MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues

Symptoms

In July 2008, NVIDIA publicly acknowledged a higher than normal failure rate for some of their graphics processors due to a packaging defect. At that same time, NVIDIA assured Apple that Mac computers with these graphics processors were not affected. However, after an Apple-led investigation, Apple has determined that some MacBook Pro computers with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor may be affected. If the NVIDIA graphics processor in your MacBook Pro has failed, or fails within two years of the original date of purchase, a repair will be done free of charge, even if your MacBook Pro is out of warranty.

And here’s the best part:

Resolution

Apple is issuing refunds to customers who may have paid for repairs related to this issue. Please contact Apple for details on the refund process.

When I last spoke with Apple Care and they offered to courier my laptop to a specialized repair centre, the woman insisted she was doing me a special favour because my laptop was out of warranty, even though the original problem occurred while it was still under warranty and had never been properly addressed.

This time, though, it came back with a brand new display and appears to be working perfectly. I think that the issue may have been related to a faulty inverter board, but whatever it was it’s fixed now. Here’s hoping it doesn’t die again!