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shrakner · 05:39 PM

I've got a 15" C2D MBP with Boot Camp and Win XP SP2. I've got Parallels installed as well, using the Boot Camp partition. When I run XP using BootCamp, I get this weird subtle black static- very light, very fast horizontal black flickers- basically looking like static- over the display. It's most noticeable on midrange solid color, though it's visible everywhere if you look closely. It's not severe enough to make it a serious problem, it's just irritating. (I guess I'm spoiled by the Mac and everything "just working"

) Now, it's not my hardware- the graphical glitches don't appear when I start up in the Mac OS.

Interestingly (or not, I'm not sure), the problem doesn't show up when I'm running Windows in Parallels.

I've tried all the troubleshooting I know- I updated to BootCamp 1.2 and installed the updated drivers, tried the Omega graphics drivers, turned hardware video acceleration on and off again, installed all Windows updates (except WGA- it's an moral principle for me), and uninstalled and updated Parallels tools. As a last resort, I used Software Restore to go back to a point where those glitches didn't occurr- they only started last week.

Any help would be much appreciated.

shrakner · Apr 15, 2007, 05:45 PM

OK, the problem is not restricted to Windows as I first thought. It's noticeable on the Mac side too- I'm not sure why I didn't notice this before. If a moderator could move this to the appropriate section and change the title, that'd be great.

Sooooo- now I know it's a hardware problem. I'm guessing this means my graphics card is messed up. Looks like a visit to the Genius Bar is in order.

shrakner · Apr 15, 2007, 07:08 PM

OK, the situation has changed again. I popped out the battery for a few minutes (the computer was on at the time) hoping to reset the PRAM or whatever the intel Macs use to store basic settings, hoping that might fix the issue. Now here's the interesting part- that didn't actually reset those settings, since the clock didn't get reset- I guess I would have to use TechTool for that. Now, the static on the Mac is virtually gone, but when I restart in Windows, it's there as bad as ever.

For clarification on my first post, the places where I would really notice the static was in the blue bars on the top and bottom of the XP login screen, and in the bottom half of the gradient for the NNForums main bar.

shrakner · Apr 16, 2007, 08:44 AM

This just keeps getting more interesting- I started the computer up this morning in OS X, and half the colors were psychedelic and there was flickering static across the entire screen (almost unnoticeable in pure white and black). I put the computer to sleep, opened it 15 minutes later, and the screen was almost perfect again- except for the slight static in the 50% gray range.

onlyone-jc · Apr 16, 2007, 12:12 PM

Don't you think you better stop posting on here, and start making your way to an Apple store?

ibook_steve · Apr 16, 2007, 04:55 PM

Or at least show us a picture.

Steve

shrakner · Apr 16, 2007, 11:21 PM

Yeah, I've got that impression by now. I'm just hoping that the problem stays manageable until the semester's over. Not having my computer when final projects are coming up = bad. I guess I was just hoping for some random pearl of wisdom that might just be able to fix it.

onlyone-jc · Apr 17, 2007, 02:01 AM

If you have AppleCare, they usually speed up the turn-over, and you should have it back within five days. If you haven't, then it'll probably end up being around two weeks. However, you may just get lucky!

onlyone-jc.

shrakner · Apr 17, 2007, 11:20 AM

I do have AppleCare, and I'm close to an Apple Store. Does that speed up the process?

markponcelet · Apr 18, 2007, 03:33 PM

My bet is that the cable that leads from the video card to the LCD screen has been damaged. One way you might test this is to move your screen on its hinges back and forth. If your movement of the screen causes changes in the display then yep -- it's the cable.

If that's the case, the whole LCD would have to be replaced.

(Caveat: my knowledge of that particular model is a little spotty. Still, I can just about guarantee you've got a hardware problem that's going to involve you being without your laptop for a while.)

onlyone-jc · Apr 18, 2007, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by shrakner

I do have AppleCare, and I'm close to an Apple Store. Does that speed up the process?

It usually does, since you're a "paid" customer then, so-to-speak (i.e. you paid for extra care). I got a display replaced in a Powerbook, and it took exactly two weeks. I've seen people get the same repair done in a matter of three to four days. But, if the parts aren't in stock, then you'll have a longer wait for them to arrive, regardless of if you have AppleCare.

All I can suggest is, get it fixed sooner, rather than later. You'll feel much better about it. You could ask if they will lend you (or, more likely hire you) another computer, while you're waiting.

Good luck,
onlyone-jc.