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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

pjhaas

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Jul 13, 2011 10:27 AM in response to entropic23

Same problem here. Brand new MacBook Pro 15-inch connected to my '2003' 20-inch Apple Cinema Display using the Apple branded mini-displayport to DVI-adaptor. My Macbook Pro simply won't detect my Apple Cinema Display. Since the 15-inch screen is too small to work on I'm now working on my 2008 MacbookPro and my new computer is gathering dust.

Does anybody think Lion will solve this very annoying problem?

Jul 15, 2011 11:41 AM in response to entropic23

I have the same issue here...

Imac mid2011 + DVi -> miniDisplay Adapter -> Eizo Flexscan S2431W

Standby and Sleep (Quickmode: Active Corners) don´t work... The Eizo is still on (Black colored but still lightning...) Sometimes it hangs up... So i can only Pull out the PowerPlug...

When i do the "Real" Sleep with CMD-Alt+Eject, then the Eizo sleeps to... but as mentioned above, it could happen that he doesn´t wake up again...

Sad... for the TB-Port... Hope that Lion can fix this Stupid Bug... 🙂

cheers from Germany

Einar

PS: Sorry for my poor english...

pjhaas

Level 1

0 points

Jul 15, 2011 11:46 AM in response to pjhaas

My problem was solved when Apple replaced the mini-displayport to DVI-adapter. Apparently the adapter was faulty.

Jul 20, 2011 5:27 PM in response to entropic23

OS X Lion fixed the problem! 🙂

Jul 21, 2011 9:17 AM in response to entropic23

OK, so here we are...

For me, the MDP to DVI adapter has worked fine for one day. I turned off the computer and by the morning, my external monitor was not recognized anymore. So i started searching... I downloaded the TB firmware upgrade.. didn't help.. So, i decided to buy a MDP to VGA adapter... and it worked for about two or three weeks. I've just tried to hook the thing up again and my monitor isn't recognized anymore... COME ON APPLE !

no need to say this really ****** me off and i really don't know what to do next..

Do you think switching to Lion would realy help ? I am using my Macbook for music production and i am afraid upgrading might bring some compatibility problems...

raphaelj

Level 1

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Jul 21, 2011 9:26 AM in response to françoisfrançois

Switching to Lion didn't solve my problem (see previous post), and this despite the fact that it's a brand-new computer, and not the one I previously reported about (Apple was kind enough to change it in the hope that it would solve this and another unrelated problem - it worked for the latter).

bannu

Level 1

0 points

Jul 21, 2011 2:53 PM in response to entropic23

Hi Entorpic.

I have a very strange problem with my Mac book pro and my new ASUS display.

My Configuation is this

Mac book pro 2011 13 inch i7.

ASUS VE228H LED display.

HAMA mini dvi - hdmi,

HAMA hdmi - hdmi.

The problem is that, the monitor looses the HDMI signal like every 30 sec or 50 sec. This problem is only with the ASUS monitor. I have been using the above configuration with my Television set for more than 2 months and it works like a charm. I would like to know, if you could help me with this problem.

Regards,

Bannu :-)

entropic23 Author

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Jul 21, 2011 4:44 PM in response to bannu

@ Bannu

What you're describing is the textbook case of this issue. The TB port only plays well with certain models of monitor. It might work for one Asus and not another (I have a VW266 that works with the TB port, FYI).

I think that HDTV's are somehow more lenient when it comes to whatever is causing this problem. It seems like most ppl have probs with their external display, then freak out and go over and test it on their HDTV and find that it works–I speak from experience 😉. This, however, is just my observation but I'm not surprised with your report of success connected to your TV.

I honestly can't offer you any help other than what's in this thread, namely try a different adapter brand & see if that helps. In my experience MDP->HDMI with an HDMI/HDMI cable (like what you have going) is the most likely to work. Sorry I can't be of more help here.

Some ppl report Lion fixing the issue, but I'm not going to be testing this out for a month or so (I like to wait for the first round of fixes to come out before updating OS, plus I have a lot on the table right now and don't have the time to muck around with it). If you have the time (and inclination) giving Lion a shot may help.

You can also read a few pages of this thread and try some of the other funky, idiosyncratic things ppl have done to get things working.

If/when you figure something out come back and post your results.

e23

bannu

Level 1

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Jul 22, 2011 3:41 AM in response to entropic23

@ entropic 23

Lion doesnt fix this issue either!

I tried it out and the problem still persists!!

anyways thanks for the help!!

jkirker

Level 1

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Jul 22, 2011 6:05 AM in response to bannu

I had this issue as well. I went to the Apple store and got a new minidv to DVI adapter and it solved my problem. Try it. If you have to down-convert to VGA - try a minidv to DVI and then use a DVI to VGA adapter. Screwy but I haven't had the issue since and am SOOOOOO happy now - because it was annoying as all get out.

hoodoo99

Level 1

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Jul 23, 2011 10:16 AM in response to jkirker

Hi All - I've posted a few times to this discussion and just wanted to let everyone know about the firmware update for Thunderbolt.

Even though I thought I had gotten past the problems a couple times - I really hadn't as the problem kept recurring.

I installed the Firmware update last night and instead of manually sleeping the computer I let it sleep on it's own - this morning the external monitor fired up perfectly. So it does look like the firware update has fixed the problem for me.

MacBook Pro 2011 2.2 GHz with standard 15" screen. HP2511x external 25" LED monitor.

hoodoo99

Level 1

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Jul 23, 2011 11:27 AM in response to hoodoo99

Well I spoke too soon - it seems that it wakes up okay if I turn off the monitor after it goes to sleep as I did last night, but just leaving everything on and having it sleep did not work. The external monitor did not wake up.

jlyall

Level 1

9 points

Jul 24, 2011 9:29 PM in response to entropic23

I am planning on buying a new monitor and was hoping people could please post up their monitors that they successfully managed to connect to their TB.. My crackbook has OSX Lion on it already.

Also am I correctly interpreting the answers here to state that people are not having problems with external monitors using HDMI as input?

entropic23 Author

Level 1

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Jul 25, 2011 7:11 AM in response to jlyall

@ jlyall

I've got an Asus VW266 that works, as does my HDTV. I haven't tested my other monitors to see if they started to work (after I started this thread) because frankly all this rediculousness has changed my workflow (i use the external much less now). Obviously someone who requires an external for work cannot adjust like I have.

Apple just came out with a TB display that looks really nice, although expensive. It's set up to work as a hub the way TB was promised to be implemented (it has some powered USB ports, firewire etc).

As far as HDMI, nope you're off on your assumption. Ppl have had more luck getting HDMI to work as opposed to DVI. No matter how you look at it, it's a crapshoot, so either bring your lappie in to test at the store or make sure returns are easy. Sad but true.

jlyall

Level 1

9 points

Jul 27, 2011 8:05 PM in response to entropic23

@entropic23

Thanks for your reply. I will keep that Asus model in mind.

I was hoping to go with the AOC 2434PW. It supports HDMI so hopefully I will have less trouble and more luck with it. Heh.. Unfortunately one of those handy local stores doesn't exist, so I'll just make sure I can return the monitor and exchange it for one that does.. If anyone has had success please feel free to post up some more working models. I'm looking around the 24" mark for mine..

Cheers..🙂

ThunderBolt + External Monitor = Mounds of Woe