Mac Morsels and Other Useful Stuff
Intel-Based Apple Portables: Troubleshooting a computer that will not power on
There are some simple troubleshooting steps you should try if your MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro won’t turn on.
Via: Apple Support
Continuing in the series of useful support articles to have close at hand, this one provides tips on troubleshooting a cranky portable that doesn’t want to start up.
Image courtesy of Brian Solis on Flickr.
Startup key combinations for Intel-based Macs
Learn about the startup key combinations you can use with Intel-based Macs. Products covered: Mac Pro, Mac mini, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac
Via: Apple Support
Another one of those handy Apple Support articles to have on hand when you need to know what keys to press to start your Intel-based Mac for troubleshooting purposes.
Image courtesy of Jessica Garro on Flickr.
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010): Intermittent black screen or loss of video
Apple has determined that a small number of MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) computers may intermittently stop displaying video on the built-in display or on an external display connected to the MacBook Pro. In this situation, you may also see a restart warning message before the video is lost or the display turns black or gray. Affected computers were manufactured between April 2010 and February 2011.
Via Apple Support
Update: This issue has been addressed with the release of MacBook Pro Video Update 1.0 — but it’s only good if you’re running Lion (10.7.2+). If you choose to remain on Snow Leopard, you should make a Genius Bar appointment at your favorite Apple store to have the problem addressed. Chances are you’ll get a new motherboard out of it. See the support article for more information.
It seems the MacBook Pro/Lion Black Screen of Death™ has not been solved yet has been addressed. The good thing is Apple acknowledges it really is a problem.
I updated my Lion partition to 10.7.2 yesterday, and it seemed more stable than it was before – though I didn’t get much of a chance to really push the system. I was planning to update my production system this evening, but I think I might hold off a little longer until there’s more info from Apple in the article.
Has this bug caused you grief? How have you dealt with it?
Indeed, it is a pretty straightforward—if not evil—hack. However, as noted by Daring Fireball, the trick doesn’t work for all paid apps from the store. Developers who followed Apple’s instructions for validating App Store receipts should be unaffected; it’s only those who don’t check at all, or don’t do the right kind of check, that are finding themselves being taken advantage of.
Via Infinite Loop.
My question here is, if there’s an Apple recommended method for validating App Store receipts, why wouldn’t this be qualified during the App Store approval process, with paid apps that aren’t up to the standard being rejected? It seems obvious to me that Apple would be concerned with this since they’re losing out on their cut of the profits.
For the record, I have no plans to put anything I develop on the App Store — period. If the day ever comes where that’s the only option I have for distributing my software, then my days of Mac hobby development are likely over.
MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues
In July 2008, NVIDIA publicly acknowledged a higher than normal failure rate for some of their graphics processors due to a packaging defect. At that same time, NVIDIA assured Apple that Mac computers with these graphics processors were not affected. However, after an Apple-led investigation, Apple has determined that some MacBook Pro computers with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor may be affected.
If the NVIDIA graphics processor in your MacBook Pro has failed, or fails within four years of the original date of purchase, a repair will be done free of charge, even if your MacBook Pro is out of warranty.
Via Apple Support
Since I have been affected by this issue, I thought I’d throw up a quick post for anyone else who may get bit by it. Apple has extended the NVIDIA 8600M GT graphics processor recall on MacBook Pros manufactured around 2007/2008 to four years from date of purchase.
Update: My son’s machine was in fact covered under the recall, and the local Apple Genius Bar was able to diagnose and replace the motherboard in the unit in a day, no questions asked. One thing to note, your video has to have failed before they will fix it though. If your MacBook Pro from that time period is still running okay, you’ll have to wait for it to fail before you’re covered.
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