[Quagmire]

The bottom of the screen on my 17" MBP have these dark blotches as if some of the LED's have burned out or something. This showed up a while ago, but nothing serious that would make me go to the Apple Store to get it replaced. I just turned on the screen and it is a lot worse( the blotches are a whole lot darker than they used to be).

How much does a LCD replacement cost for an Early 2008 17" MBP? Timing of it could have been better as I go back to school this week.... At least I have my iPad.

[Ebby]

Ahh! I lost my whole freaking post so you get the short version. I have doubts this is a hardware thing. First, my laptop does this sometimes if I put it to sleep with the display set to 100%. Second, Photobooth's "flash" has triggered this problem before on my system. I am wondering if there is a above-100% setting it can use to superlite the screen. It almost seems to me like a software/firmware issue where incorrect values are being returned if the display hits max brightness and the ambient light sensors or photobooth tell the screen to go higher.

But that is just my hunch. I generally don't see hardware problems staggered like that. It would mean every other LED has a separate power source/wiring and that would take more space in a laptop.

I'm sure if it were easy to recreate the problem Apple would love to charge you to fix it. :P

[Quagmire]

In the 4 1/2 years I have had the laptop, putting it to sleep with the brightness at 100% hasn't caused this to happen. I also have the preference to adjust screen brightness turned off. Plus I never used Photo Booth. So that couldn't be an issue.

When I woke the computer up from sleep this morning it was back to normal. When the display went to sleep and I came back to the computer, the problem reappeared. Not only is the blotches dark, the whole screens brightness is also lower than normal.

[Ebby]

Well we can be screen buddies. haha If there is an easy fix I am all for it. Fortunately mine doesn't seem permanent. More of a nuisance.



Also, if you are up for some unhelpful comedy to pass the time, you can work with it like I did for fun and grab a sweet desktop pic here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=theater+curtains&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=o ff&client=firefox-a&hs=rjI&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&e i=RJ0xUJm2KI2EiwKUy4CwBA&ved=0CEEQ_AUoAQ&biw=1209& bih=743#q=theater+curtains&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe= off&client=firefox-a&hs=W4x&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&source=lnt&tbs=isz :l&sa=X&ei=R50xUMXrCe6VjAKA0IHYBg&ved=0CCkQpwUoAQ& bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=195301a40da4dc26&bi w=1209&bih=743

Call it an innovative feature.

[Quagmire]

Yikes that is bad.... It's worse than mine.

I have tried restarting it and a complete shutdown, restarting didn't work and with the shutdown it went back to "normal", but within 5 seconds of the screen turning on the problem returned. It may be software, could be a lose cable, or the LED's are on their last legs. Especially since mine seems to be more persistent than yours.

[Kickaha]

I'm betting loose cable if it's hardware. LEDs have three states: on, off, and busted. Busted is a final state, they don't start working again after they fail. To have a whole string of them fail would be really, really unusual. To have them then start working again would be in violation of a few laws of physics.

Looks neat though, like footlights on a stage.

[Quagmire]

So that is why I am betting on a loose cable. As I know once LED's fail, they fail.

Or hell I am hoping it is GPU related just so hopefully the repair is free due to it having the 8600M which was recalled for being a POS.

[Ebby]

The backlight circuit is separate then the graphics processing portion. If they were squares of discolored pixels or jumping static, that would suggest GPU problems.

I have another problem with my screen where every other vertical stripe of pixels will cut out and merge with its neighbor. This one super sucks because the screen is difficult to read. BUT that is a hardware issue (one I have had with every Apple laptop since 2000). Funny thing is, it ONLY affects the computer in spring and fall. I believe it has to do with weather. If my research is correct, there is corrosion that builds up on the cable contacts connecting the screen and GPU. That corrosion acts like a capacitor and interferes with the video signal being sent to the screen, but only when the weather is just right.

Kinda like how petting a cat in the perfect conditions creates a ton of static electricity. :P

[Quagmire]

Don't go dashing my hopes of getting this issue taken care of for free......

But, seriously I know it is most likely not GPU related. But, hey it is one way to get the repair done for free.

[Quagmire]

Just an update. I took my computer in to the Apple Store Thursday. Said it would cost $567 if done in store or flat rate of $310 if they shipped it out. I obviously chose the flat rate cost and had it shipped out. I just got it back today( love Apple's fast service).

Looking at the paper stating the what was done, they replaced the LCD, inverter, keyboard( one of my keys was falling off), top case( from a previous drop, part of the aluminum band above the express card slot was bent and the aluminum on the arm rest part started to corrode from sweat), and display cable( stated as the cause of the original issue).

So I basically have a new computer external wise for only $330( with taxes). I'm a happy camper.