MacBook Pro display doesn't work

Question

Hi everyone,
My MacBook Pro's display has been working erratically in the last weeks.
The first time, the display did not work for two day. Second time for almost a week (during Easter) and now for three days.
I've never had any hardware related issues with my old Apple computers, so this is very strange to me.
I've already followed the instructions posted here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300537
The computer seems to work normally, I can hear the startup chime and the drive spinning if I get close to the machine. The problem is the display or the graphics card.
I am in Peru at the moment and contacted the local Apple Reseller and they've told me it takes approximately 60 days to have it repaired. I'm thinking about flying to the US to have it repaired quickly, I can't wait that long.
My Mac's specs are:
MacBookPro3,1
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz 2 Cores; 4MB L2 Cache; 4GB RAM; 800MHz Bus Speed;
Boot ROM Version: MBP31.0070.B00
SMC Version: 1.18f2
Graphics/Display specs:
Chipset Model: GeForce 8600M GT
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x8
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0407
Revision ID: 0x00a1
ROM Revision: 3172
Displays:
Color LCD:
Display Type: LCD
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Depth: 32-bit Color
Built-In: Yes
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected
Has anyone had a similar problem? Were you able to solve it without taking it to Apple?
Thanks for your help!
Percy
Message was edited by: YoQuieroTacoBell

Answer 1

I am going to chime in because I had the problem, did an archive and install which fixed the display problem but a display issue is back again! When I did the Archive and Install, I purposefully did NOT install the graphics update. That fixed the issue until yesterday...... I think the monitors worked alright when I started up in the morning but later in the day, I noticed that the external monitor (SyncMaster225BW) was a yellowish color and the letters were distorted. Ok, so I unplugged it and previously when I unplugged it (since the Archive and Install anyway), the MBP display would go blue but come right back on. Not so yesterday. It stayed blue so I had to press the power button to get it to go off. Booted up and came on. Plugged the external monitor in (can't remember if I plugged it in while it was shut down or after) and it worked fine. Booted up this morning and the resolution and color on both monitors was yellowish and not right. In fact "mirroring" was turned on, something that I did not choose. Recalibrated my MBP monitor. Got that right. Oh, and yesterday and today, I had to choose my background pictures for both monitors. Couldn't get the external monitor to work right so unplugged it which caused the MBP monitor to go blue and stay blue. Had to reboot again. Left the external monitor unplugged. Started writing this post and plugged in the external monitor again and all is right. Both have the correct background picture and resolution and in the menu bar, both are listed with the correct names (first thing this morning they weren't named Color LCD and SyncMaster). So anyway, that is my display woes. I was so happy that all was well after doing the Archive and Install and not doing the graphics update but something else is going on now. Not sure what. Hope this issue gets fixed soon! Please Apple....... Judy