Use of discrete graphics causes hard crash - (MacBook Pro 2010 with ML 10.8.2/3)

I have a client with a Mid-2010 MacBook Pro. He was having crashes with Lion so I upgraded him to Mountain Lion 10.8.2. The crashes did not go away.
I troubleshooted and with the help of gfxCardStatus noticed that every time his machine went to use the discrete graphcis he got the gray hard crash screen and system had to restart. Back then I tried a beta of 10.8.3 and it didn't help.
I noticed that if I created another user account (profile) it would not crash when the discrete graphics card was called upon.
So, I re-installed the OS (to 10.8.2), created a new profile and manually migrated pictures, documents, keychain, mail, movies, music and re-installed the relevant Applications. Everything was working fine and my client went on a trip to Europe and soon the crashes began again. Then he upgraded to 10.8.3 and the crashes got even more frequent (it seems 10.8.3 puts more applications on the discrete graphics list so it switches even more).
I am wondering what could have caused the crashes to begin. It was before he upgraded to 10.8.3. Some application or something he was using must have changed a setting or corrupted something to cause the crashing to begin. I haven't done this yet, but I'm sure if I create another user account it won't crash on it.
Any ideas where to turn my attention to see what is causing the shift from his working user account to a crash-causing one?
He has iLife, Office 2011, Final Cut Pro X, iPhoto Library Manager, VLC, Audacity, DropBox, FileMaker Pro 11, Flip4Mac Player, Fuze, GotoAssist, Handbrake, Skype, iSkySoft DVD Creator, iSkySoft Video Convertor, Onyx and Skype.
I know there are *MANY* others having problems with the automatic graphics card switching and it seems some are having more problems when gfxCardStatus is installed?
- Elan

is this your MacBook:
TS4088- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010): Intermittent black screen or loss of video
Take a copy of the article with you when you go for service. They need to run a SPECIAL diagnostic to decide whether you have this problem. Do not leave until they run the special diagnostic. The "overnight run" does not detect this problem.
If they confirm you have the problem, they will replace the graphics chip, which is part of the motherboard. be prepared to hand over your Mac for depot repair. (Your backups must be up-to-date).

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Try these options:
Credit Kappy.
Look at these discussions:
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9600M GT hard crash MacBook Pro 5,2

Hello there guys,
I've got a mid-2009 MacBook Pro 5,2 17-inch and it has been absolutely fantastic for all of these years and I've been very happy with it.
I do, however, have this one irritating problem. Whenever I am using the 9600M GT graphics card the laptop will, without any warning whatsoever, hard crash without warning.
This is completely random, it makes no difference if I am doing something CPU/GPU intensive or not. When the hard crash happens the mouse is unresponsive, the whole system is unresponsive and the only thing left to do is a hard reset. If there is audio playing it will also loop the last 2 - 3 seconds of it.
On the 9400M I have no problems like this whatsoever, but it's not quite as smooth as the 9600M GT especially since I'm using Yosemite.
A worrying symptom is that I will get these hard crashes no matter what operating system I am using. So these issues occur on various Linux distributions as well as Yosemite. It seems to happen when the graphics card changes clock speed.
So it seems that this is a hardware problem, but I haven't encountered any other symptoms which would indicate that it is indeed a graphics card problem.
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It seems that your MBP is having kernel panics. Use these instructions to log and post one:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201753
Your MBP may be having GPU problems.
ciao.

Crash MacBook Pro 2010

Hello,
I don't know why my question is not here anymore as I posted this two days ago?
So again:
Hello,
history of my MacBook Pro 17 inch from 2010 can be read here Black Screen on MacBook Pro i7
As you see there was always a problem with the graphic card. Nevertheless it worked flawlessly until last week.
I remember that I upgraded to 1Password 4. Since then I had unexpected crashes of Firefox, Finder and at least also the computer shut down without warning.
When I was installing an upgrade for Parallels the MacBook went down, when I tried to restart it: no volume was found!
I started from an extern hard drive copy, which I had made with Carbon Copy Cloner. With DiskWarrior I was able to save the data but not to repair the intern volume. Also Disk Utility could not do that. So I formatted the intern volume and did an clean installation of Mavericks without importing any user content
As I worked now from the extern hard drive, copying the saved data back to the intern drive, the MacBook suddenly crashed again and I even could not start it from the extern drive anymore!
I went to Comspot (Apple Dealer) where they checked the hardware. No problem was found. Strange enough, when they repaired the intern volume with DiskWarrior it was there again! But the extern hard drive could not be repaired with it.
Now I felt really frustrated and alone. With this hint https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5279792?tstart=0 I was able to save the data from the extern hard drive.
After days of installing a clean Mavericks and installing all Applications manually I am now nearly back again where I was before (did NOT install the 1Password 4, but old version 3)
BUT:
- I have unexpected crashes of the Finder
- sometimes when I click New Start, Finder crashes and a new start will not be done
- some Applications quit directly when they are started (Winclone 4)
I feel that the whole system is not as stable as before and are frightened.
Here is the etrecheck:
EtreCheck version: 1.9.15 (52)
Report generated 20. August 2014 10:45:30 MESZ
Hardware Information: ?
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) (Verified)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro6,1
1 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2 cores
8 GB RAM
Video Information: ?
Intel HD Graphics - VRAM: 288 MB
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M - VRAM: 512 MB
Color LCD 1920 x 1200
Cinema HD 2560 x 1600
System Software: ?
OS X 10.9.4 (13E28) - Uptime: 0 days 0:17:5
Disk Information: ?
ST750LX003-1AC154 disk0 : (750,16 GB)
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209,7 MB
MOUNTAIN (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 671,09 GB (315,18 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 2,33 GB
BOOTCAMP (disk0s4) /Volumes/BOOTCAMP: 76,12 GB (1,06 GB free)
HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS23N
USB Information: ?
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Microsoft Microsoft® Nano Transceiver v2.0
Apple Computer, Inc. Apple Cinema HD Display
EPSON USB2.0 Printer
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
Gatekeeper: ?
Anywhere
Kernel Extensions: ?
[loaded] com.SiliconImage.driver.Si3132 (1.2.5) Support
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchAfaTech (1.1) Support
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchCinergy450 (1.1) Support
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchCinergyXS (1.1) Support
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchEmpia (1.1) Support
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchVoyager (1.1) Support
[loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouse (8.2) Support
[not loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseBluetooth (8.2) Support
[loaded] com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseUSB (8.2) Support
[not loaded] com.roxio.BluRaySupport (1.1.6) Support
[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0) Support
Startup Items: ?
SiCoreService: Path: /Library/StartupItems/SiCoreService
Launch Daemons: ?
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support
[not loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist Support
[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist Support
[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist Support
[not loaded] com.maintain.AutoLoginUserScreenLocked.plist Support
[not loaded] com.maintain.HideSpotlightMenuBarIcon.plist Support
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist Support
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist Support
[running] com.orbicule.uc.plist Support
[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist Support
Launch Agents: ?
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support
[not loaded] com.maintain.PurgeInactiveMemory.plist Support
[not loaded] com.maintain.Restart.plist Support
[not loaded] com.maintain.ShutDown.plist Support
[running] com.maintain.SystemEvents.plist Support
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist Support
[running] com.orbicule.UCAgent.plist Support
[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist Support
[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist Support
User Launch Agents: ?
[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support
[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support
[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support
[loaded] com.maintain.ShowUserLibraryDirectory.plist Support
[running] ws.agile.1PasswordAgent.plist Support
User Login Items: ?
iTunesHelper
Smart Scroll
MicrosoftMouseHelper
Dropbox
Eye-Fi Helper
EyeTV Helper
PopChar
Internet Plug-ins: ?
AdobeExManDetect: Version: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 Support
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 14.0.0.176 - SDK 10.6 Support
Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 Support
AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 Support
Flash Player: Version: 14.0.0.176 - SDK 10.6 Support
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.1.0 Support
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 67 Check version
Audio Plug-ins: ?
BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9
AirPlay: Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.9
AppleAVBAudio: Version: 203.2 - SDK 10.9
iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9
iTunes Plug-ins: ?
Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.4 - SDK 10.9
3rd Party Preference Panes: ?
Flash Player Support
Java Support
Microsoft Mouse Support
Time Machine: ?
Time Machine not configured!
Top Processes by CPU: ?
      10% mds
      3% WindowServer
      1% ocspd
      1% fontd
      0% Dropbox
Top Processes by Memory: ?
221 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent
205 MB mds_stores
106 MB Skype
82 MB Dock
74 MB Dropbox
Virtual Memory Information: ?
4.41 GB Free RAM
2.08 GB Active RAM
538 MB Inactive RAM
1006 MB Wired RAM
387 MB Page-ins
0 B Page-outs
Please help
Thank you!
Bernd

Have you checked third party software support sites?
Sometimes you can have an updates to 2 3rd party softwares and they suddenly don't play well together.

Is a MacBook Pro 2010 with 320 Gb big?

Please help, I'm looking for a MacBook Pro for less money than the newest version. I was just wondering if 320 Gb on a MacBook Pro was small, or large.
Thank you!

320 GB hard drive? Depends on what you will be using the machine for? Also, I suggest you check eBay or the Apple Store (store.apple.com) for deals on Refurb units. You can get a lot more for your money and the machines are in decent shape.

Energy usage (watt) of MacBook Pro 2010 with 8GB Ram and i7

I think of buying a MacBook Pro with 8GB, i7
(and SSD, but that's not important because it consumes less than HDD)
What is the energy consumption (in Watt) in idle state with display on under
1) OSX
2) Win7 (I need this for my job)

Well, I need a computer professionally. At least now.
But I want to keep my environments impact at a minimum.
So I need precise data to evaluate what I do:
money is one thing, because it's usually very finite,
but even more important is recyclability, energy, ...:
10 Watts difference (e.g. for 8GB instead of 4GB?)
will yield, over mac lifetime of say 10 years (the laptop
im am currently typing on is 8+ years old, but is slowly
going towards being obsolete, even with ISA SSD upgrade):
10 h/d * 365 d/y * 10 W * 10 y = 365000 Wh = 365kWh.
I try to save energy, so this is approx my direct energy usage
of 1 year (I have no car, do not fly, have no refrigerator,
do not heat my appartement above 10 deg Celcius, ...
but strangely I have a computer and I am a programmer ...).
For me, it's important. It is relevant for my decisions:
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(I do setup work, so I use VMs a lot, so I need quite some
memory for that ...).

Macbook Pro 2010 with 2 accounts, one really slow.

HI everyone,
I seem to have an issue with my 2010 MacBook Pro 13". It's currently on the latest release of Mavericks. I have two user accounts, both admins. The original account is EXTREMELY SLOW or unresponsive. It shows a pixelated version of my previous desktop background which is odd. The other admin account was created at a later date and runs normally. User switching is less than enjoyable, too.
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks!

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
The title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select
SYSTEM LOG QUERIES ▹ All Messages
from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Click the Clear Display icon in the toolbar. Then try the action that you're having trouble with again. Select any messages that appear in the Console window. Copy them to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.
☞ The log contains a vast amount of information, almost all of which is irrelevant to solving any particular problem. When posting a log extract, be selective. A few dozen lines are almost always more than enough.
Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.
☞ Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

Macbook pro 2010 with 2 external monitors without its main display

Hi guys, I have been searching for a way to have 2 monitors without macbook's screen itself.
I'm aware of various adapters through usb and etc.
But Im thinking, if mac book is only capable of outputing 2 displays, why not outputing main display to one external monitor, instead of the screen on the computer, and the other external montior as a extra one?
Is it possible ? so basically 2 external monitor with macbooks screen switched off.
I don't think apple tv can mirror one and add extra one can it?
I just want 2 big monitors instead of 1 big monitor with 1 tiny screen of the laptop.

Maybe someone with a 2010 model will jump in and correct me, but as you only have a single Mini DsplayPort adapter, I don't think that it's possible to have two external models on a 2010 model. You can only do it on 2011+ via Thunderbolt using Thunderbolt Displays.
You might want to ask your question in the Apple Cinema Display forum, though. I'm just not aware that it can be done.
Clinton

Frequent aero crashes in Windows 7 - Macbook Pro 2010

Hi all,
has anyone come across this issue?
I have had continuous Aero crashes in my Windows 7 x64 installation and the new Macbook Pro 2010 with nvidia 330m.
During window resizing, video playback, aero and the whole desktop window manager will frequently crash. I have reinstalled twice the operating system, installed alternate nvidia forceware drivers (from laptopvideo2go.com) with no success.
When such a crash occurs the following error message is recorded in the Windows Event Log, Application category: 'The Desktop Window manager has encountered a fatal error'.
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I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to paste over! Here's what happens to me. I've got 257.15 downloaded and extracted. Then I go here:
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/enhancer
I select driver version 257.15, set it for performance, select a number of different options on the page, most of which mean nothing to me, and download a ile named nv4_disp.inf. The problem is that I can't "replace" that file because that file doesn't exist in the driver installation folder. There are a lot of inf files, but none of them have that name.
I've tried to install directly from the generated inf file by selecting update driver on the display adapter, then going manually to the inf file. It works up to the point where it shows me the 330M as compatible hardware, but when I try to install it, it says it encountered an error while attempting to install it, "The system cannot find the file specified."
So what's up with my inf file? I'm thinking I'm doing something wrong there.
One thing that may complicate this is that I uninstalled and deleted the Boot Camp driver while following another set of instructions on how to fix this issue. Do I need to reinstall that driver, by chance? Then upgrade from that?
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My Sandisk cruzer thumb drive 4.0GB (which is very old, roughly 10 years and I'm not sure about the model) reads "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer" when inserted in my Macbook pro 2010. How do I get it to work?

My Macbook Pro 2010 with the latest OS does not open a particular Sandisk Cruzer 4.0GB (which is an old model, about 10 years) thumbdrive with the message "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer". Will I be able to read it on my macbook?

Is it readable in a Windows computer? If not then you can try Disk Utility to repair the drive-- although that may be dangerous too.
I haven't had this problem so I out of safe ideas. There are ustilies out there. I used the seach term "repair flash drive Mac OS X" to locate some of these.
If the data is essential there are pay-for services to recover data looked the price was in the range $50 - $1000
All the best.

Brand New Macbook Pro 2010 - Cracking body !

Hi !
I just bought the new macbook pro 2010 with hi-res and anti-glare screen (very impressive).
But something very annoying appeared few days ago when I started using my computer on my laps : it cracks !
I investigated to found the origin of this cracking noise and I succeed in it : the body is cracking when I exerce a little pression on the center of the bottom of the aluminium body. Consequently it cracks only on an unstable surface when the four "black feet" do not ensure a minimal interstice between the surface and the body.
Moreover, it cracks even when the computer is off, even when the computer is cold, so it's nor a drive optic issue neither movement detector, neither dilatation.
How do you explain that ? Remember, my computer is brand new, I just putted out of the box few days ago, no shock, no impact.
I pay the price to have a perfect product, so I want some explanations.
Thanks in advance,
Regards.

Welcome to the forums g.dubreuil !
This is a user to user support forum and issues raised here are not addressed by Apple employees. I agree with your statement of expecting a perfect product. If you've just bought it, simply contact Apple (or visit an Apple store) and have them take a look at it. I'm not exactly sure of what you are explaining, but if they agree that there is a problem, you should be able to get it replaced... which I would think preferable to an explanation.

Envy 110 D411a causes kernel panic that crashes MacBook Pro

I posted this 10 months ago, with no response.
My Model D411a Envy 110 (PN: CQ809A SN: CN264C228R05QR) is on an AT&T gateway/router. We have a 13" MacBook Pro running OSX 10.7.5, a 13" MacBook Air running 10.8.5 and an iPad also on the same network.
Often, when I try to print a page from the internet from the MB Pro to the Envy 110, it causes a kernel panic on the Mac that crashes it, requiring a lengthy re-boot. The display shows a big black box with the message that I have to re-start the Mac, starting with a complete re-boot - printed in several languages. This does not always happen, but often enough to be a major problem. It has not happened with the MB Air or iPad.
I have an identical printer in Florida that has not had this problem, as far as I can recall. The gateway/router there is from Century Link.
An Apple "Genius Bar" guy suggested this is caused by HP using kernel extensions in its software, which no other printer manufacturers use. I now own six HP printers. I have had some problems keeping three of them going with the AT&T set-up and the same computers, plus a pre-Intel Mac Mini. The oldest of the printers is an HP LaserJet 4ML, which is so old it has a long white beard — but still runs. I hate just to abandon HP Printers, and the Envy is the best physical fit both here and in our Florida RV, but having it crash my laptop (most used) as much as half the time I try to print from the net makes it a problem rather than a solution.
I can't even find a reference to "kernel" much less "kernel panic" in any of the forums here, which adds to the feeling that no one knows what I'm even talking about.
If anyone out there has any advice to offer, I'd really appreciate it before I have to toss the printer and find one from another manufacturer.
Thanks in advance,
Dante

Hi Dante,
From the post i understand that you are having issue with the MacBook Pro(Lion) with Envy 110.
Can you help me understand what all other printers have been installed on the same MacBook
We can try to uninstall the printer using scrubber/Reset the printing system and reinstall the printer with the software available on Web. (ENVY-110-series_v12.14.0.dmg).
Note: Performing this step will delete all the printer from the MacBook, and should be reinstalled.
Use Scrubber Uninstallation:
Go to Applications>Hewlett-Packard , Press and Hold the "CTRL", "ALT","CMD" simultaneously click on Uninstall.
Reset Printing System:
1.Open Print and Scan from System Preferences
2.CTRL Click or Right Click on the Printer box on the Left side and Choose " Reset Printing System"
3. Click OK
Do Repair Disk Permission
1. Open Applicaion Folder>>Utilities>>Disk Utility.
2. Sele t the hard drive containing the boot volume.
3. Go to First Aid Tab and select Reprir Disk Permission.
Download and run the driver from web and add the printer to queue.
See if it helps.
Thanks
Mineesh
Although I am an HP employee, I am speaking for myself and not for HP.
Say thanks by clicking the "Kudos! Star" which is on the left
Make it easier for other people to find solutions, by marking my answer with "Accept as Solution" if it solves your issue

Can i use my ext hard drive USB 2 on the the new macbook pro laptops with a USB3

can i use my ext hard drive USB 2 on the the new macbook pro laptops with a USB3

stephan ach wrote:
but i read that there are lots of problems with the new macbook pro. i have all my data on ext. la cie hard drive. i wont have a problem reading them?
What problems specifically? If you have a problem you should start your own thread and explain the problem in detail.
External USB devices including hard drives and DVD work fine on the new Macbook Pros.

Whenever I use the video facility on Skype, my macbook pro crashes. I've reloaded the Skype application, but it still does it.

Whenever I use the video facility on Skype, my macbook pro crashes. How can it be resolved.

You would do better by posting in Skype's forums

I have a 13 inch macbook pro 2010 I want to switch the hard drive wat hard drive can i use i know i need a 2.5" but i dont know the dimensions of which one will fit?

Can someone tell me if anyone of these will fit with my 13 inch macbook pro 2010 model
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX33160(ME).aspx
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX31974(ME).aspx
Thanks everyone

The only thing is someone told me the max height for a hard drive for the macbook pro is 9.5mm and some other people tell me is 9mm but both drives are over 9 but the seagate one is 9.5 do you happen to know the max height thats my only concern really?

Use of discrete graphics causes hard crash - (MacBook Pro 2010 with ML 10.8.2/3)

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