Ghost in the machine: screen contents across reboots in a Macbook Pro Retina

http://vince-debian.blogspot.com/2016/01/ghost-in-machine-faint-remanence-of.html

by chei0aiV • 11 years ago

53 22 11 years ago

vince-debian.blogspot.com

mdergosits• 11 years ago

I had this issue with my Mid 2012 retina MacBook Pro 15 in. It was a recognized problem with one of the vendors for the displays. I got it replaced at the Apple Store some time ago.

post_break• 11 years ago

You must have an LG panel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdhIA8-UIRQ

fcoury• 11 years ago

I have the exact same issue, and my Apple Care just expired a couple months ago. Does anyone know if I am still eligible for a replacement?

sosborn• 11 years ago

Just call - there is a good chance that they will help you out, even if you have to bitch and moan for a little bit.

Pt_• 11 years ago

There is a repair extension programme for video issues on the macbook pro's

https://www.apple.com/uk/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

mikhailt2• 11 years ago

Not the same issue, these were for GPU issues. This one is a defect of the display, not GPU.

However, for the OP, don't let this stop you. Call and ask, they often are generous enough to replace it for you even out of warranty. If the first time doesn't work out, try again 2-3 more times before giving up.

m3koval• 11 years ago

I had this issue fixed on my mid-2012 15" rMBP. It's known issue with some of the early LG panels on that model. The technician at the Apple store ran some standard image persistence diagnostic script to replicate the issue.

They replaced the display for free outside of AppleCare. I didn't have to argue with them at all, so I suspect that this is their standard response. YMMV if you have a newer model.

mikhailt2• 11 years ago

It's called Image Persistance, a defect of the display.

If you have an Apple Store right next to you, schedule an appointment and show it to them. They should replace it for you.

If you don't have one nearby, call Apple Care.

I got mine replaced for the same problem.

ghostly_s• 11 years ago

I have the exact same artefacts on my ThinkPad X220 (on which I only run Debian), in case anyone is tempted to paint this as a Mac-specific issue.

splitbrain• 11 years ago

Can confirm on my X240 running XUbuntu

BillinghamJ• 11 years ago

Just to be clear - this isn't a software issue, it's a hardware one.

Early rMBPs were known to suffer from "ghosting" - where old images persist on the display faintly in the background.

Pop to your local Apple Store and demonstrate the issue. They'll replace the top half of the clamshell - it's pretty standard and well known now.

gr3yh47• 11 years ago

suprised that image burn and its variants apparently are not so well known - as soon as i saw the image it was obvious it was a hardware issue

copperx2• 11 years ago

They'll replace the top half of the clamshell

I've tried that twice, and they've refused to replace the screen even though my rMBP's serial number falls under a recall for the GPU. They claim that the image retention is normal for a Retina screen. Yes, my screen is an "LP" version (made by LG). Shrug.

starquake2• 11 years ago

Don't stop there. Try it again! Maybe at another shop or something. Mine got replaced a few months ago and it was more than 2 years old. Maybe I got lucky because of EU regulations but I think you might get lucky at another Apple shop.

uptown• 11 years ago

I've experienced image persistence on my non-retina iMac as well.

jph• 11 years ago

To diagnose Macs circa 2012 with screen defects due to manufacturing by LG, use the `ioreg` command:

https://github.com/SixArm/sixarm_unix_shell_scripts/blob/mas...

    ioreg -lw0 | 
    grep \"EDID\" | 
    sed "/[^<]*</s///" | 
    xxd -p -r | 
    strings -6

profeta• 11 years ago

# * "LS" prefix: built by Samsung # # * "LP" prefix: built by LG

mikejmoffitt• 11 years ago

I got briefly excited that maybe somebody decided to post my computer game called "Ghost in the Machine" on HN, but then naivety died down and I read the rest.

PascLeRasc• 11 years ago

Is this the same issue that someone was having a few days ago with their GPU ram not being cleared completely after leaving Chrome Incognito mode?

jloughry• 11 years ago

Might present a security risk. Burn-in persistence on CRT screens was a serious concern in olden times. Once they entered a SCIF, monitors were not allowed to leave, at our site. I participated in experiments using flash UV to try to detect latent images; what worked better, though, was manipulating the electron gun from the back of the CRT to produce a flood beam.

Williams tube memory (before my time) and Tektronix 4014 terminals worked by similar physics.

Time to update the policies & procedures to include LCDs. OLED, when it arrives, will almost certainly exhibit the same effect.

Ghost in the machine: screen contents across reboots in a Macbook Pro Retina

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