New Macbook Pro Screen LED's DEAD...HELP! *Update- New Unibody Replacement*

[S-Man]

So that macbook pro that I was gushing about in my other thread pissed me off today.
I'm working on it just fine, and the screen gos black out of nowhere! You can still see the screen graphics if you put it in the right light, or use a flashlight. So it looks like the LED's went out.

This makes me sick to my stomach. I don't want to have to go through a bunch of problems trying to get this fixed by the "geniuses"...

Anyone have any Ideas what to do?
Thanks...

[kenw]

the backlight has died. it happens. If it is under warranty, they'll fix it.

[S-Man]

ACK! Not what I wanted to hear! I was hoping it went into a faulty "power saver" mode or something.
By "fix" does that mean they keep it and repair it? How long does it usually take?
GAWD! Why does this always happen to me? I always get screwed! (Insert curse words HERE)

[RightAngle]

make sure you didn't accidentally turn your brightness down. Happens to the best of us.

Apple has always been very good to fix and replace anything that I had wrong with my computers as fast as possible. It should only be an overnight fix.

[zeroendless]

you sure u didn't accidentally turn the brightness off?

try tapping F2 a few times.

[kenw]

I don't know how the Apple service centers work, like do they do the actual repair there? If so, they will replace the entire display and it will take a few hours at most depending on how many folks are in front of you. But they may have to send it off, in which it will take a few days/weeks. it just depends....(don't you hate that?)

the only way to tell is to ask.

In the menatime, an external monitor should work just fine.

but let's hope some of the above simpler fixes prove on target.

[PhotoByLeal]

Have you ever plugged this Mac into a car inverter?
Those things will KILL laptops video inverters!
If you just bought it, I would swap the whole unit for another unit!
I have a Mac and love it, but I bet your telling yourself..... self now that I went MAC I want to Go BACK! NOT!!!!!!! This stuff happens....

angel m. leal jr.

[kenw]

Originally Posted by PhotoByLeal

Have you ever plugged this Mac into a car inverter?
Those things will KILL laptops video inverters!

must an Apple thing, I have used auto inverters with my PC notebooks since the 386 days. Still do.

[d2creative]

If you just got it, set up a genius bar appt online with your local apple store and they will probably just hand you a brand new one after taking a look at it.
At least i know they do with ipods and iphones.
Apple usually makes warranty stuff pretty painless.

[S-Man]

I tried turning up the brightness by pressing f2. I even heard the little "bloop" sound to indicate that it was indeed adjusting brightness. But there was no light.
I have never plugged it into an inverter.
I would LOVE to get a new one as a replacement, as long as its not a refurb. But they'll probably want to replace a little capacitor or whatever cut the power to the LED's...It's not likely all LED's died, but the power shorted out or something...

I had a similar incident happen with the engine of the Tundra I bought brand new back in '02...
THanks for the replies so far...I'm still depressed though...

[PhotoByLeal]

Originally Posted by kenw

must an Apple thing, I have used auto inverters with my PC notebooks since the 386 days. Still do.

I never had it happen on a MAC..... It happen to me on a Toshiba 3 times and 3 different laptops and 2 times on 2 different HP laptops...... All different inverters and laptops! Same BB store...

PhotoByLeal added 3 Minutes and 33 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by S-Man

I tried turning up the brightness by pressing f2. I even heard the little "bloop" sound to indicate that it was indeed adjusting brightness. But there was no light.
I have never plugged it into an inverter.
I would LOVE to get a new one as a replacement, as long as its not a refurb. But they'll probably want to replace a little capacitor or whatever cut the power to the LED's...It's not likely all LED's died, but the power shorted out or something...

I had a similar incident happen with the engine of the Tundra I bought brand new back in '02...
THanks for the replies so far...I'm still depressed though...

Don't be depressed, because you could have bought it from CC and then be really depressed!!! Apple still would have helped you! If you have an external monitor and you need to use your MAC, plug the DVI or VGA cable into your MAC!


angel m. leal jr.

[JohnT]

Bummer, but I bet they'll give you a new replacement if you insist nicely. The one I bought 18 months ago had a dead pixel right in the center of the screen. I took it back the next day, insisted nicely that they give me a new one, and they did. Then the right speaker stopped working the second week I had it. Now it just works intermittently. I did some research and found out that this is a common problem with that particular model. I still need to get it fixed before the AC warranty expires.

[S-Man]

Well, mine is a pre-unibody model, MB134LL/A.
It's not likely they have any new previous-gen models in stock. Perhaps they can have one rush-shipped to me...But I would not like to go through and have to re-install everything I have already and crap. It took a good 6-8 hours for iPhoto to import all of my photos folder from my External Hard Drive... Not to mention the time it took for software update...
*sigh*
Unfortunately I don't have an external monitor. But at the same time it's fortunate I don't have any shoots to process on it!

[srwatters]

I hate to be simplistic, but you did power down completely, then power back on, right? Try running with the battery only and on the wall wart? I once had my MBP look as you describe, but after a power cycle, it came right back.

[CallMeAl]

If you do have to take it in for service...Apple is the best! I fried mine Macbook Pro once by spilling a glass of water on it (stupid I know), but took it in, told the truth and they had it completely repaired in 4 days....for FREE. They are awesome!