Disclaimer: If you are reading this, chances are there is a hardware problem with your Mac. In my case it was a faulty logic board, which had to be replaced.
Use this guide to get your Mac up and running again and create a full backup of you system as soon as possible. If the problem repeats itself, I recommend you take your Mac back to Apple for a check-up.
Today I was happily working on some Java code, when I decided to relocate to a sunny spot in the backyard. I closed my MacBook Pro, walked outside and opened my MBP again to continue work: a black screen!
The screen of my Mac stayed black, although it did not indicate to be in a sleeping state. WTF? I restarted the Mac, removed the battery, reset PRAM/NVRAM and the PMU, but nothing worked! ARGH! Then, I found a solution that worked.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, do the following:
- Shutdown your Mac entirely by holding the power button for 5 seconds.
- Hook up your Mac to another one with a FireWire cable. (You have one, right?)
- Hold the T key on your mac’s internal keyboard and press the power button. When your MBP’s disk will shows up as an external firewire disk on your HelperMac, release the T button.
- Open finder and go to the
/private/var/vmfolder on your MacBook’s hard drive. You may need to use Command-Shift-G in Finder, because this folder is hidden by default. Once in/private/var/vmremove thesleepfileyou find there. - Next, go to
/System/Libraryon you MBP’s disk and removeExtensions.mkext. - Now, eject your MBP drive and shutdown your MBP by hitting its power button.
After these steps, you should be able to boot your MBP as normal again.
Although I’m not sure of the problem at hand, it appears that the sleepfile gets corrupted in some way.
Oh, didn’t have that FireWire cable ready? Here’s the one I used.
Update: There are some common questions in the comments I’d like to answer here. You cannot use an USB cable to connect your Mac to another one, only Firewire 400 and 800 are supported.
In my case, the MacBook Pro was returned to a Apple Dealer and repaired under warranty, because Apple apparently has acknowledged the problems with the video card on these machines. Your mileage may vary with your local Apple store.
Type your comment here
Bro Larry,
try to write private/var/vm without “/” in the beginning
guys….today i try to copy library folder from other mbp 2,5Ghz, (FYI mine 2,2Ghz) it work, the screen became on, but until the logo apple appear in grey backdrop, then loading sign always arrounding so long, but it is not enter to log OS…..and then restarting and look like this…but not going to OSX……why???
my curious now is….how to find my Trash folder in my HDD by fireware in other mbp??…..
thx guys
bro,
i dont know want to say anymore….
Step 1:
i doing the step above….and it works!!! but its no long, because when the screen back to normal, i check the sleepfile in private/var/vm from my HDD still in there, and then i erase it…then i check /System/Library on my MBP’s disk and remove Extensions.mkext…..but, i make a mistake, i delete Library folder into my trash….and i try to restore it, but it cant…than mbp going hang, cant shutting down, so i force shutdown with press power button in 5sec then i turning on again but it back to blank screen again,
Step 2:
i am trying to copy library from my mbp’s friend (2,5Ghz spec) eventhough my mbp 2,2Ghz spec…..when copy was done….i check and remove the sleepfile and Extension.mket from my HDD again…..and it work!!! but the screen only view until apple logo w/ grey background and there’s loading sign rounding for a long time and then restarting otomaticly…..doing like same but it cant going to OSX…..
Step 3: ( today i try to contact store where i buy it….and they trying to install snow leopard from their mbp using firewire) they format my HDD to renewing and instal snow leopard….until install process is done….i try to turning on my mbp, but it still blank screen……and then they said that my hardware is going wrong…..and their reason is…maybe the wire of screen has trouble….bla…bla….once again they blame my logicboard must be change with new one.
my opinion is…..is that my hardware trouble?? if trouble on that….which part??? is it HDD or logic??? but if the hardware trouble…how came my HDD can work yesterday?? if i wasn’t doing mistake my mbp is going well until now, right??? and if my hardware is wrong, why we can transfer by firewire and instal with new OS?? if my logic has trouble….why when i turning on my power….it seem like working well?? or it just not work because i instal snow leopard???
my question is…..is there any chance for me to repair my mbp….without change any part at all….because i see yesterday that screen is going back to normal again….it only my mistake by deleting Library to trash and it didnt restore to System……
please someone can help me…because i am very frustrate :’(
Ran into this problem on a 2 yr old mbook pro running Snow Leopard when the battery died which the system was sleeping.
The file in private/var/vm was called “sleepimage”. Couldn’t find Extensions.mketx
Also had to delete all the files in the three cache directories (System/Library/Caches, (My account name)/Library/Caches and (My Volume Name)/Library/Caches.
Bro Jim,
what do you mean about to delete all files in the three cache directories (System/Library/Caches, (My account name)/Library/Caches and (My Volume Name)/Library/Caches.
is that work too??
so….is it the problem appears when we install snow leopard OS? or maybe we must go back change into Tiger OS?
continue about my posting above….last night when i try to turn on, it works…the screen back to normal….and i can enter to snow leopard (because yesterday was instaled by store where i buy it)…..and then after it work….i test with shutdown and turning on again….and it work normally….until i use it about 45 minute…..and i shutdown again….then….i try to turning on again….it back to blank screen again….until this morning…..why it happen like that????
is there any solution for it???…..
Deleting the files in the cache made it possible for me to boot the machine.
Ran fine for an hour or so and did a proper shutdown.
Try to power up later and back to the black screen. Caps lock doesn’t illuminate – i.e. no keyboard so resetting PRAM, booting into target disk mode etc impossible. Replaced RAM with new modules for testing. No change.
Disassembled the machine and hooked the hard drive up to another Mac. Files mentioned above were back. Deleted them, reassambled the machine and attempted to boot. No luck. Machine is “dead” – fans run, hard drive spins but that’s all.
Talked to Apple & will be taking it in next week. Might be the NVidia graphics chip (there were known defects). If so (diagnostics are required) then it will be repaired at no cost even though its out of warranty and no AppleCare.
If not then it’s probably the logic board whose cost just about equals the cost of a new MacBook. I’ve not yet decided what I’ll do in this case. Never been a fanboy (but I’ve used Mac’s on and off since 85) but did think a premium price implied a premium machine. I’ve been working with PC’s since the first IBM PC was released in ‘82. The number of machines I’ve used in literally in the dozens. Never had a logic board fail.
I have the same problem. I can hook my MBP to another apple G4, i can access the directories as showm above in this thread, but couldnt find the “sleepfile” mentioned.
but i could see the “Extensions.mkext” so i deleted that, but no joy with that.
Im going to try a system install back to factory settings, Has anybody tried this?
yes….i think u are doing right steps like me guys….but if the files which must delete is dont work….maybe the graphic card is the source of problem of that….
my friend told me for testing by downloading test graphic card driver from support page in apple’s site….but from couples week ago the website cant access, we dont know why…….
[...] The first time I tried this I followed the directions found here, but it did not work. I tried it again and deleted the additional files noted above and emptied [...]
hey, I did the method, it worked really well for a few weeks, but I got curious and set the MBP to sleep and the problem was back…(how I regret it) and the method doesn’t work anymore, any have a solution?
I’ve got the same problem and I have just brought my MBP to Apple Care Center today.
They confirmed it’s due to the Video Card’s bug and will replace it with a new one for free (even though my Apple Care is expired). Hurray~~
I had the same problem, followed the instructions, and my screen came on. I shut down and rebooted, and it’s back to a black screen again. I confirmed that I do have the affected NVIDIA card mentioned in the Apple support page http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377 . When I took the laptop to the Apple store, they said that the version of my NVIDIA card is not the one that has been identified to have the problem, so they will not fix it for free. This is so bogus! I’m arguing with them about this, but I don’t know how it will turn out. Has anyone else experienced this response from Apple?
My computer just went down last week with the black screen. Took it into an apple dealer and they are replacing the logic board. My friend had to do the same. My niece’s computer has a similar problem so hers could be the media card you mentioned. Her screen will sometimes go on and off. When I spoke to an apple sales person they said they never heard of these types of problems with the screen going lack.
The above fix worked for me. Previously I’d tried plugging in the firewire and starting the mac in T mode as well as a dvi cable which worked once or twice then wouldn’t. As of now I’m not sure if the fix is permanent or can be repeated many times, but I’m happy to have my screen back on :) T mode is a great way to backup, either from linux or another mac. Thanks for your help.
k my mbp 17″ did the exact same thing explained in the original post. I just went out and bought a firewire cable to connect it to my Gf’s mbp but cant get anything to come up while starting in T-mode. Tried it with my sister’s mac and my gf’s to make sure it worked and it went off without a hitch. Don’t understand why i can’t start my own in T-mode. Any1 have any ideas????
The above fix definitely did not work for me (but do skip the first “/” in “/private/var/vm” if you’re trying to find the files mentioned on your MBP.
Anyway, I called apple, and intitially they had no record of a problem with the Nvidia video card, but when I asked again, the tech support guy apparently googled and found mention of the problem on a non-apple website. He talked to his boss, and now the MBP is going to be repaired for free. Definitely press the issue with them!!!
Hi guys,
This did not work for me HOWEVER… i have full access to the MBP across the network PLUS Logmein.
I had problems loading some user profiles but worked better after deleting sleepfile
Still now screen
Everything else seems ok.
I tried to boot from CD – but still nothing.
This is a 2008 MBP 15 inch
Any ideas.
Thx
M
Please sign this petition if Apple is refusing to fix your Macbook Pro’s Black Screen of Death caused by the faulty Nvidia Graphics card
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/MBPBlackScreenDeath
This actually works, even the Mac store could not figure out what to do…. Thanx a million