macbook-pro-2011-defective-gpu-fix-v2.md

Works for macOS Sierra and High Sierra (Improved version)

Taken from StackExchange

Thanks to LangLangC

For temperature and other improvements see https://gist.github.com/cdleon/d16e7743e6f056fedbebc329333d79df

This method leaves brightness control enabled

Reset SMC

Shutdown, unplug everything except power and hold

leftShift + Ctrl + Option + Power 

I holded for 5 seconds, but holding just for an instant should work

Reset NVRAM: Power up and hold

Command + Option + p + r

Until you hear the startup chime two times.

Shutdown computer

Power up and boot into Single User Recovery by holding

if you are on high sierra 10.13.6+ you might need to use Command + r instead

Command + r + s

Disable SIP (This takes a bit to complete so wait for it)

csrutil disable

Disable Discrete GPU on boot by running

nvram fa4ce28d-b62f-4c99-9cc3-6815686e30f9:gpu-power-prefs=%01%00%00%00

Enable verbose boot mode (This will show text everytime you boot up, shutdown or restart your mac)

nvram boot-args="-v"

Reboot

reboot

Boot into Single User-mode by holding

Command + s

It might look as if it hanged, but press enter and you should see the shell (root#)

Mount root partition writeable

/sbin/mount -uw /

Make a kext-backup directory

mkdir -p /System/Library/Extensions-off

Move ONLY ONE offending kext out of the way

mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMDRadeonX3000.kext  /System/Library/Extensions-off/

Inform the system to update its kextcache:

touch /System/Library/Extensions/

Reboot

reboot

It will show a bunch of text in the screen (don't be alarmed, let it finish) and then it will restart again In second restart it will show text in the screen again and then it will show normal login screen Your computer now should work properly (dGPU off and iGPU on, shown as i in gfxCardStatus

BIG CAVEAT FOR APPLE UPDATES

If an update that contains changes to the AMD drivers is about to take place it is advisable to move back the AMDRadeonX3000.kext to its default location before the update process. Otherwise the updater writes at least another kext of a different version to its default location or at worst you end up with an undefined state of partially non-matching drivers.

After any system update the folder /System/Library/Extensions has to be checked for the offending kext. Its presence there will lead to e.g. a boot hang on Yosemite and Sierra, an overheating boot-loop in High Sierra.

Hello my UPGRADED MBP early 2011 running High Sierra can't detect my external monitor using a thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. Does anyone know what might be causing the problem please.? Will the Fix help me? Thank you very much.

Hi Nawmy, Not sure what you mean by 'upgraded', it could mean a lot of things  .. but I do know that it's the discrete graphics chip - the radeon (or nVidia) chip - that drives the external displays.

…

--Andrew

On 2022-05-12 9:43 a.m., Nawmy wrote: ***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hello my UPGRADED MBP early 2011 running High Sierra can't detect my external monitor using a thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. Does anyone know what might be causing the problem please.? Will the Fix help me? Thank you very much. Screen Shot 2022-05-12 at 17 42 19 <https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/70571929/168089003-9ffe6b41-06df-4227-babf-7ea156da1ac0.png> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/d1eff7246a25193304284ecec40445b0#gistcomment-4164858>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AR2TUHWEEICGNI7ZKU5TA5DVJUDIVANCNFSM4HJLZ7CQ>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

As far as I know once you disable the Radeon GPU the external monitor will no longer work. At least it never did for me.

As far as I know once you disable the Radeon GPU the external monitor will no longer work. At least it never did for me.

Correct. External display will no longer work

As far as I know once you disable the Radeon GPU the external monitor will no longer work. At least it never did for me.

Correct. External display will no longer work

Is there any solution for external display to work??

@Deckyruby @fromage9747 Thank you for your comments.
i stumbled upon something called "eGPU Graphics Card". Is it any good.?
Or is there any other solution?
Thanks in advance.

Heh, you can’t change gpu like you’d change up your favourite hat. :)

…

On May 16, 2022, at 02:35, Nawmy ***@***.***> wrote: ***@***.*** commented on this gist. @Deckyruby @fromage9747 Thank you for your comments. i stumbled upon something called "eGPU Graphics Card". Is it any good.? Or is there any other solution? Thanks in advance. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

Hi, I have tried this process and I have only managed to get to a certain point. If I reboot after doing the process, the code just stops at IOConsoleUsers: gIOScreenLockState 3, hs 0, bs 0, now 0, sm 0x0 and while trying the process it comes up with this when I type one of the codes it says something and I'm not sure how to fix it. If I'm not able to fix this, my plan is to buy a 13-inch missing things like the ram, hard drive, DVD drive and possibly fans and taking those missing parts from the 15-inch I have and putting them in the 13-inch if I get one. Does anybody have any ideas about the codes and what parts are compatible between the 13 and 15 inch MBPs.

@atrens hey thank you for stating the obvious. :)

TBH I forgot the procedure, but it did take me a few tries myself to get it done, and I did go with the fresh reinstall. I had the SSD fail on the machine, so I had to go from the ground up.

One thing not connected with the GPU issue, I really came to love this machine. I don't get constant updates on it, and just use it and it always works. It is a marvel. Mine is in its 11th year.

Hey there, could you help with this process, I have to reinstall the OS from the ground up as well. Appreciate your help.

Here's a link to a youtube video. I followed along with this and it worked a charm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLft4N54zvU

Here's a link to a youtube video. I followed along with this and it worked a charm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLft4N54zvU

Thank you. Unfortunately, this doesn't work for me as my battery is not functioning at all. It only powers up with the charger. Anny help anyone can offer?

you kind of need to have a functioning battery.  On my machine, on occasion the system management chip (smc) needs to be reset (which will require disconnecting the battery). Triage is sortof was-it-chicken-or-egg-firstwhen it comes to the smc and the battery as they work hand in glove.  You may find resetting the smc will allow your battery to start charging again,  orit could be a bad battery that is scrambling your smc’s tiny brain. :)On Sep 16, 2022, at 13:26, wulfhunter ***@***.***> ***@***.*** commented on this gist. Here's a link to a youtube video. I followed along with this and it worked a charm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLft4N54zvU Thank you. Unfortunately, this doesn't work for me as my battery is not functioning at all. It only powers up with the charger. Anny help anyone can offer? —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

Hi guys, could someone upload the AMDRadeon* files for High Sierra? After an update my computer no longer boots and I'm hoping can resolve it by restoring the files. Thanks

Keep an eye on the white power led on the front corner of the clam shell.. if you notice it dimming towards the end it means the radeon has shorted out completely and is pinning the power supply.On Sep 24, 2022, at 20:17, Daniel F Hernandez ***@***.***> ***@***.*** commented on this gist. Hi guys, could someone upload the AMDRadeon* files for High Sierra? After an update my computer no longer boots and I'm hoping can resolve it by restoring the files. Thanks —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

Alright so I've got MBP 2011 15". The original HDD has died on me and now using a b/new SSD, installed a new battery as well.
On boot up i'm getting a screen with a question mark in a folder. Tried the internet recovery method, bar progresses to 100% then just a white blank screen. Seems like I can reset SMC but not NVRAM. Any help on what I can do?

Any help on what I can do?

1. restore disk from Time machine copy, or
2. install MacOS on another MBP, or
3. boot from CD/dvd or external HDD and install system to new SSD

Any help on what I can do?

1. restore disk from Time machine copy, or
2. install MacOS on another MBP, or
3. boot from CD/dvd or external HDD and install system to new SSD

Thank for the reply. I don't have access to no 1 and 2. Tried booting from USB or hdd recovery (via option on startup) doesn't recognize the drives. Only shows internet recovery. Transmac is showing the drives though

Hopefully battery is now charging?On the network install .. couple of silly questions?Booting from ROM image loader is at least starting and signs of successful network access are apparent?Do you have another (older) disk to try just to be 100% sure new disk is not defective or somehow incompatible?On Sep 24, 2022, at 22:42, wulfhunter ***@***.***> ***@***.*** commented on this gist. Alright so I've got MBP 2011 15". The original HDD has died on me and now using a b/new SSD, installed a new battery as well. On boot up i'm getting a screen with a question mark in a folder. Tried the internet recovery method, bar progresses to 100% then just a white blank screen. Seems like I can reset SMC but not NVRAM. Any help on what I can do? —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

Hi there! Your system may need an EFI update to boot from APFS file system. Please boot up with your former macOS Plus file system drive and install the EFI Bootrom update that you can download here:https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/QmZ5KmpG4SeHF8gWrHmoLcG9a3BNAcWWQoERg4q2J1kuQL/OfficialAPFSFWUpdate.zipOtherwise, format the SSD and continue using macOS Plus file system so your Mac will be able to boot. Once you install all High Sierra updates, the EFI bootrom should be updated automatically if your battery is charged and the charger connected: the Mac will reproduce a long beep and show a gross loading bar. I hope that this helps and best regards from Spain, Alberto M. Da Silva Pereira remac.es Enviado de Samsung Mobile -------- Mensaje original --------De: wulfhunter ***@***.***> Fecha: 25/9/22 11:00 (GMT+01:00) Para: cdleon ***@***.***> Cc: mnemos2000 ***@***.***>, Mention ***@***.***> Asunto: Re: cdleon/macbook-pro-2011-defective-gpu-fix-v2.md @wulfhunter commented on this gist. Any help on what I can do? restore disk from Time machine copy, or install MacOS on another MBP, or boot from CD/dvd or external HDD and install system to new SSD Thank for the reply. I don't have access to no 1 and 2. Tried booting from USB or hdd recovery (via option on startup) doesn't recognize the drives. —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

Hopefully battery is now charging?On the network install .. couple of silly questions?Booting from ROM image loader is at least starting and signs of successful network access are apparent?Do you have another (older) disk to try just to be 100% sure new disk is not defective or somehow incompatible?On Sep 24, 2022, at 22:42, wulfhunter @.> @. commented on this gist. Alright so I've got MBP 2011 15". The original HDD has died on me and now using a b/new SSD, installed a new battery as well. On boot up i'm getting a screen with a question mark in a folder. Trie


d the internet recovery method, bar progresses to 100% then just a white blank screen. Seems like I can reset SMC but not NVRAM. Any help on what I can do? —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: @.***>

Thanks mate, not sure what ROM image loader is, but attaching pics of the process. Checked a HDD and a uSB both not detecting. Battery is a b/new one fully functional. After the bar progresses to 100% its just a white screen.

Hi there! Your system may need an EFI update to boot from APFS file system. Please boot up with your former macOS Plus file system drive and install the EFI Bootrom update that you can download here:https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/QmZ5KmpG4SeHF8gWrHmoLcG9a3BNAcWWQoERg4q2J1kuQL/OfficialAPFSFWUpdate.zipOtherwise, format the SSD and continue using macOS Plus file system so your Mac will be able to boot. Once you install all High Sierra updates, the EFI bootrom should be updated automatically if your battery is charged and the charger connected: the Mac will reproduce a long beep and show a gross loading bar. I hope that this helps and best regards from Spain, Alberto M. Da Silva Pereira remac.es Enviado de Samsung Mobile -------- Mensaje original --------De: wulfhunter @.> Fecha: 25/9/22 11:00 (GMT+01:00) Para: cdleon @.> Cc: mnemos2000 @.>, Mention @.> Asunto: Re: cdleon/macbook-pro-2011-defective-gpu-fix-v2.md @wulfhunter commented on this gist. Any help on what I can do? restore disk from Time machine copy, or install MacOS on another MBP, or boot from CD/dvd or external HDD and install system to new SSD Thank for the reply. I don't have access to no 1 and 2. Tried booting from USB or hdd recovery (via option on startup) doesn't recognize the drives. —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: @.***>

Downloaded the update from Apple Support, your link seems to be broken? Installed the previous HDD. Screen with EFI Boot comes up after pressing Option during boot, nothing else. I press on EFI boot then a black screen with some text and blooms to white. See below images please.

Lots of boards available on ali-express - much better source than eBay for these. I bought a spare for my machine for less than $300 CAD,  shipping included. Board came from Singapore.  Looks good, but have yet to need to try it out.

…

On 2022-04-19 12:30 p.m., tronnyjenkins wrote: ***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hello, hopefully this doesn’t disrupt your comments. Does anyone know if there are certain 2011 logic boards that work, or do all 2011 (15”) fit? I think I will order one on eBay to hopefully fix mine as I think it finally gave up. I still use the machine to work on my car. On Apr 19, 2022, at 8:25 AM, atrens ***@***.***> wrote: ***@***.*** commented on this gist. ________________________________ Disk-clicking almost always means that the controller is struggling to read/re-read some unreliable areas on the disk media. In these cases I've rarely been able to retrieve data, maybe others have had better luck or can suggest things to stabilize. But this alone may not explain the white screen and reboot, that more than likely is the common failure in a component in the apple circuitry that powers up the nVidia graphics chip. Fixing it requires replacing a capacitor I think. I made this mod on our 2011 15-inch MBP, it required removing and replacing a small surface-mount capacitor needing use of a heat-gun-style solder station and a bit of patience - our 2011 MBP has been solid ever since. Before lashing out to attempt this repair I would first try booting without disk - these MBPs have a builtin firmware-based recovery manager, if you can't get to the recovery manager because of white screen that means you likely have this above-mentioned hardware issue. --Andrew On 2022-04-19 2:26 a.m., mrglutton wrote: > ***@***.**** commented on this gist. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > w > > Hi, I am fixing an early 2011 15-inch MBP. The battery doesn't > charge, when I power on the mac with the hard drive the disk drive > does something and then the hard drive clicks. It does it again > but this time the hard drive doesn't click and somewhat boots up. > An apple logo appears and then a bar appears. The bar gets to > halfway, the screen goes white, the hard drive clicks and then > turns off. It repeats this process again from the disk drive doing > something and then the hard drive clicking and it repeats this > process forever. same story with an ssd except the ssd doesnt > click, the disk drive does the thing and then stops, the disk > drive does the thing again and then the folder with a question > mark starts to flash. > > I have done this process (switching the ssd out for the hard drive > during the single user mode bits) and have done the touch > /System/Library/Extensions/ and rebooting. (using the hard drive > for this bit) It has come up with all of the text but has > completely stopped at IOConsoleUsers: gIOScreenLockState 3, hs 0, > bs 0, now 0, sm 0x0 and hasn't rebooted a second time. I haven't > tried to enter internet recovery while using the ssd as of writing > this but does anybody have any ideas to resolve this? > > If the drive clicks, that is usually "click of death", but if you get > the same issue with an SSD, then it might be it doesn't get enough > power for some reason. I would try another charger, and definitely try > to boot a linux off an USB stick. Tails is a good choice because it > uses Intel card. If the linux works, then a reinstall might help. > > — > Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub > <https://gist.github.com/d1eff7246a25193304284ecec40445b0#gistcomment-4137259>, > or unsubscribe > <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AR2TUHQEAE263YTSVBQD6TLVFZGYTANCNFSM4HJLZ7CQ>. > You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: > ***@***.***> > — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<https://gist.github.com/d1eff7246a25193304284ecec40445b0#gistcomment-4137706>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASRJORMFRFMCDJD5Z4CMOUDVF2X43ANCNFSM4HJLZ7CQ>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/d1eff7246a25193304284ecec40445b0#gistcomment-4137937>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AR2TUHVLDOJZ3KDANMQFCBLVF3NTBANCNFSM4HJLZ7CQ>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

Wow. I did the heat gun trick and it came on. I’m surprised since I baked it before that the trick worked again. I’m on the 15” model. So, I have it on Catalina now, would it be recommended to go to Big Sur or Monterey or do the discrete disable process again and stick with Catalina? On Apr 19, 2022, at 11:21 PM, fromage9747 ***@***.***> wrote: ***@***.*** commented on this gist.

…

________________________________ @tronnyjenkins<https://github.com/tronnyjenkins> Follow a dissassembly video, give it a clean and heat up the GPU with a paint stripper heat gun. Not a hair dryer, a paint stripper heat gun. I use a kx2000k black & decker when my macbook misbehaves. Though I haven't had to do it again since moving to open core and disabling the GPU. Please use a Thermal Temp gun to check your temperatures. I don't let it go past 150 degrees celsius when heating the GPU. You don't need to do it for long. Its just enough to heat up the GPU. You aren't reflowing/reballing here. You just need to get it to boot, then follow my instructions in this gist of how to get Bigsur/monterey onto your Macbook and disable the GPU. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<https://gist.github.com/d1eff7246a25193304284ecec40445b0#gistcomment-4138645>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASRJORIBLVJWNXQQIOYE4BDVF6A27ANCNFSM4HJLZ7CQ>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

Oops, apologies, missed the context of the previous message.. my only concern with any external card thing, even usb based, is that it would need some basic software support and a lot of us are running older macos.

…

On May 16, 2022, at 07:48, Andrew ***@***.***> wrote:  Heh, you can’t change gpu like you’d change up your favourite hat. :) >> On May 16, 2022, at 02:35, Nawmy ***@***.***> wrote: >> > ***@***.*** commented on this gist. > @Deckyruby @fromage9747 Thank you for your comments. > i stumbled upon something called "eGPU Graphics Card". Is it any good.? > Or is there any other solution? > Thanks in advance. > > — > Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. > You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

External Display (monitor) is working for me. I don't know if there is a way to make the Intel Graphics to use more Ram to support external monitors.

Dear friend, It will take the maximum RAM if you install more than 4GB up to 16GB.I hope that this helps and best regards from Spain, Alberto M. Da Silva Pereira Remac.es Enviado de Samsung Mobile -------- Mensaje original --------De: Desalegn ***@***.***> Fecha: 22/10/22 23:05 (GMT+01:00) Para: cdleon ***@***.***> Cc: mnemos2000 ***@***.***>, Mention ***@***.***> Asunto: Re: cdleon/macbook-pro-2011-defective-gpu-fix-v2.md @Dellu commented on this gist. External Display (monitor) is working for me. I don't know if there is a way to make the Intel Graphics to use more Ram to support external monitors. —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

Wow. I did the heat gun trick and it came on. I’m surprised since I baked it before that the trick worked again. I’m on the 15” model. So, I have it on Catalina now, would it be recommended to go to Big Sur or Monterey or do the discrete disable process again and stick with Catalina? On Apr 19, 2022, at 11:21 PM, fromage9747 @.> wrote: @. commented on this gist.
…

Wow. I did the heat gun trick and it came on. I’m surprised since I baked it before that the trick worked again. I’m on the 15” model. So, I have it on Catalina now, would it be recommended to go to Big Sur or Monterey or do the discrete disable process again and stick with Catalina? On Apr 19, 2022, at 11:21 PM, fromage9747 @.> wrote: @. commented on this gist.
…

How did you change to Catalina?
Did you need Patch?
May you help me ?

Hi, I may have just had a bad battery??? but to test this assumption, If I wanted to reverse the process outlined in the first post (re-enable discrete graphics) would I do the following :

1. move radeonx3000 kext back to extensions folder
2. enable SIP
3. Reset SMC
4. Reset NVRAM (does this reenable discrete graphics card)

(if not completely correct, your corrections would be much appreciated...)
Thank you...

Recomiendo a todos este enlace para solucionar problemas:
https://dosdude1.com/mojave/