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Level 1

0 points

ThunderBolt + External Monitor = Mounds of Woe

I posted this issue in another thread but since I'm seeing more issues I thought it best to create my own post.

I use an external monitor, connected using either HDMI or DVI. This monitor (an Ausus) works fine & has been working correctly attached to my old macbook.

With the new 2011 MBP, I can get the external monitor to work, but it exhibits strange behavior. It's difficult to make it the primary monitor using the normal macbook methods, and so I have resorted to just dimming my MBP display to zero (which I don't like having to do).

Once the external is running (either mirrored or as extended) it functions normally. However if the MBP display goes to sleep (or the MBP itself goes to sleep), the external will go black but remain on. When this happens I can no longer turn the external on/off or use any of the buttons on the display. It's frozen in this black "on" state. I have to remove the mini display adapter from the Thunderbolt port which makes the MBP screen primary again & I can then enter pass and wake the MBP up.

At first I thought I could turn the external off and access the controls once the mini display adapter was removed but this is no longer the case. Once it's in this "frozen" state the external won't do ANYTHING until I actually unplug the power cord.

This renders an external monitor on the new MBP's unusable. I reported this to Apple directly along with this post. I may call apple tech support when i have the time. Hopefully I won't have to return this lappie because overall I really like it, but no external monitor is not cool.

I would love to hear if anyone else is having this issue or has any ideas for a fix.

13" macbook pro (early 2011), Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 7, 2011 5:42 PM

164 replies

entropic23 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 1, 2011 8:24 AM in response to RockStizzle

Hey Stizz-

AFAIK, there is no way (at least right now) to connect (daisychain) multiple monitors to a TB port. It seems like a no-brainer to have TB do this but I don't think it can be done yet. Also you would need a TB port on each monitor for this to work (which the v203w doesn't have).

This means that your only viable option is to get a USB display adapter that allows multiple monitor connection. I think these run around 50 bux or so & can be found pretty much anywhere.

Good luck!

Oh, and while it seems a lot of the external display issues have been shored up, make sure you can fire up one monitor without issue before messing with adaptors and whatnot.

Dec 16, 2011 6:11 AM in response to entropic23

I have 2011 13" MacBook Pro. with lates updates installed and I am also having the external monitor not waking up issue. I am using the Apple Mini displayport to VGA adaptor.

I found a workarond (fix?) for the issue. I enabled the "Show displays in the menu bar" option in the Displays settings. I saw that my Mac knows the "sleeping" external monitor is there. for the heck of it i changed the resolution of my external monitor from "1280 x 1024, 75 Hz" to "1280 x 1024, 70 Hz" and what do you know, the display came alive!!

Just wanted to pass this on incase others are still having the issue. Good luck!

apit237

Level 1

0 points

Jan 3, 2012 2:34 AM in response to entropic23

So I have a late 2011 MBP with Lion and all the latest updates and I am having problems with my MDP to VGA set-up.

Similar to earlier posts, when I try to connect it to my 40" Bravia, i get a blue flicker but no detection at all.

However, it WILL connect to my 19" LG monitor, with seemingly no problems.

My old 2007 MBP with Snow Leopard still works just fine with any monitor with a VGA port.

I suppose I could get the MDP to HDMI but I was hoping not to because all my HDMI ports are already spoken for.

Any Ideas, or is Apple just trying to force me to buy some new-fangled connector they haven't released yet?

Jan 21, 2012 5:38 AM in response to entropic23

For Your Information

I have a MBAir (latest model 13" 1.5i) and recently bought a HP 2301.

You guessed - 'singnal not detected'. Can get going by unplugging monitor (MBA on) and restarting.

If MBA goes to sleep or is shut down without monitor being turned off first - when MBA switched back on - No Signal Detected. Unplug etc to getgoing.

Tempory fix, disable all energy saving functions, manually switch off monitor when closing down, manually switch on monitor after MBA booted up.

When are Apple going to fix I ask myself.

Thanks for raising issue

Bally904

Level 1

0 points

Jan 21, 2012 6:27 AM in response to entropic23

Don't know if this helps had problems with my early 2011 macbook pro 13inch using thunderbolt to hdmi moshi adapter for my 27" samsung screen. I took it to apple and they did a few things the thing I think worked is they booted to recovery mode in lion ( restart holding command + R ) and selected disk utility they then repaired permissions on the disk. I have done this several times from the actual OS with no luck however after they did this at the store I noticed it repaired quite a bit I have never seen it do. I now have "NO" issues what so ever using my display. Two tricks he did show was using the cmd + F1 key to toggle change display modes while hooked up and setting the larger monitor as the default ( under system preferences > displays > arrangement > drag the white bar from the smaller macbook monitor to the larger display. This will remember when the mac is in clamshell mode ( lid closed ) to use the display as default. Hope this helps it worked for me.

Jan 21, 2012 6:55 AM in response to Bally904

Thanks - will give it a try next time have a problem - which will on past performance be sooner rather than later!!

Jan 24, 2012 12:18 PM in response to johncarrera

Gave it a go and appears to work - many thanks - dare not hold my breath!!

rleden

Level 1

14 points

Feb 2, 2012 6:16 PM in response to entropic23

I could be wrong but I think this is a LION problem. I have the 2011MBP 15 with the Apple Thunderbolt to VGA adapter. This has worked fine untill a recent update. If I boot into Windows with BootCamp the external monitor works fine. Boot into LION no display. Using a KVM Switch the keyboard still works. Going to call Apple and see what they have to say

Feb 3, 2012 12:20 AM in response to rleden

Thats the conclusion I have come to. I still have to adopt procedure of switching of all energy saving functions and manually shutting down/start up.

Will be interested in your reply from Apple.

pkellner

Level 1

4 points

Mar 17, 2012 9:43 PM in response to johncarrera

I just bought the thunderbolt display with the plan of plugging an hdmi or displayport monitor into it as the second monitor. After reading most of these posts, I called apple care and they told me that the only supported configuration is to plug a "thunderbolt" monitor (like another one of these 27" thunderbolt displays) into thunderbolt port on the back of this monitor.

The very nice lady I talked to put me on hold for 15 minutes while she check with the appropriate group and that is what they told her as well as sending me a reference to a post that discusses this. The post is not so clear to me, but FWIW, here it is:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4744?viewlocale=en_US

pkellner

Level 1

4 points

Apr 8, 2012 4:20 PM in response to pkellner

Hey guys,

I just found this post that talks about getting a non-thunderbolt monitor working using a daisy chained disk drive in the middle of the monitors.

http://macwinguy.com/2012/04/getting-that-second-non-thunderbolt-monitor-to-work -on-your-macbook-pro/#respond

hope this helps.

-Peter

maximium

Level 1

5 points

Feb 6, 2013 7:28 AM in response to gonzoguy24

Same issue.

I have a problem connecting external display (Dell U2311H) to my 13" MacBook Pro (Early 2011).

I use Tecklink Mini DasplayPort to HDMI adapter (http://www.techlink.uk.com/products/wires_cables/wiresmedia/wiresmedia_media/wir esmedia_mini_displayport_plug_to_hdmi_plug), but since U2311H doesn't have HDMI input, I also use Manhattan DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (http://www.manhattan-products.com/en-US/products/8101-displayport-adapter).

And nothing.

The display is not detected, no picture or even external monitor presence at all.

I even reset PRAM, and installed 10.8.2 Supplementary update.

I also plugged and unplugged all I could, with no luck.

As I can see on Apple dissuasions, it is a common problem with 2011 MacBook Pro's.

It seems like the problem is in Thundebolt port, it somehow does not work properly.

maximium

Level 1

5 points

Feb 8, 2013 3:19 PM in response to maximium

In reply to my own post have to say appologies to Apple whose Thunderbold port I used to blame.

Shame on me)

So, what was my problem?

Guess what?

Manhattan DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter !

The point is it's actually do only what it said to do, converts DP to HDMI.

But I for some reason thought it can be used vice versa, to be HDMI to DP converter))

I was wrong.

I bought new one HDMI to DVI adapter and now I HAVE external display!

Thunderbolt works like a charm.

So I'm very satisfied now.

enrybo

Level 1

1 points

Jun 5, 2013 3:54 PM in response to entropic23

Similar issue here.

I have a MBP connected to a Dell Monitor with VGA + Thunderbolt adapter. It was working fine until I installed a firmware update on my MBP - now it cuts off a section of the screen on the left. Very annoying.

I tried resetting NVRAM but that didn't fix it.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

ThunderBolt + External Monitor = Mounds of Woe