Prag mac´ tic

Q: USB Keyboard Plugged into Monitor Often Doesn't Work

Very often the USB keyboard plugged into the 27" Thuderbolt Display will not be recognized. It can be worked around by plugging the  USB keyboard cable directly into MacBook Pro (which always works) but the whole point is to leave the office desktop peripherals connected to the monitor when the laptop is taken away. The keyboard is a new Apple full size USB US keyboard with integral numeric pad.

 

17" MacBook Pro late 2011, Lion (now 10.7.3)  always up to date with all Apple software and Firmware, including all the Thunderbolt Firmware updates. The problem has been occuring since 10.7.1 or 10.7.2 (sorry, can't remember exactly what we started with but it definitely predates 10.7.3).

 

A temporary fix can be achieved by performing an SMC reset but the problem recurs afterwards episodically upon a subsequent instance of the computer being detached from the monitor and then reconnected.

 

Attachment/detachment (computer to monitor) can be either while machine is off, on, or asleep and the behaviour is the same.

 

Everything, all powered devices, are conencted to a new UPS with AVR and active power factor correction CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD and no events are being logged (that is, logging is active but nothing has occurred).

 

Thoughts, suggestions, other data about set up that I ought include?

 

Thanks in advance for any enlightenment.

Thunderbolt 27" Display, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Feb 14, 2012 4:33 AM

Close

Q: USB Keyboard Plugged into Monitor Often Doesn't Work

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2 of 8 last Next
  • by Neoxine,

    Neoxine Neoxine Dec 2, 2012 2:14 PM in response to Prag mac´ tic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 2, 2012 2:14 PM in response to Prag mac´ tic

    I have a 27" Apple Cinema Display (DisplayPort, pre-Thunderbolt), and I've been having the same issue since upgrading to Lion.  Now on Mountain Lion, and I'm still having the same issue.  C'mon Apple!

  • by Railpass,

    Railpass Railpass Dec 3, 2012 10:59 AM in response to Neoxine
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 3, 2012 10:59 AM in response to Neoxine

    Don't miss this update, which might help:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1612?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

     

    My issue has settled down and it's rare that my keyboard stops working. So one of the updates along the way must have fixed it.

  • by Neoxine,

    Neoxine Neoxine Dec 3, 2012 12:06 PM in response to Railpass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 3, 2012 12:06 PM in response to Railpass

    The update was incompatible with my system.  Although, I did find a recent update for my LED Cinema Display:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1613

     

    USB ports on the back of my display work fine, but keyboard still isn't recognized

  • by Will.G,

    Will.G Will.G Dec 3, 2012 12:37 PM in response to Prag mac´ tic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 3, 2012 12:37 PM in response to Prag mac´ tic

    I can offer a pragmatic approach to making it work, though it's not really a "fix."

     

    I summary, if I walk into my office and plug in my Thunderbolt monitor without opening my MacBook Air, odds are none of the attached USB devices or Ethernet will work.

     

    "Solution":

    1. Open the laptop and wait for the screen to come up.
    2. Plug in the Thunderbolt
    3. Wait until the Thunderbolt screen begins to come up (blue at first), and close the laptop.

     

    In my hands, all the devices connected to the Thunderbolt monitor now work every time. 

     

    It's a pain in the arse, but until Apple fixes the problem for real, it's a practical work-around.

  • by jeev13,

    jeev13 jeev13 Dec 4, 2012 12:39 PM in response to Will.G
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 4, 2012 12:39 PM in response to Will.G

    I have a late 2001 MBP and an Apple extended USB keyboard plugged into a Thunderbolt display.  Up until today I've been able to get the keyboard to work by unplugging and replugging or by restarting or by doing any of the variations listed so far in this thread.  Today, however, nothing short of plugging the keyboard directly into the MPB works.  Tried the update - my system didn't need it.  It's getting really frustrating.

  • by Eye Fixr,

    Eye Fixr Eye Fixr Dec 12, 2012 2:54 PM in response to Prag mac´ tic
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Dec 12, 2012 2:54 PM in response to Prag mac´ tic

    Same problem here. 

     

    One additional work around that works some of the time...

     

    Unplug the wired keyboard from the back of the TB display and plug it directly into my MBA and the keyboard works.  After typing a bit then I can plug it back into the TB and it works again but not every time...

     

    This is getting tiresome!  Please help Apple.

  • by abomba,

    abomba abomba Jan 2, 2013 11:40 AM in response to Eye Fixr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 2, 2013 11:40 AM in response to Eye Fixr

    Same issue here, but none of the work arounds fix it.  Big sad face...

  • by RobbieWILM,

    RobbieWILM RobbieWILM Jan 2, 2013 11:47 AM in response to Prag mac´ tic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 2, 2013 11:47 AM in response to Prag mac´ tic

    Just an update: I have NOT had the problem since upgrading to Mountain Lion. Same hardware.

  • by abomba,

    abomba abomba Jan 2, 2013 12:45 PM in response to RobbieWILM
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 2, 2013 12:45 PM in response to RobbieWILM

    I'm on Mountain Lion but still have an issue.

  • by scoccera,

    scoccera scoccera Jan 25, 2013 6:17 PM in response to Prag mac´ tic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2013 6:17 PM in response to Prag mac´ tic

    Yes -- I've seen this problem just as described -- sometimes works, sometimes doesn't.  I don't see this problem at all at home on my Thunderbolt Display with Apple keyboard with numeric keypad.  Got 14 Thunderbolt displays and numeric keyboards at work and I've been seeing this problem with interesting results.

     

    To try and figure out what was going on, we tried various combinations without any reboots.  We'd get different results using combinations of different Thunderbolt Displays with different Apple keyboard with numeric keypads hooked up to various laptops.  (Thunderbolt Displays are new and already have firmware update).

     

    Scenario: Laptop 1 plugs into Thunderbolt and keyboard (Dock 1) - works everytime no problem.  Next day plugs into a different setup (Dock 2) and keyboard doesn't work unless plugged into laptop directly.  Dock 2 has been problematic for a couple people.  Laptop 1 plugs into Dock 3 and shows no problems.  Keyboard from Dock 1 is plugged into Dock 3 and has no problems with either laptop. Keyboard from Dock 3 is plugged into Dock 1 and shows no problems. Keyboard from Dock 1 is put back into Dock 1 and shows the problem again.  We put keyboard 1 away and grab a new keyboard and plugged it into Dock 1 -- no problems.

     

    So, various combinations seemed to have different results with a keyboard not working with one display, but working fine with another display.  I'm not sure if the problem is isolated to the Thunderbolt Display, the keyboard or if various combinations of display, keyboard and laptop can cause the problem.  I've seen plugging and unplugging the keyboard work on one setup while not working on another.  Totally confused and sad that Apple hasn't sorted this out.  Afraid they'll ignore and build a new thin replacement thunderbolt display and never address the issue for the older ones.

  • by Nicolas Horvat,

    Nicolas Horvat Nicolas Horvat Jan 29, 2013 2:45 PM in response to Prag mac´ tic
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 29, 2013 2:45 PM in response to Prag mac´ tic

    It's A USB problem, no the keyboard. And It's Anoing !

     

    Apple Fix it Soon !

     

    Macbook Pro 17" Early 2011, and TD 27"

  • by LOtang,

    LOtang LOtang Jan 31, 2013 8:41 AM in response to Nicolas Horvat
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 31, 2013 8:41 AM in response to Nicolas Horvat

    Same problem here,

     

    USB keyboard, Macbook Pro 13" Mid 2012, and TD 27"

  • by laurabscottphotography,

    laurabscottphotography laurabscottphotography Feb 4, 2013 10:03 AM in response to Prag mac´ tic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 4, 2013 10:03 AM in response to Prag mac´ tic

    I was having the same issue with the keyboard USB plug into the monitor - then I realized that the usb from monitor to computer was not plugged in. So the display cord & the usb cord from the monitor both need to be plugged into the computer. Hope this helps!                                                                                                                                                                                               

  • by Neoxine,

    Neoxine Neoxine Feb 27, 2013 11:59 AM in response to Prag mac´ tic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2013 11:59 AM in response to Prag mac´ tic

    Hi Everyone,

     

    This just seemed to work for me.  Try this:

    1. Unplug the Cinema Display from your Mac, if it is connected.
    2. Unplug all peripherals from Cinema Display, including keyboard.  You do not have to unplug the display.
    3. With the Cinema Display cord, attach the MagSafe adapter FIRST
    4. With the Cinema Display cord, plug in the USB jack into your Mac SECOND.
    5. With the Cinema Display cord, plug in the DisplayPort into your Mac THIRD.
    6. Lastly, plug the external keyboard into the Cinema Display.

     

    Hope that helps!

  • by V Heimgartner,

    V Heimgartner V Heimgartner Mar 2, 2013 12:46 AM in response to Prag mac´ tic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 2, 2013 12:46 AM in response to Prag mac´ tic

    I got the same problem as described above by many users my setup (MacBook Pro, Thunderbold Display and Keyboard with NumericalPad). Lately it seems it gets worse, nearly every time the it comes out of the Sleep mode or is even turned on the key board is not functioning at all. It takes a few times to un-replug it to get it working (what a hassel). Not even unplugin the dispay itself helps anymore.

     

    As it seemed the problem exists for a long time... the updates have in my case just increased the frequency of the problems. I though these times are over, but I guess could switch back to a Windows there the hardware is working at least :/

Previous Page 2 of 8 last Next