A Major Problem of An Unknown Kind?

[BondPPQ]

I have a major display problem with the graphics card or something that has grown also into a boot problem. I have run 2 types of virus scans, Norton and Sophos and they didn’t find any problems. So I don’t know how else to diagnose it really or what it is?

The computer shut down on its own one day and since then I am seeing my screen lock with my desktop image not centered and pushed off the screen’s boundaries, sometimes a graining or fuzzy layer will cover my whole screen, during boot up I’m getting purple and blue thick vertical “lanes” on the grey boot up screen where there’s the Apple logo, (same when I try Safe Boot) then the full grey screen thereafter but then nothing, I can’t start it up after that. It also doesn’t like to shutdown normally.

I’ve been reading it could be a DRAM problem but I don’t think so it seems to be working properly. I have installed gfx card status app and that seems to have helped albeit very little. It doesn’t help during boot or shutdowns at all. I’m running a 2012 MBP 17” with Snow Leopard.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Sounds like a graphics card failure. Your 2012 MBP is likely out of AppleCare and remedying the graphics cards involves a logicboard replacement which can run around $750+..

A anti-virus software isn't going to help in this scenario..

You might want to take it to your nearest Apple Store or authorized retailer to have the issue properly diagnosed and have them give you the estimate to fix it..

 

[pigoo3]

There were no 2012 17" MacBook Pro's. Last 17" model was "Late 2011". Maybe you purchased it in 2012.

Try booting the computer from an external HD...and see if the problems disappear. If not...it's a hardware issue (graphics) like Ashwin mentioned.

Apple also has a special repair program for some 2011 MacBook Pro's with graphics issues. Check out this document for details:

https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

- Nick

 

[lclev]

Since Apple did not make a 2012 17" MBP can I assume it is a 2011 model? If so, I have some potential "good" news. There is a recall on 2011 17" MBP's for graphic issues that are just like you describe. If this applies to you contact Apple. Here is a link with more information. This program ends this December 2016.

https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

Lisa

Nick - You type faster!!!

 

[pigoo3]

Nick - You type faster!!!

Certainly not! I'm sure you would beat me by a mile in a typing contest!

- Nick

 

[ferrarr]

Also, Lion was release in 2011, so having Snow Leopard means it was early 2011 MBP or earlier.

PS: remove all anti virus security scan apps.

 

[lclev]

Certainly not! I'm sure you would beat me by a mile in a typing contest!

- Nick

I doubt it but at least we agreed - great minds think a like!!! ;D

Lisa

 

[pigoo3]

I doubt it but at least we agreed - great minds think a like!!! ;D

Yes!

- Nick

 

[harryb2448]

Nortons and Sophos will never find any Mac virus. Why? Because there are no Mac OS X ciruses period. Waste of resources and slow down your Mac. Great advice re gfx recall. Lisa and Nick great minds? Well I will leave that one well alone.

 

[BondPPQ]

My mistake it is an early 2011 model, would a graphics card problem hinder the boot up though? I'm having trouble booting up and shutting down which is why I think it could be a virus as well. Is there a better anti-virus for Mac out there? Also I'm reading things about PRAM Resets, would this help fix or diagnose it?

 

[MacInWin]

There are NO viruses for Macs. You do not have a virus. There are NO, repeat NO, viruses for Mac. PRAM resets won't fix broken graphics cards. Your Mac is exactly the same model as one I had that showed exactly the same symptoms and it was the graphics card. Take it to Apple, they will do a quick test and then fix it under the extended warranty.

EDIT: And, Yes, the graphics card will eventually lead to problems booting. It's not a virus, it's a hardware failure.

 

[BondPPQ]

I realize that it can't be fixed without going through the replacement program so I will start this process now. The Odd thing is is that the problem started after I was watching a video from Facebook, so be warned anybody. I thought Facebook had virus protections or something but that was the source of frying my chip.

 

[MacInWin]

I repeat, you do NOT have a virus. No virus fried the graphics chip. There are NO viruses for macOS. A video on Facebook may or may not have contributed to the chip dying, but not through a virus. A video may have just driven the chip hard enough to push it over the edge by overheating as it worked to show the video. But it wasn't a virus. There are NO viruses for macOS.

 

[BondPPQ]

I repeat, you do NOT have a virus. No virus fried the graphics chip. There are NO viruses for macOS. A video on Facebook may or may not have contributed to the chip dying, but not through a virus. A video may have just driven the chip hard enough to push it over the edge by overheating as it worked to show the video. But it wasn't a virus. There are NO viruses for macOS.

I know that you keep reiterating that there are no viruses for Macs but I don't believe this to be true. There are millions and millions of viruses out there and they can't all be solely for Windows only. I have threats blocked and deleted with my use of Norton and Sophos and I can see this in the activity logs so if there was no Mac viruses how come my anti-virus programs are seeing and preventing them?

And it was a porn video on Facebook which shut down my computer completely, it just turned off on it's own while it was playing and then after that i immediately had the graphics chip problem, and I have never had a graphics chip problem before with this MBP so I have to think that it was something sent through this porn video like a virus or power surge or something which fried my graphics chip somehow.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

I know that you keep reiterating that there are no viruses for Macs but I don't believe this to be true. There are millions and millions of viruses out there and they can't all be solely for Windows only. I have threats blocked and deleted with my use of Norton and Sophos and I can see this in the activity logs so if there was no Mac viruses how come my anti-virus programs are seeing and preventing them?

And it was a porn video on Facebook which shut down my computer completely, it just turned off on it's own while it was playing and then after that i immediately had the graphics chip problem, and I have never had a graphics chip problem before with this MBP so I have to think that it was something sent through this porn video like a virus or power surge or something which fried my graphics chip somehow.

The nature of macOS makes it a lot harder for virus to exist. Windows is designed differently and thus is prone to virus'. I don't think there is anything that we can say to convince you otherwise, so let's leave it at that.

Secondly, watching a video alone shouldn't cause damage to your GPU. It doesn't sound like you really know how a computer works, so your theories are quite far fetched and not based on reality.

You've been advised on the best course of action for your problem, what you do with that advice is entirely up to you.

We are done here..