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Model Number A1707. Released June 2017, this MacBook Pro features Kaby Lake processors up to the 2.8 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.8 GHz.

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Replaced display, works in boot screens, but not in OS X

I recently followed the excellent guide on replacing the screen on my 2017 Retina Macbook Pro (A1707). When I powered the computer back on, I got a normal boot screen, but once OS X starts booting from the firmware, the display goes dark. I plugged in a monitor, and the display isn't present in OS X. It works in firmware, though!

Running diagnostics, I get an error: Reference Code VFD003 - there may be an issue with the display.

I installed a brand new display that I bought on eBay. Has anyone ever seen this before? SMC and PRAM have been reset.

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Sounds like the T-CON board which is that circuit board that is part of the display assembly is defective. Basically you need to exchange the display assembly as this one is bad.

Your system offers different scan rates:

2880 by 1800 pixels (Retina); scaled resolutions: 1920 by 1200, 1680 by 1050, 1280 by 800, and 1024 by 640 pixels

The systems firmware boots up under 1280 by 800, so you see the Apple icon and the loading thermometer, at the end of the loading your system will then switch to the higher retina scan rate 2880 by 1800. At this point the timing logic within the T-CON jumps to a higher rate which it can't do as the logic is bad.

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Booting in verbose mode shows kernel log messages at the full 2880x1800 pixels, so I don't think it's that. Thanks for the tip, though.

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@marcinr - I'm assuming you are seeing this either via an external monitor or the internal display.

It's a bit confusing as the OS's video driver (kext) is loaded at that point so it will show 2880x1800. What is loaded before is the firmware video driver is 1280 by 800 and within verbose mode the screen is in text mode 1280 by 800 even with the driver could offer 2880x1800.

You could also see the full 2880x1800 if you had a 4k display plugged in externally. But again that's not via the internal displays logic.

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Are you sure about that? The text is miniscule, and I need to use a magnifying glass to see the individual bitmap fonts. I'll try to arrange an exchange of this screen, but... ugh, ebay. Thanks for the advice.

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@marcinr - What does an external display show you?

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During firmware portion of boot, external display doesn't show anything. Once firmware hands off to OS X, internal display turns off and external display runs at its own resolution.

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So I have a possible solution

It could be the flex ribbon cable giving you issues. If you can, remove the screen from the logic board socket and spray some compressed air and plug it back in (Firmly)

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Sadly, that didn't help. It's some kind of electrical incompatibility. I wonder if the seller sent me the correct version of the screen.

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marcinr will be eternally grateful.
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