Update
My Macbook Pro already fix by Apple Authorized Service Provider and
they put my MBP to MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video
Issues.
Before they take my MBP, I have to make sure that all of my data safe.
They give me a firewire/Lan cable to access all of my data inside of
it and I have to delete some Private/Sensitive data and Backup all of
my "Work In Progress Files". Glad everything goes fine and smooth. And
the important things is I don't spend any peny for this repair, except
my personal expense to go there.
Symptoms
When working with Application that using most of GPU; Photoshop, InDesign, Google Maps, Safari, etc. Or using external display plugged for long time with heavy application. Then the display will sudenly blank (white or black), then showing up with horizontal lines like old TV. After that happen for minutes or less, then system freeze (All you gonna do is force shutdown). Boot up the MBP with blank grey or system load on half or 3/4. This is permanent failure with different restart procedures, and each case write bellow:
Normal startup: Your computer will boot, show the Apple logo and pinwheel, stuck on half way or 3/4 of system progress, and then go to a white/grayish screen and remain there (no warning text, just a plain/blank). You must force reboot (hold the power button down, again).
- Safe mode startup: While booting the computer hold the Shift key
until you see the Apple logo and system progress. About 60% of the
way through the progress indicator your computer will go to a blue
screen with horizontal lines. Note: In some case you can't boot to
Safe Mode.
- Recovery mode startup: While booting hold down Command + R. You
should get to a screen that shows the option of which drive to boot
from. Any selection will result in the same blue screen with
horizontal lines as in the Safe mode startup. Note: In some case you
can't boot to Recovery Mode.
- Console mode startup: While booting hold down Command + S to boot in
console mode. You might see distorted colors in your console (mine
had blue lines, some have had red lines). We'll get back to how to
use this mode to get your computer somewhat functional, but for now
type sudo shutdown -h now to shutdown, or sudo reboot. Note: In some
case you can't boot to Console Mode.
Early Symptoms Include:
- Overheating when running graphics-intensive web sites, which causes
the fans to loudly run.
- Random crashes with different solid-screen-colors showing up (black,
blue, gray).
- Random graphics glitches.
- Graphics distortions when plugging in an external monitor.
The Issue(s)
The issue is all about the heat inside your MBP. The AMD Radeon cards released with this MBP bring something wrong and easily to over heat, then affected to all the hardware (thanks god it's not blow the logic board).
Fortunately
In some case you were far away from Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Here are the first thing you can (if you can) do:
Disclaimer: Some users have stated they have trouble reversing this
fix after performing it. I cannot help you if you have trouble with
this, so proceed at your own risk.
- If you can boot to Console Mode (Click Power button while holding
Command + S), then continue with this solution. If you can't, stop
right there and bring your MBP to Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Mount the Hard Driver.
-uw /
Create backup from the root directory (you are now).
mkdir /Users/your_user_name/AMDDriverBackup
Then move all of this files.
mv /System/Library/Extensions/ATI* /Users/your_user_name/AMDDriverBackup
mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMD* /Users/your_user_name/AMDDriverBackup
Now try to reboot from Console Mode
sudo reboot
If you can make it or your MBP can make it. From now on you should be able to revive your MBP to do basic things.
For more instructions you can read an article, 2011 Macbook Pro Graphics Card Failure by Zach Clawson