m gt failed on me a couple months ago. I had an aftermarket hd in there, so i switched the old one back in for apple. After they replaced the logic board I did the switcheroo again and had my computer back without any data loss ^_^ BTW you shouldnt be able to use an external display since the gpu is fried (tried it on mine to no avail).

 

Heh, yea I've done this a few times. The first time it's ok. The second time its ok. Then it gets on your nerves, lol. Next time I have to bring it in, I may just leave it in, gotten too lazy to change it up everytime.