crashing to a black screen

Running on a 15" Mac Book Pro, updated to 10.6.8

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro6,2
Processor Name: Intel Core i5
Processor Speed: 2.53 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB

Chipset Model: Intel HD Graphics
Type: GPU
Bus: Built-In
VRAM (Total): 288 MB
Vendor: Intel (0x8086)
Device ID: 0x0046
Revision ID: 0x0012
gMux Version: 1.9.21




I can launch the app, move around in it fine. But when I import any clips and begin to skim or play them within a few seconds, sometime almost a minute, the screen goes black and I have to restart. This happens without fail every time. I updated the OS, I have quicktime pro, I reinstalled the app but it's the same. I've never had FCP 7 on the machine and I've tried clips I've used without issue in Final Cut Express on older Mac Books. I've also been sure to run it without any other applications open. As far as I can tell I have all the system requirements needed. I'm also trying to use short quicktimes on my local hard drive since at first I was using media on a firewire drive but again, no difference.... I've also waited until the background rendering is done in case that's tripping it up but no change... any ideas? Should I just take it to the apple store for them to look at?


thanks

I would take it in and demo the problem if you can. We don't really have enough information yet to help with serious troubleshooting. If you get a useful answer though, please report back.

I made an appointment tomorrow at the apple store. I'll post up what they tell me. I have noticed others responding on the apple discussion board with similar issues. I just tried importing some audio, I was able to play around with it briefly and make some cuts but it crashed soon after as well.

I've had a few crashes, but none to a black screen. If the screen goes really black and nothing will get the mac back, chances are your GPU has over-heated and given out. On a big mac I'd clean out the card of dust and ensure good ventilation. On a macbook that's harder...

Graeme

...sounds like you have one of those nightmare machines that crash to black for no good reason. What was the purchase date? There was a bad batch of machines released from new MBP launch through mid April. From late April on there was a "silent fix" implemented by Apple...which was when I bought my MBP and I have had no issues. There is a 95 page thread on "crashing to black" on the Apple Discussions site and it still grows to this day. Genius Bars couldn't fix it:

[discussions.apple.com]

When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.

I took it in and they think it's a serious hardware problem. They are going to replace the logic board, I'm still under warranty so it's free and we'll see in 5 days if that fixes it. I bought my Mbp in august last year, I haven't had issues with it but I also haven't been trying to edit on it until now.

They were much quicker with the repair. After a false alarm of it being fixed, a tech just reset the PRAM but when I went in it crashed immediately when I touched a clip. They replaced the logic board over night and now FCPX is running smooth. Lesson is if you're crashing to a black screen it's a hardware issue. I don't know how isolated this issue is but it is something to get looked at and hopefully you're still under warranty.

Thanks for reporting back Seth.