MBP13‘3 and External Monitor Problem (screen goes pink/ laptop hangs)

I've got this problem as well. I've got a 2010 Macbook Pro 13 inch connected to an Acer 20 inch monitor and will get regular crashes - usually 2-3 per hour.

The only other angle I could suggest with this topic is that I am using a non-Apple mini DVI to VGA connector. I wouldn't expect this would cause the problem though.

Very disappointing experience with this issue as I love the laptop otherwise - but I'm highly frustrated I can't use it in tandem with a monitor as I planned when purchasing the laptop.

Latest Update:
Well it's just crashed again. That was about a week since I turned off Bluetooth. When I first switched to Ethernet from Airport it lasted about a week before the first crash too. So it seems, as I think at least one other victim has noted, that turning off the various wireless facilities makes the crashing far less frequent, but still doesn't prevent it entirely. At least, that's my experience.
I suppose the only course is to send it back and hope that Apple fix it. (It seems from other posters that doesn't always help though!)

Hi all,
I solve this problem by changing the mainboard.
The engineers in apple reproduce this problem no matter using official or third party mini display port adapter.
In my case, the analog output of the mini display port works fine but digital out puts are failed (include DVI and HDMI).
I suggest everyone here with this problem just go to apple directly and ask for mainboard replacement.

P.S. I bought this laptop in mid June, 2010.

Mid-2010 13" MBP - I've experienced the external monitor problem with pink screen and a number of other hangs. It's not user software. It's not memory, it's not the disk... have checked all of these pretty extensively.

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro7,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP71.0039.B05
SMC Version (system): 1.62f5
Serial Number (system): W8016LEDATM
Hardware UUID: 9CBF8F9D-8831-51EB-922F-CF28181ABABB
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

About to try the re-setting of PRAM, etc.

I can now confirm that the problem occurs with an Apple 24" LED Cinema Display. I took longer to rear its hoary head than with my old Samsung 19" monitor, but it happened. I wasn't using the MBP 13" at the time, but when I got up this morning both screens were black, the sleep light was solid on, and the Bluetooth mouse and keyboard as well as the built-in keyboard could not wake the machine.

The problem is most annoying, because I feel I must check all harddisks immediately after rebooting the machine, ever since after one such incident the the Time Machine disk required rebuilding (with Disk Warrior).

The plot thickens! On Sat. Oct. 16 I visited the Genius Bar at the Apple Store in Zurich. After I called the genius' attention to this thread, he decided that he could only escalate the case. If he received any suggestions about how to localize or solve the problem, he would inform me; otherwise, he hoped that a software update would be forthcoming that would address the problem. Today, having discovered that the problem isn't limited to external monitors connected by DVI, but happens also when an Apple LED Cinema Display is connected by Mini DisplayPort, I called the Apple Store. They informed me that they had received a recommendation having to do with the RAM, and I should bring the machine in.

I am skeptical. I vaguely recall that reseating the RAM was mentioned in this thread, but that it hadn't solved the problem in all (any?) cases. I can see where exchanging the motherboard would address a problem with the RAM, though, if more than just reseating it were required. I will make an appointment and report back here.

Count me in as having the same problem (MPB 13", 2010 model). It happens for me about 35-50% of the time with an external monitor, and about 10% without (more than likely before a reboot after being connected to an external monitor).

Cheers
~G~

I have a Macbook Pro 13' (bought in mid September 2010) connected to a DELL 15' external monitor via mini Display port ->VGA connector and I am experiencing the same problem as reported in previous posts.
What I can add to the discussion is the following:
ℹ I have noticed that since the latest MAC OS update the problem has become more frequent. Prior to the update, the MBP used to hang only after entering standby mode (not sleep mode) for a few hours. After the update, the MPB hangs after approximately 40 minutes (if not earlier).
(ii) I tested my MBP yesterday by connecting it to a different external monitor (Samsung 20' Syncmaster) via mini-display port -> HDMI connector. I have been testing the connection for more than 3 hours, at different resolutions and refresh rates. I had no hanging/freezing at all. Indeed, the testing cannot be held conclusive (3 hours are not quite indicative) but, in comparison with the Dell connection, the HDMI solution worked flawlessly.
(iii) I contacted Apple Care (Italy) earlier this morning. They told me that they are fully aware of the issue and at Apple US engineers are analyzing the issue. No idea, however, on the cause of the glitch nor on the timing to have it solved. They cannot even say whether it is an hardware failure requiring replacement of components or something that can be fixed by way of a software update. Assuming the latter, however, they indicated that a software update solving the issue may be expected by mid of next year.
So, apart from continuing testing the HDMI fallback solution it looks like we shall wait quite a while before we can see this issue solved. I am not particularly happy with this as I use my MBP for business reasons and do I need the dual screen environment working properly.

Ive been having exactly the same issues. Working away one minute then completely frozen screen, usually pink or white. I split my time half and half windows/OSX and have the same issue in each.

I use an external 22" dell monitor with a DVI cable most of the time - at its worst it crashed 4 times in under an hour.

After 5 visits to the apple store in sydney they werent able to find any fault and I got a replacement. It appears a bit better but Ive had 1 crash today.

Im guessing this wont get resolved any time soon.

Hi All,

My 13" MBP is experiencing similar issues since I got it back in July. In both OSX and Win 7, I get the occasional multicolor freeze. Happens only when connected to an external monitor (Samsung XL2370). Trouble shooting to date has included different external monitor (23" Asus), different DVI connector, different DVI cable and PRAM reset--all to no avail. The weekend before last, I took it to the apple store for a motherboard replacement. This seemed to do the trick, but today I had two freezes within 20 minutes of each other. Ironically, the second occurred while perusing this forum. It appears that this is more of a design flaw than a just a bad batch of motherboards. Since I doubt most folks attach their machines to external monitors, the problem may actually be very widespread.

This is my first mac and I must say I am very disappointed so far. Lets hope Apple makes this right.

This happens to me too. White screen on both the internal screen and the external screen (Dell 22" on DVI at 1680x1050, various projectors at 1280x1024 on VGA).

Well I just had my first instance of the problem while in clamshell mode. ****. Until now, that was one sure way to avoid.

the four asterisks were Apple's replacement for the astonishingly mild oath I wrote there (starts with "d", if you can believe it)

Hey,

I bought my new MBP last week. I experience the same problem, but my screens are not pink, they are white:
http://www.uploadgeek.com/share-1E9F_4CCE7F25.html

When we can expect a solution ? I need this computer in my work.

Same problem, system would freeze only when connected to an external monitor (Dell 2405) - screen freeze every 20-40 mins, sometimes pink, green or grey.

Spent many hours on the phone with Apple tech support, running hardware diagnostic tests, reinstalling systems software, then all other applications one at a time (it took weeks) The problem still persisted.
The only thing that has worked, as suggested on this site, is booting up then running in clamshell mode - have not had the problem reoccur in months. I can use the bigger screen when needed and the MBP screen is fine when I'm mobile. It's not a solution - rather a fix.