Mid 2010 MacBook Pro 15” Blacks Out Without Warning

[helix_nrg]

Hi all,


Quick Summary of Problem: My MacBook Pro is currently shutting down without warning. It would be more accurate to say that the screen goes blank but the machine remains on as can be heard by the fan. Nothing resolves it without powering down and restarting. It has occurred when attached to a power source or via the battery.


My machine specs: Mid 2010 MacBook Pro 15” with 500GB hard drive, 8GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics/nVidia GeForce GT 330M with 512MB, anti-glare 15” screen with max resolution 1680 x 1050). Running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 with 2013-001 Security Patch installed.


I have AppleCare which commenced when I first bought the machine in July 2010.


System Profiler says my battery condition is ‘Normal’. Cycle count: 610.


Detailed Summary of Problem: Back in January, my MacBook Pro shut down several times without warning. Each time, I was creating selections on high resolution imagery in Adobe Photoshop CS5.


Not long after, I saw the ‘MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.7’ relased on Feb 12 (MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.7) and installed it via Software Update. By coincidence or not, my MBP behaved much better afterwards and the seemingly random blank screens requiring a restart disappeared.


But then I installed the ‘Security Update 2013-001 (Snow Leopard)’(Security Update 2013-001 (Snow Leopard)) via Software Update and that’s the only thing I can really remember changing to my system. Since then, the black-outs have reappeared. As before, I was usually using Photoshop and working with high resolution imagery. However, one time the machine blacked-out, I was simply doing a two-finger scroll on the built-in trackpad whilst in Chrome (Version 25.0.1364.172).


The blackout has occurred twice now not being connected to power, and twice with it being connected to a wall socket. Needless to say, I lost work in Photoshop (even though I’ve begun to save more regularly) and now it feels like it’s a ticking time bomb and I don’t know when it’s going to go off


One thing I’ve found rather odd is that in the crash log, the kernal version doesn’t seem right for Snow Leopard:


Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun 7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBookPro6,2 (Mac-F22586C8)


The full crash log can be found at the bottom of this post.


Fixes I’ve tried:


1) Resetting the NV-RAM has done nothing. (was suggested


2) I’ve tried reinstalling the ‘MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.7’ by downloading the manual installer from Apple, however it now says ‘Alert: This software is not supported on your system’ which in a way makes sense given I’d already applied the firmware update, but a more accurate message along the lines of ‘This firmware update has already been installed’ would be more reassuring.


3) If all else fails, I could resort to copying over a backup I created with Carbon Copy Cloner, which was done before I reinstalled the 2013-001 Security Update for Snow Leopard. But that’s a bit of a headache too, because my documents I’ve updated since the backup will be out of sync. Another reason this isn’t a great solution is that I can’t take advantage of the 2013-001 security update, nor future ones.


Any suggestions? There’s probably no good time for something like this to happen, but this is a particularly bad time – I’m currently beginning design and finished art freelancing and brushing up on some applications I haven’t used in years. Nor am I going to make an impression meeting with recruiters without my folio being presented from my MBP.


I’ve already booked a Genius appointment 2.5 days from now, but all help and ideas greatly appreciated!


Interval Since Last Panic Report: 1499814 sec
Panics Since Last Report: 3
Anonymous UUID: 64BB09F4-C27C-4BA6-A3C4-EAF953593C01


Sun Mar 17 21:18:55 2013
panic(cpu 2 caller 0x83506c9b): NVRM[0/1:0:0]: Read Error 0x00000100: CFG 0xffffffff 0xffffffff 0xffffffff, BAR0 0xc0000000 0xa691c000 0x0a5480a2, D0, P3/4
Backtrace (CPU 2), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x81ec2188 : 0x21b837 (0x5dd7fc 0x81ec21bc 0x223ce1 0x0)
0x81ec21d8 : 0x83506c9b (0x8371c28c 0x8378c800 0x8372ae60 0x0)
0x81ec2278 : 0x83621608 (0xe826c04 0xd8e9004 0x100 0x16043000)
0x81ec22c8 : 0x83618601 (0xd8e9004 0x100 0x81ec22f8 0x834f6778)
0x81ec22f8 : 0x83d3b9a6 (0xd8e9004 0x100 0x438004ee 0x1)
0x81ec2438 : 0x836402b5 (0xd8e9004 0xd8eb004 0x0 0x0)
0x81ec2478 : 0x8350fe7c (0xd8e9004 0xd8eb004 0x0 0x0)
0x81ec2518 : 0x8350c55b (0x0 0x9 0x0 0x0)
0x81ec26c8 : 0x8350e58f (0x0 0x600d600d 0x702b 0x81ec26f8)
0x81ec2798 : 0x82b07eae (0xc1d00041 0xbfef0033 0xbfef0034 0x857c)
0x81ec2808 : 0x82b17734 (0x1a699c00 0x1a106300 0x8 0x0)
0x81ec2828 : 0x82b3c322 (0x1a106300 0xb 0x81ec2848 0x2345f4)
0x81ec2858 : 0x82b3cb3d (0xe863000 0x0 0x81ec287c 0x0)
0x81ec2888 : 0x82b1cd79 (0xe863000 0xa4837080 0x0 0x0)
0x81ec28d8 : 0x82aded0c (0x6bbcb000 0x0 0x0 0x3)
0x81ec2948 : 0x82ade40f (0x6bbcb000 0x0 0x2 0x3)
0x81ec2978 : 0x82ad405f (0x6bbcb000 0x0 0x2 0x6be38000)
0x81ec2ab8 : 0x82b0d5d8 (0x6be38000 0x1 0x81ec2bcc 0x81ec2bc8)
0x81ec2b68 : 0x82acffe1 (0x6be38000 0x1 0x81ec2bcc 0x81ec2bc8)
0x81ec2be8 : 0x56da06 (0x6be38000 0x0 0x81ec2e3c 0x81ec2c74)
0x81ec2c38 : 0x56e2a5 (0x82b5e720 0x6be38000 0x160bc588 0x1)
0x81ec2c88 : 0x56eb59 (0x6be38000 0x10 0x81ec2cd0 0x0)
0x81ec2da8 : 0x286638 (0x6be38000 0x10 0x160bc588 0x1)
0x81ec3e58 : 0x21dbe5 (0x160bc560 0x1b4155a0 0x1ecfa8 0x5d43)
0x81ec3e98 : 0x210a86 (0x160bc500 0x0 0xe759570 0xea560e0)
0x81ec3ef8 : 0x216f84 (0x160bc500 0x0 0x0 0x0)
0x81ec3f78 : 0x295c57 (0xda5e288 0x0 0x0 0x0)
0x81ec3fc8 : 0x2a256d (0xda5e284 0x0 0x10 0x18c5fa84)
Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.GeForce(6.4.0)@0x82ac4000->0x82b7afff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(6.4.0)@0x834a0000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.2.1)@0x82fd3000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x7a802000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2.1)@0x8301b000
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal(6.4.0)@0x83c05000->0x84019fff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(6.4.0)@0x834a0000
com.apple.NVDAResman(6.4.0)@0x834a0000->0x8378dfff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x7a802000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.2.1)@0x82fd3000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2.1)@0x8301b000


BSD process name corresponding to current thread: WindowServer


Mac OS version:
10K549


Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun 7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBookPro6,2 (Mac-F22586C8)


System uptime in nanoseconds: 27346403042381
unloaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 4.2.0 (addr 0x7ab8a000, size 0x65536) - last unloaded 108333775323
loaded kexts:
com.vmware.kext.vmnet 3.1.2
com.vmware.kext.vmioplug 3.1.2
com.vmware.kext.vmci 3.1.2
com.vmware.kext.vmx86 3.1.2
virtualcdrw.driver 1.0
com.AmbrosiaSW.AudioSupport 3.2
at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch 2.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.3d0 - last loaded 44829748683
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.1.0
com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.12.31
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.57
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
com.apple.iokit.CHUDUtils 364
com.apple.iokit.CHUDProf 364
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 1.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.7
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 2.0.5f14
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphics 6.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.0.5f14
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.0.20
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphicsFB 6.4.0
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 3.0.1d2
com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 3.0.5b8
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 2.10.6
com.apple.GeForce 6.4.0
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224 428.42.4
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 4.7.0a1
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.5.1
com.apple.kext.AppleSMCLMU 1.5.2d10
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 201.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 2.6.1
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 303.8
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 201.6
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.6.8
com.apple.BootCache 31.1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTyp eZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 4.2.4
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.6.4
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.7.3
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 160.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.3.6
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClien t 142.6.0
com.apple.security.sandbox 1
com.apple.security.quarantine 0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 2.1.14
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 142.6.0
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction 17
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction 14
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction 20
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport 2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily 2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 74.2
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 2.4.5f3
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.3
com.apple.iokit.CHUDKernLib 365
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.0.5f14
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.10d0
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.0.3
com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily 41.4
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.0.5f14
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.0.5f14
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.8.3fc2
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 320.1
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.10
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 4.7.0a1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.10d0
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.0d5
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal 6.4.0
com.apple.NVDAResman 6.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.2.1
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.2.1
com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.4.5f3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.4.5f3
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.4.5f3
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 2.6.7
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 2.6.8
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 207.7
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 4.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.9.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.6.8
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.6.1
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 402.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 1.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.6.8
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 4.2.4
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.6
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 4.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.6.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 6
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 289.1
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.6.3
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.3.6
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0
Model: MacBookPro6,2, BootROM MBP61.0057.B0C, 2 processors, Intel Core i7, 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, SMC 1.58f17
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, PCIe, 512 MB
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics, Intel HD Graphics, Built-In, 288 MB
Memory Module: global_name
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x93), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.131.42.4)
Bluetooth: Version 2.4.5f3, 2 service, 12 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1
Serial ATA Device: ST9500420ASG, 465.76 GB
Serial ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898
USB Device: Hub, 0x0424 (SMSC), 0x2514, 0xfd100000 / 2
USB Device: Built-in iSight, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8507, 0xfd110000 / 4
USB Device: IR Receiver, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8242, 0xfd120000 / 3
USB Device: Hub, 0x0424 (SMSC), 0x2514, 0xfa100000 / 2
USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x0236, 0xfa120000 / 5
USB Device: BRCM2070 Hub, 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0xfa110000 / 4
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8218, 0xfa113000 / 8
USB Device: Internal Memory Card Reader, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8403, 0xfa130000 / 3

[byrnsie]

I had the exact same issue with mine, even down to the same error messages. I took it in to the Apple Store and they replaced the logic board for free under an extended service program. It was fantastic service, they even had it ready for collection the next morning because I was going interstate. Here's a link to the Apple support article. http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4088

[iMic]

I had the exact same issue with mine, even down to the same error messages. I took it in to the Apple Store and they replaced the logic board for free under an extended service program. It was fantastic service, they even had it ready for collection the next morning because I was going interstate. Here's a link to the Apple support article. MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010): Intermittent black screen or loss of video

Bingo.

The inclusion of com.apple.GeForce and com.apple.NVDAResman in the panic backtrace pushes me toward the graphics card or video circuit, and is a common occurrence when a machine is affected by the "Intermittent black screen or loss of video" issue. I'd be taking it in to an AASP or Apple Retail Store to have the Logic Board replaced.