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

Alan: I have no idea whether or not you're right about GPU switching being implicated in the problem, but you can use gfxCardStatus to gain manual control over which GPU is active at any given time. Perhaps that will further your testing.

The problem exists when running purely an external monitor too.

Did anybody get in contact with Apple about this issue?

To me they said to reset my parameter ram... and that "the monitor might be incompatible".

Both, especially the last, sound weird to me. Never encountered a monitor that crashes a computer.

Well it's possible it's just coincidence, but since installing 10.6.4 the problem hasn't happened once. I have used my MacBook Pro for 3-4 days without a single pink/purple freeze. The problem happened at least once a day previously, sometimes more. So I'm fairly optimistic it was just a software bug.

Has anyone here had this problem (pink/purple freeze while using extended desktop) while running 10.6.4?

I am using 10.6.4 already.. in fact, i updated all the softwares as long as i get my new mac.

well, i'll phone apple support today and hopefully they won't ask me to reset the PRAM as well..

Perhaps you (jhinze57) and I have different problems. I recently used my computer with exclusively the external monitor for a total of at least 48 hours. No problems. This morning I put it back in extended desktop mode and it crashed within three hours. Bummer.

By the way: I am running 10.6.4 and still get the pink/purple screen.

Today I used another (Dell) monitor with my MacBook Pro 13. In extended desktop mode it crashed after about two hours, in clamshell (only external monitor) it didn't crash at all.

I'm using 10.6.4.

To all users with the external monitor issue, does you system boot in 64-bit kernel?

In my case, once I received my MBP, I changed the boot mode from default 32 bit to 64. Then, I connected to the external monitor and started having the issues discussed in this thread. Yesterday, I decided to switch back to 32 mode, and so far, I have not seen any external monitor issues.

My MBP has the 64 bit system kernel (and extensions) switched off. I still have the problem when I am using the extended desktop.

Hey guys, I've finally called Apple Phone Support and seems like their solution to reset the PRAM really works.

Here's the procedure, people who have similar problem can try and see if it solve the problem.

1. Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

Resetting the SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own

Shut down the computer.
Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time and wait for 10 to 15 seconds.
Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
Press the power button to turn on the computer. Note: The LED on the MagSafe power adapter does not change states or temporarily turn-off when you reset the SMC.

2.Resetting PRAM and NVRAM

Shut down the computer.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.

3.To start up into Safe Mode (to Safe Boot), do this:

Be sure the computer is shut down.
Press the power button.
Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone but not before.
Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).

* Login in Safe Mode, and you can try restart in normal mode to see if it works.

Here's the help I got from Apple Expert, please post your feedback and see if it works for you.

Personally I got the issue solved. I have been using external display for more than 20 mins 😉

It happened just twice.........
........................................

Same issue here. Apple told me to bring it to the Genius Bar. "Probably a mini display port issue". We shall see.

Message was edited by: DK_Chicago

I am curious what the "Genius" will say. I don't think it is a mini display port issue as the MBP runs perfectly with the external screen attached and the lid closed.

My thoughts exactly.