Trouble booting/waking?

Question

Have a 2007 Macbook Pro running 10.6.3. Usually keep an external monitor plugged in, wireless kbd/mouse, 2 external hard drives.
Last night I closed the lid to sleep the computer. Went to it this morning and it wouldn't wake. Have had this problem a few times lately and I found other discussions about the problem. Previously, however, I could force a shutdown (hold power button) and it would boot back up fine.
This time, nothing I do will get the computer to boot up. If I hold the power button, the front LED will flash off and I hear things spin down like it has powered off. Press the button to turn it on and I hear things spin up, but not completely. It is not attempting a full boot process; nothing displays on the monitor, no beeps, etc.
It almost sounds like the computer still thinks it is in sleep mode or something but I can't figure out why or how to make it boot up. Ran through some of the suggestions on http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1365 to no avail.
I have seen some discussion that a magnetic field close to the front latch could cause the computer to think the lid is still closed, so it would fail to power up, but there is nothing around to cause this kind of disturbance.
At any rate, this has me aggravated and a bit concerned. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I have an early 2008 MBP running Snow Leopard 10.6.4 encountering this very same "Black Screen of Death" problem 2010/08/06 — the MBP is not completing POST process (Power On System Test). I followed the SMC, PRAM/NVRAM and SMS reset instructions in Apple's KB articles with no success (HT3964, HT1379 and HT1934, respectively) and read pages upon pages of discussion forum postings looking for potential answers.
Further detailed research uncovered KB article TS2377. Based upon this article I took the MBP to the Apple Store for diagnosis on 2010/08/07. The Apple technician tried to boot the system with an external drive containing their NVIDIA test diagnostics software but of course that wouldn't work with this BSOD.
*Resolution in process:* The Apple technician ordered a new logic board (item number 661-4960) after verifying my serial number was eligible for replacement — _+*with or without*+_ AppleCare coverage?!? There is really no way to determine if the problem is or is not be related to the NVIDIA "Bad Bump Material" problem documented as far back as mid-2008 because the NVIDIA card is soldered onto the logic board. Either way both components will be replaced.
Further discussion with the Apple technician flushed out the word recall — which explains the replacement eligibility _+*with or without*+_ AppleCare. I called every Apple store in my immediate area (there are six) and none of them had this part in stock. So I'm waiting for the AppleCare process to get a replacement logic board shipped to my closest Apple Store with the standard 3-5 business day service turnaround commitment (maybe longer, maybe shorter).
I'm extremely disappointed in the level of support that Apple is giving in this situation. Here's why:
If there is a known hardware manufacturing defect that may result in a complete and total failure of a system, customers should be notified. Hiding this problem with a non-publicized UTR (under the radar) recall smacks of a business decision made to address this issue on an exception basis, minimizing Apple's out-of-pocket costs to fix the problem — effectively leaving impacted customers with a "boat anchor" situation. I realize these are expensive components — but who cares! Cupertino-based business analysts already have a good handle on the failure rate % for each platform with this problem — Apple should have adequate stock on hand to provide an expedited resolution to this problem for its customers. No excuses.
Net/net: If your MB or MBP experiences a "Black Screen of Death" condition — don't bother trying to find a potential workaround! Get your system to an Apple Store or other authorized Apple service provider and be prepared to wait. I'm up to day five now. I'll post another again when there is some movement....