My 2010 mac book pro keeps on restarting

Question

Essentially the computer keeps on restarting, its taken three goes to submit this question -   i have read previous entries re graphic card enablers/disablers but they haven't helped. Here's the error message I hope someone can tell me what the exact problem is and the best way to manage the problem.
Anonymous UUID:       E197C88F-4072-54AC-1CDF-ECE81C853640
Sat Oct 18 12:06:08 2014
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff7f952bdf7c): "GPU Panic: [<None>] 5 3 7f 0 0 0 0 3 : NVRM[0/1:0:0]: Read Error 0x00000100: CFG 0xffffffff 0xffffffff 0xffffffff, BAR0 0xd2000000 0xffffff80babb8000 0x0a5480a2, D0, P3/4\n"@/SourceCache/AppleGraphicsControl/AppleGraphicsControl-3.6.22/src/Apple MuxControl/kext/GPUPanic.cpp:127
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff80a9a1b6b0 : 0xffffff8012422f79
0xffffff80a9a1b730 : 0xffffff7f952bdf7c
0xffffff80a9a1b800 : 0xffffff7f92fb1f1b
0xffffff80a9a1b8c0 : 0xffffff7f9307b50a
0xffffff80a9a1b900 : 0xffffff7f9307b57a
0xffffff80a9a1b970 : 0xffffff7f932fa056
0xffffff80a9a1baa0 : 0xffffff7f9309eba9
0xffffff80a9a1bac0 : 0xffffff7f92fb896d
0xffffff80a9a1bb70 : 0xffffff7f92fb6478
0xffffff80a9a1bd70 : 0xffffff7f92fb7518
0xffffff80a9a1be50 : 0xffffff7f92f642de
0xffffff80a9a1beb0 : 0xffffff7f9528f4e6
0xffffff80a9a1bf00 : 0xffffff7f9528e20e
0xffffff80a9a1bf20 : 0xffffff801244a20a
0xffffff80a9a1bfb0 : 0xffffff80124d7607
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
         com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla(8.2.4)[D61B2BB9-4289-318D-9197-5E1E13B 1FF32]@0xffffff7f92f62000->0xffffff7f931cafff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[2852ACFE-FD28-3C37-9B39-885201BB8D25]@0xffffff 7f92abf000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.4.1)[D41125CE-69BD-32E7-9B1D-4E83431662DD]@0xff ffff7f92f52000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.4.1)[75D81741-64C1-3941-ADFA-9D6B6C434EE4]@0 xffffff7f92f0f000
         com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDANV50HalTesla(8.2.4)[B0E6AAA7-E970-3D81-8B43-145D56 A3A4AC]@0xffffff7f931d5000->0xffffff7f9347efff
            dependency: com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla(8.2.4)[D61B2BB9-4289-318D-9197-5E1E13B 1FF32]@0xffffff7f92f62000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[2852ACFE-FD28-3C37-9B39-885201BB8D25]@0xffffff 7f92abf000
         com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl(3.6.22)[32862231-50BC-3AF6-87A2-703321AE4F90]@ 0xffffff7f952af000->0xffffff7f952c2fff
            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl(3.6.22)[AA46D551-BE0F-33DA-93A3-8F46197BB 36F]@0xffffff7f952a7000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[045D5D6F-AD1E-36DB-A249-A346E2B48E54]@0xfffff f7f92da7000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[2852ACFE-FD28-3C37-9B39-885201BB8D25]@0xffffff 7f92abf000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.4.1)[75D81741-64C1-3941-ADFA-9D6B6C434EE4]@0 xffffff7f92f0f000
            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert(1.0.4)[80899285-3952-30DA-A0F9-357C51E104 CF]@0xffffff7f952aa000
         com.apple.driver.AGPM(100.14.34)[B40DF46A-AA80-39C2-BBC6-DA5DF93509AC]@0xffffff 7f9528c000->0xffffff7f9529efff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[2852ACFE-FD28-3C37-9B39-885201BB8D25]@0xffffff 7f92abf000
            dependency: com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily(5.7.1d6)[67BEDCC9-E9AB-3F32-82CE-84729F B82C0A]@0xffffff7f93874000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.4.1)[D41125CE-69BD-32E7-9B1D-4E83431662DD]@0xff ffff7f92f52000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.4.1)[75D81741-64C1-3941-ADFA-9D6B6C434EE4]@0 xffffff7f92f0f000
            dependency: com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl(3.6.22)[91D61DEC-2946-3790-8134-B808C016C4 C9]@0xffffff7f94382000
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
Mac OS version:
13F34
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 13.4.0: Sun Aug 17 19:50:11 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2422.115.4~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 9477416E-7BCA-3679-AF97-E1EAAD3DD5A0
Kernel slide:     0x0000000012200000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8012400000
System model name: MacBookPro6,2 (Mac-F22586C8)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 110766270532
last loaded kext at 49511971491: com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0 (addr 0xffffff7f947c6000, size 45056)
loaded kexts:
com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 5.2.6
com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore 5.2.6
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.60
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.2.7f3
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.5d0
com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.14.34
com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver 1.0.2d2
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 124
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 2.6.3f4
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver 2.6.3f4
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.6.3f4
com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl 3.6.22
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU 2.0.4d1
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.0d1
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHWAccess 1
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 170.4.11
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphics 8.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphicsFB 8.2.4
com.apple.GeForceTesla 8.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.13
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.2.5
com.apple.nvidia.NVDAStartup 8.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothUSBDFU 4.2.7f3
com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.2.7f3
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCPDRC 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.7.0
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 3.0.4d1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 240.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver 240.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 240.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 3.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 325.7
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 3.0.1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeLZVN 1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache 35
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 3.6.7
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 683.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.6.0
com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 3.8.1b2
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 5.0.2
com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 700.20.22
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 3.0.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 656.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 660.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 161.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 217.92.1
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 153
com.apple.security.quarantine 3
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 217.92.1
com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.7
com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl 3.6.22
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.6.3f4
com.apple.vecLib.kext 1.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.9.7fc2
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.14
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.6.22
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.12d1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 91.1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.2.7f3
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.0.4
com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDANV50HalTesla 8.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.12d1
com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla 8.2.4
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.4.1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.2.7f3
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.6.3f4
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.4.1
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.6.3f4
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.7.1d6
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 240.10
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 3.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 660.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 650.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 656.4.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 3.6.7
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.7
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireSBP2 4.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 3.6.7
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 2.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.6.7
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 660.4.2
com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController 1.0.3b4
com.apple.driver.mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b5
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 640.36
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.2
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 686.4.1
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox 278.11.1
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 7
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 371.1
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.9
com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 23
com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.9
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4
com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0
com.apple.kec.pthread 1

Answer 1

You have the MacBookPro6,2—the Edsel of Macs. It may have the logic-board defect that was covered by this recall.
Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider, to have the machine tested. The routine hardware diagnostics used by service providers do not detect the fault. There is a specific test for this issue that Apple calls "VST" (for "Video Switching Test.") Ask for it. A "Failed" result means that the fault is present. However, according to reports, some units may pass the test, and yet still be deemed eligible for repair under the program. Your experience may vary.
Print the first page of the panic report, if any, and the support page linked above, and bring them with you.
Note that the recall only applies within three years of purchase. After that, Apple may refuse the service. In that case, you may be quoted a price of about $300 (in the U.S.) for a "depot repair," which involves shipping the unit to a central repair facility and takes about two weeks. For that flat fee, anything found wrong with it should be fixed, not just the logic board.
The model was discontinued on February 24, 2011, so the recall has nominally ended. Some units may have been sold after that date by Apple as refurbished, or by resellers as new, and they might still be covered.
Some owners report that their unit was repaired under the program after the deadline had passed. Others report that the repair was covered by the extended warranty from a credit-card issuer. Again, your experience may vary.
Sometimes the replacement part is also defective, so be prepared for that possibility. If you decide to pay for a new logic board, test thoroughly during the 90-day warranty period on the repair. Some owners have reported that they went through as many as three replacement boards before getting one that worked.
If it's too late for your unit to be repaired free of charge, and you don't want to pay for the service, you may (or may not) be able to stop the panics by disabling automatic graphics switching. To use the discrete graphics processor, you'll need a third-party utility to switch to it manually.
Often the problems start after an OS upgrade. If the upgrade was recent, and you have backups, then you can revert to a previous OS X version.
If you're dissatisfied with Apple's response, please keep in mind that no one here represents the company or can help with customer-service issues.
Back up all data on the internal drive(s) before you hand over your computer to anyone. If privacy is a concern, erase the data partition(s) with the option to write zeros* (do this only if you have at least two complete, independent backups, and you know how to restore to an empty drive from any of them.) Don’t erase the recovery partition, if present.
*An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.