Macbook Pro 2011 clamshell mode broken by latest software update?

Same problem here. I'd add that if the computer is running dual display mode and it goes to sleep, waking up involves several seconds of background screen corruption with clunkily redrawing the plain blue background until it finally settles down on the background art.

Ditto. I literally picked up a mini displayport to dvi adapter and had it working a couple of days ago...and I came home today to try it and struck the same problem. Same 2011 MBP 15" 2.2 i7 with 8GB RAM. I hope there is a way to fix this as it's really annoying!

Note that I haven't done the update yet. Actually doing the update now to see if it resolves the issue. Apparently the update addresses issues with Thunderbolt peripherals. 🙂 Mean. Just what I needed!

Okay - I did the updates and still had the same issue. I'm using the Apple Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse but had tried using USB peripherals as well. No luck.

Then I thought to myself - what had I done different last time? Well - the only thing was the fact that I was running off the battery this time round and hadn't plugged in the charger. So I tried plugging in the charger and voila! It works!

Give that a try and see if it works for you guys!

I am having the same problem since updating on May 4 on my 2011 MacBook Pro 15" 2.2 GHz quad i7. I opened a case with Apple support. We have run disk utility from the install dvd, reinstalled the o/s form install dvd, and tried other 'fixes', but still nothing. Since it worked fine in Clamshell mode before the update, it points to a problem with either the EFI or software updates from 5/4/2011

same problem here. 2011 MBP 17" 2.3 with Dell U3011. Worked perfectly before the updates. 😟

Just did PRAM reset (cmd/ctl/p/r) and it seems to be working again. I will report back if the issue comes back.

Same problem here. 2011 MBP 15" i7 2.3Ghz. Clamshell mode worked ok prior to the 1.4 update.

I had this issue right from the get go with the 2011 13" i7. After hauling my 26" monitor to the genius bar (not fun) it was determined the MBP models with discrete graphics didn't have the issue, so I had to upgrade to the 15", but the physical store does't stock all the skus. Anyway my 15" worked fine until the 1.4 update, now I'm back to square one. Very annoying. I really want clamshell mode to work.

That's an interesting point though. Based on which programs kick the discrete graphics card into gear, the clamshell mode might or might not be activated. Although, having said that, surely plugging in the display should activate the card.

Having said that - have you guys seen this: http://codykrieger.com/gfxCardStatus

Okay, I'll add my frustration here as well.

I've had this problem too, and more noticable since the 1.4 update.

I posted a thread similar to this here.

But I'll just copy over what my main problem was...

Whenever I plug my computer into my Cinema Display (with the computer closed) it won't wake up fully. The status light will come on, any external hard drives will spin up, but the display won't turn on and the computer will go back to sleep.

I have to restart the computer manually to get it to work normally, and if I disconnect it while it's between the sleep and wake mode and try to open it, the backlight will come on but the screen will remain black, causing me to have to force restart it.

This is in addition to my first problem with the backlit keyboard not coming on automatically after sleep, which was temporarily fixed by resetting the SMC, but it goes back to the problem after a week or so.

What could be causing either of these problems? Could it have something to do with BootCamp since I have it installed, or is there a defect?

I would bring it back to Apple, but there's a small dent in the front right corner, and I'm afraid they would deny any problem I have.

I took my MacBook Pro (2011, i7 2.2, 17") into the Apple Store on Monday, and after about an hour of attempting to replicate the problem with a different monitor, there was only one time where there was any sort of problem.

The employee told me to see if there will be a fix, or otherwise they will replace the logic board for me.

One thing I'd like to add as a note...

It seems that the problem is more prominent when I have my computer with everything on it as usual. As in, before I took it to the Apple Store I performed a clean install of OS X, and that may be related to how bad the problem is, any opinions?

I had attempted at reinstalling OS X from a Time Machine Backup, but the problems continued shortly after completetion. In addition to this, I clean installed OS X, and manually reloaded my applications and media, hoping that the problem had stemmed from some kind of broken file system that could be repaired by a new install.

But no matter how I do it, the problem comes back despite the method. It is really something I want fixed, as I pretty much only use it in clamshell mode when home...

To work around this issue, try shutting down computer and restart before connecting external monitor. If you wake the computer from sleep with external monitor, the booting will loop, but I've found shutting down and restarting usually fixes it.

Hope Apple release a fix soon. This is obviously not a hardware issue.

Yeah I have a hengedock, and it's really frustrating...

It happens pretty much anytime I try to dock my computer, it will require me to force restart.

I had this issue with my 2008/9 Macbook, and just chalked it up to the computer not working well since I was having other performance issues as well.

Just bought a new 15" Macbook Pro i7 and lo and behold, same issue.

I've found that sometimes, I am able to type my password - though the monitor is still black - and this will wake the monitor.

Would love a real solution.