Thunderbolt Does Not Detect Display

I have the same problem with my new (2 months)Air using a moshi VGA adaptor, there is a firmware update,

MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 2.2. Downloaded the update, but when Itry to install I get a message that says that the software is not supported for the system.

Everything worked fine for 2 months and then it stopped???

VERY FRUSTRATING!!!

My Config:

Model Name: MacBook Air

Model Identifier: MacBookAir4,2

Processor Name: Intel Core i5

Processor Speed: 1,7 GHz

Boot ROM Version: MBA41.0077.B0E

SMC Version (system): 1.73f63

OS: Mac OS X 10.7.2

I have a mid 2011 15" Macbook Pro with the latest updates including Lion 10.7.2 and my night was ruined when I took it along to give a keynote to a large audience. The computer itself would detect the projector, but the projector would not display the image from the laptop, AND! the computer would freeze for about 5 seconds in 10 second intervals making it impossible to even click on anything.

"It just works"... BS! I have been a loyal apple user for many years but since Lion and the new thunderbolt enabled MBP's my experience has been buggier than Windows 8 developer preview!!! Which is saying somthing.

😠

I'm here to report that I also have been having tremendous problems with external displays and my 2011 Macbook Air 13 inch with OS X Lion 10.7.2 with the latest updates as of november 11th, 2011.

1) VGA does not work with 2011 MacBook Air

I have an Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter.

I have tried using it with my HP w2207h monitor, but it does not work: at first everything seems to be working flawlessly but after a few seconds, the image on my monitor disappears, and the monitor itself goes to sleep because it does not detect any signal. I have tried connecting my MacBoo with windows and os x, the result is always the same: after a few seconds the signal dies and there is nothing to be done about it.

I know for a fact that my monitor works perfectly well, because it works flawlessly on my other computers with VGA ports.

Besides, I also tried connecting my MacBook to a projector, and the result was the same: after a few secondes, the signal dies and you look foolish in front the audience you were about to give a presentation to.

2) HDMI does not work well with 2011 MacBook Air

Since my VGA adapter did not work, and I really need to be able to use my external display, I decided to buy an HDMI adapter. Now, I was told by my local Apple Store that Apple does not sell Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters, which is beyond absurd. So I bought a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter from iWires.

Long story short, the adapter works flawlessly with windows on my 2011 MacBook Air.

On OS X, the result is garbage: when I connect my MacBook Air to my screen with the HDMI adapter, the monitor goes off. As in, the monitor shuts itself off. After a few seconds, with the screen of the MacBook fading in and out multiple times, as if I was plugging and unplugging a display, I am able to choose a resolution for my now switched off monitor. The native resolution of my monitor is 1680x1050, which obviously does not work on my MacBook. So have to choose some ridiculous resolution in the narrow list of resolutions offered to me, for example 1680x900. After that, I need to unplug my monitor's power supply for a few seconds, switch it back on, and TA-DA ! the image appears on the screen. Not only is the image not of the right resolution, it is also very very dark and blurry.

In other words, there is no way I can make my MacBook work with my external display, except if I use Windows and I plug an unofficial Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter, which is rather useless since I mostly use OS X to work.

I love using Apple products, and for years I teased my friends with the fact that they had to spend countless hours trying to configure their windows PCs so they could use external screens, whilst telling them that Apple Macs manage external displays wonderfully. This is no longer the case and I am very sad not to be able to use my screen 😟

I hope Apple engineers will quickly find a way to fix this huge issue.

Thank you !

PS: I know it's a long read, but I felt like I needed to add all the details I could add. There are probably important details that I still left aside, sorry. I know customer support is very hard to deal with.

There was an EFI update today. I was unable to use the Thunderbolt->HDMI adaptor to push my screen to my TV, but after the update, it works perfectly.

I have a 2011 MacBook Air 13" that I use with an Acer 24" monitor at work and a 20" Envision at home. I use an Apple brand DVI adapter at work and a Monoprice DVI adapter at home. Neither one of my monitors was recognized when I plugged in. I put the displays 'quick switcher' up in my menu bar and I would choose 'detect displays' after I plugged in or disconnected, not very efficient.

So today I downloaded the EFI update for Thunderbolt and ran it at work while plugged in to the monitor. It works great now! So when I got home I plugged into the Envision and it didn't work, hmmmm. Ok, so I ran it again while plugged in to the monitor and it works! I can now plug and unplug and it it auto-detects.

I hope that this technique works for you guys. I don't know if it has to identify the different adapters/displays or what, but it works now!

*UPDATE

Apparently this did not work as I hoped. It just configures itself for the current setup and doesn't remember the other setup. 😟

Yeah, I think we just have to accept that this is a bug.

I went and got a Thunderbolt di$play. It gets detected all right. However, there is a USB problem. If I sleep my (17 inch) laptop, then wake it after plugging in the display, my connected USB devices are not recognized.

I now shut down my computer every day when I leave work, then restart when I plug into the display at home.

Hello, been reading everywhere about this problem. I have the 23" HD Cinema Display that hasn't been used since getting the 2011 macbook pro 15" in march. Well now that I want to start using it again I got myself Apple's DVI to ADC adapter and the mini displayport to dvi adapter. not working. I hadn't updated for quite a few weeks and thought that the new firmware would fix it but alas it still didn't work after updating my 10.6 to the latest and greatest last night.

I have not verified yet if it is just the adapters or the firmware as many have surmised. I am hoping to verify when I get home from work. This is very frustrating because my display is still PERFECT, but it is very close to becoming unecessarily obsolete.

btw, I have a mini displayport to hdmi adapter that works.

I have a MBP 13, early 2011 and suffering from the same issues. Thunderbolt won't accept DVI or VGA adapters, but will work fine with HDMI.

I've installed the lates OS update and still nothing.

I have to understand something: this issue is all over the Internet, and I'm pretty sure that Apple are not ostriches with their heads tucked under a pillar of dirt, so why aren't they taking care of this?

Each of us knows that buying an Apple comp hasn't been a cheap deal, but we went ahead with it because they say that everything works out of the box. That's, more or less, their motto.

Apple, why aren't you respecting your costumers and taking care of this issue?!? If you want me as a future costumer of your computers, you'll have to show that you're willing to take responsibility.

Just to let youse guys know, after the latest update to my MBP17/Early 2011 pretty much works.

The network connection (display ethernet) can get a bit dodgy, but the USB now works.

However, the computer can sometimes be a bit unstable, and requires a restsrt from time to time.

One thing you need to understand about Apple: A problem doesn't exist until they say it exists. It doesn't matter whether or not it is all over the Internets.

A lot of times, they will quietly fix an issue without ever admitting it.

I have no problem with that, as long as the issue is fixed.

Sadly, the update had no affect on my MBP 13.

I understand that this is how Apple handles its business, but it also means that they're going to alienate customers who might reconsider buying an Apple comp in the future.

Hi guys!

Sorry if my english isn't the best.

I think I found something that works and you should try out.

After months of trying everyhting on any of the threads with no avail, i found out that if i pull the adapter a little bit out of the port, it just works like charm! in case you dont get it, i mean you should almost unplug the addapter from the thunderbolt port but not all the way out, leaving half of it inside the port.

then you will see the blue screen and the tv/monitor will be detected.

I have both macbook and macbook pro 13" late 2011 and only the MBP had the problem with the display.

Hope it helps you like it did to me, please let us all know.

To add my 2¢ to this thread.. I've had the same issue with my 2011 MacBook Air and Apple 27" LED Mini DisplayPort since I purchased the laptop.

So rest assured, guys, it's not just cheap adapters or cables or displays causing the issue... this seems to be a universal issue with Mini DisplayPort connectors and Thunderbolt. I never have an issue with my 17" MacBook Pro w/ Mini DisplayPort.

Talk about frustrating. I sepnt $1000 on a display that not only did Apple rev significantly less than a year after release (replacing it with the Thunderbolt model), but that doesn't work how it's supposed to with my $1500 MacBook Air I purchased in less than a year's time after the display, as well.

Now every time I want to connect the LED display (daily, sometimes multiple times), I need to shutdown my Mac, connect the display, then turn the Mac back on.

It totally throws a wrench in my workflow and reminds me of 1992. Super lame, Apple.

Ok, I think I know what is causing this. I have installed D-link drivers for an external USB monitor and this is preventing the apple drivers from auto recognizing the displayport monitor. These drivers are used for Air Display as well, so if you've downloaded that program from the app store to have your iPhone or iPad act as a second (or third) monitor, you will have a bad time.

Once you remove any third party display drivers like these your MacBook Pro/Air will once again happily see and use your external monitor.