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Apple's line of laptops for professional and power users. To date, the MacBook Pro line includes 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17-inch variants, with major revisions defined by Pre-unibody(Original), unibody, Retina display, Touch Bar, and SOC (system-on-a-chip) designs.

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White screen but good external

I have a 2008 model, the unit will power up, get the apple and spinning wheel then the screen goes blank (white) but if I have the external monitor connected it displays everything fine.

Have noted that the apple is slightly larger than normal and sort of a bluer grey.

Now I have seen the white screen before and usually replacing the cable will take care of the problem (unless it is the graphics chip) but I have never seen one before that would show anything other than the blank screen.

Any thoughts?

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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Did you reset the PRAM & SMC? Here's the Apple TN's on how to do both:

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Finally got around to replacing the cable and either it or the connections were the culprit, working nicely now.

Thank you for the help.

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Happy to hear you solve it. Which cable did you replace? And if you please mark the answer that best solved your question as resolved, Thanks!

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Kind of embarrassing, I picked up another computer that had a bad screen that matched this one.

I pulled both apart (new one had a better lid) and switched the cables too. Put it together and bingo, then I discovered that instead of placing it on the one I just got I had put it on the one that had the display problem.

I want to test the new one but since this one is working so well I think it best not to mess with things.

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I think you have HD corruption or a failing HD. Generally the white screen points to a logic board OR a corrupted operating system/defective hard drive/firmware problem. Knowing more recent history could help narrow the potential source of trouble. e.g. recent drops or falls, recent updates, new peripheral any of those can also be potential sources of white screen boot.

Try removing the HD and booting from the OEM optical disk, a thumb drive, external disk/target booted mac or a network. If any of that works it points back to HD/OS problems.

If this answer is acceptable please remember to return and mark it.

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It does it from HD (even used one from another machine) or usb (flash and external drive) and has the apple and loading wheel displayed on screen right up to full boot then it just goes blank but the external monitor works great.

No updates, not dropped, no water just good old normal use.

Ruled out HD, OS but haven't tested cable as I don't have this style around. Wondered if it would show the apple and wheel even though it was bad and simply cut out when it comes time for the full display hence the odd sized apple with the blue/grey color.

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I think you need to run advanced AHT while connected to an external monitor. If there's no error found the first time...run it 2 or 3x in a row. You've shown/narrowed it down to the internal display chain... but just where (fuse/controller, cable, LED backlight) I couldn't begin to venture a guess.

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