gadget_aussie_man

Q: Thunderbolt Display turns off randomly

I have a new Mac Mini 2011 i7 Quad CPU version.  I have a Thunderbolt 27 inch display.  I have found that the display randomly turns off and won't turn on when I use the keyboard or mouse.  This occurs when I am doing stuff on the machine, it is not a display sleep issue.  The first couple of times I had to use Remote Desktop to reboot the Mac Mini to fix the issue.  The last time it happened I removed the Thunderbolt plug from the Mac Mini and reinstalled it and this fixed the issue.  I have the latest software updates on the Mac Mini and the Thunderbolt Firmware update on the Display.

 

I am running Lion 10.7.1

Posted on Sep 21, 2011 9:35 PM

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Q: Thunderbolt Display turns off randomly

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  • by Jeffrey Shaw,

    Jeffrey Shaw Jeffrey Shaw Oct 11, 2011 11:01 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (29 points)
    Apple Watch
    Oct 11, 2011 11:01 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    I have an MB Air and 27 in TB Display and am experiencing random blackouts on the display. I followed the advice of one of the posters here to set Energy Saver to 'never' but just experienced another blackout during a Facetime call. I was able to continue by pulling and replugging the TB cable on the MBA, but this is not an acceptable workaround for me considering the chain of USB and FW drives I have plugged into the monitor, all of which were of course improperly unmounted at that point. Also the Facetime camera reset itself to the MBA when I plugged it back in. Most bizarre. Really waiting for Apple to give us an update that will fix this.

  • by bikkuri,

    bikkuri bikkuri Oct 11, 2011 12:16 PM in response to Jeffrey Shaw
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 11, 2011 12:16 PM in response to Jeffrey Shaw

    Same here. MBA and MacMini Server.

    Today I called ACCS to inquire about this issue. The first guy couldn't really help me referring me to his superior in the tech center to whom I was talking about half an hour discussing possible solutions.

    PRAM/ SMC reset, which I already performed at the time. Then he told me to delete the com.apple.PowerManagement.plist in /library/preferences/system management > reboot. In sysprefs set 'Display Sleep' to 'Never' and in sysprefs/ displays: activate 'Automatically adjust brightness'.

    Later he consulted with another colleague, who apparently told him - and that's the interesting part - that besides the firmware update for the TB port already released, there might also be a seperate firmware update for the cable in the near future. I was no more than surprised he let information about "future releases" slip this easily to a customer. Normally they say, they don't know.

    He also said, that if one uses the seperatly sold extension cable to connect the display with the computer, only the plug connected to the Mac will be updated, not the plug at the other end which is stuck to the display. So in order to update both plugs, you'll have to reverse direction on the cable and do the update again.

    I'm really not sure what to make of this, and whether it's related to this issue or not, but it sounds reasonable to think a cable firmware update could bring a solution to these random blackouts.

  • by JEBIII,

    JEBIII JEBIII Oct 11, 2011 1:45 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 11, 2011 1:45 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    My main problem with this issue is the fact that Apple has not communicated any real answer about how it can be fixed. There are multiple postings on this website about people having this issue and Apple has simply offered to give them a new monitor without the promise that it will not happen again.  I also noticed a few postings that have indicated the issue has happened even when a new monitor was issued.  This is my first time dealing with Apple (and I have been very impressed up to this point) so I hate to be skeptical but what is the end game here? 

  • by AlohaSpirit2,

    AlohaSpirit2 AlohaSpirit2 Oct 13, 2011 4:13 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2011 4:13 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    Great News for me.

     

    The new monitor apple sent me works and so far at least has not shut itself off or gone black.

     

    Apple support, all very helpful.

     

    Unbelievably, the new second monitor required a pram and system management reset to allow the brightness bar in display settings to appear and to make use of the USB ports and make them start to function on the back of the Thunderbolt.  On first plug in the USB ports did not work.

     

    I am now of the impression certain of these units were some how defective but the replacements are fine.  We will see. 

     

    The first and older screen did work after some tinkering as already described but only if I did not make use of the USB plugs on it.  Use of USB plugs on my first older model still caused blackouts.

     

    I hope this info helps others.

     

    Let's all hope the new one stays on. 

  • by Jacky Chen,

    Jacky Chen Jacky Chen Oct 13, 2011 6:55 PM in response to AlohaSpirit2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2011 6:55 PM in response to AlohaSpirit2

    That's great news. Did you also update to the latest System/Firmware?

  • by bikkuri,

    bikkuri bikkuri Oct 13, 2011 10:43 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2011 10:43 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    While keeping a log about the random blackouts, I experienced a new 'symptom'.

    Every other time I put the display to sleep manually (ctrl.+ shift + eject), it goes dark, but the backlight stays on. It cannot be woken again by pressing any keys. It has to be unplugged in order to work again.

     

    @

    AlohaSpirit2

     

    Please give a status updates, if (when? ) those blackouts occur again.

  • by gadget_aussie_man,

    gadget_aussie_man gadget_aussie_man Oct 13, 2011 11:08 PM in response to bikkuri
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 13, 2011 11:08 PM in response to bikkuri

    I am my second Mac Mini Server and Thunderbolt Display.  I have now upgraded the display firmware.  I am getting 1 or 2 blackouts per day.  The frequency has decreased since I movd my firewire drives from the socket on the back of the display to that on the Mac Mini itself.  I have a feeling that the blackouts are proportional to the amount of traffic on the display connectors.  To reduce this I have the display itself at the end of the Thunderbolt connections as I have a Promise R6 disk array and LaCie Little Big Disk on the Thunderbolt daisy chain as well.

  • by jliv,

    jliv jliv Oct 14, 2011 7:06 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2011 7:06 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    Help! I am having a multiple blackout attack. This morning my TB keeps switching on and off. It has happened about 6 times in the past 15 minutes. Very hard to work this way. It seems to be subsiding in that the time between blackouts is getting longer.

     

    I am running a MBA + TB, and I use "extended" or dual-screen mode, as opposed to "duplicate mode."

     

    Apple Support has reached out and asked me to do a "capture."

     

    Crossing my fingers that it gets resolved soon.

  • by herkea,

    herkea herkea Oct 14, 2011 4:29 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2011 4:29 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    After reading all the posting and I am on the 2nd TB monitor, which was provided to me by Apple as a replacement.  The 2nd TB monitor slightly improved, but black out continues to occur daily.  Once a day is something that I have to live with for now.  When I was at Apple Store, the staff told me that they had found a software solution.  However, it has been two weeks, and we have not seen any new patch to cover the problem.  From my experience I guess the problem is mostly related to hardware design.  Software fix if achieveable will likely put some limitations on the montior performance or functionality so to avoid the problem area(s).  This problem may become a financial burden for Apple, who may have to recall all defected units or have to deal with legal issues brought up by customers. We need to keep our eyes on how the issue is developed until it is resolved.  Afte all, $999 is not a small sum. We need to make sure that the monitor's standard warranty is exteneded so when a solution is deviced and we are still covered with the fix, recall, or patch. 

  • by AlohaSpirit2,

    AlohaSpirit2 AlohaSpirit2 Oct 14, 2011 6:43 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2011 6:43 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    More good news for me.  My replacement monitor has not blacked out for 24 hours now since coming out of box.

     

    To me, this means blackouts must be hardware.  Sure, maybe software can help...not sure but this new monitor has not blacked out yet.

     

    FYI., the USB on monitor does work, but I am not using it.

     

    I am using Pegaus Thunderbolt wire and connection on monitor.

     

    Hope this helps.

  • by gadget_aussie_man,

    gadget_aussie_man gadget_aussie_man Oct 14, 2011 6:47 PM in response to AlohaSpirit2
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 14, 2011 6:47 PM in response to AlohaSpirit2

    Is your display at the beginning or end of the Thunderbolt chain?  ie is your display connected directly to your Mac and then the Pegasus connected to the Thunderbolt socket on the display?

  • by AlohaSpirit2,

    AlohaSpirit2 AlohaSpirit2 Oct 14, 2011 6:47 PM in response to AlohaSpirit2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2011 6:47 PM in response to AlohaSpirit2

    Ouch....No sooner than I write this letter and my monitor blacks. Out!

     

    This really *****...

  • by AlohaSpirit2,

    AlohaSpirit2 AlohaSpirit2 Oct 14, 2011 6:53 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2011 6:53 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    Monitor connected direct to Mac Mini Server.  Pegasus connected to back of monitor.

     

    Suggestion?

  • by gadget_aussie_man,

    gadget_aussie_man gadget_aussie_man Oct 14, 2011 7:04 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 14, 2011 7:04 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    I have just read on another thread that one potential solution to this issue which has worked for others is unchecking the auto brightness box for the Thunderbolt dislay.  I am going to try doing this right now and see what happens.

  • by AlohaSpirit2,

    AlohaSpirit2 AlohaSpirit2 Oct 14, 2011 10:51 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2011 10:51 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    Kind Sir,

     

    Please explain where auto brightness box is and how I get there....step by step please. 

     

    Also, if able to, please post other thread you are reading.  I've not located other threads to this issue.

     

    Thanks.

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