Macbook Pro and Thunderbolt USB problem

I have Logitech Anywhere mouse and TD display.

Clamshell mode with Unifying Receiver plugged into the TD locks up the machine.

3 Solutions:

1. Unplug UR before plugging in TD. Wait for TD to display. Then re-insert UR.

2. Buy a powered USB.

3. Use a seperate TD cable (not the all-in-one cable).

Can't believe it's 2013 and it's still borked. Super annoying, but there you go!

Let me add this as well. Apple released a Thunderbolt Display Firmware Update in Nov last year.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1612?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

About Thunderbolt Firmware Update v1.1

This update addresses an issue with MacBook Pro (mid 2012) and some Thunderbolt cables that may prevent bus-powered Thunderbolt devices from functioning properly.

However it would not let me install it. YMMV

I had same scary scenario; my MBP would not wake up if put to sleep or Clamshell mode with USB items plugged into the Thunderbolt Display

Had Logitech unifying receiver plugged into back of my Thunderbolt

Worked with LeveL 2 Apple technician... Established that there is a known problem with Thunderbolt and USB.

Techies in particular suspected the Unifying Receiver as a USB item triggering the problem - a less "demanding" USB item might not.

I decided I did not want the bother of always remembering to remove USB stuff from behind the monitor- too easy to forget

TonyM's suggestion is one of the best. IF you have anything USB which you want to leave plugged in,do so via your MBP(get a powered hub if you have several USB items)

Barbara, it is ashamed that I am reading about so many problems with the MBP and Thunderbolt Display. I have those (both Sep-2012). I had some issues at the very beginning (first 30 days), but after resolving them I haven't had any problem with either the TD or its USB ports or the MBP and its ports. I also do not have any issue with the TD display not waking after being connected to the MBP (I did in the beginning, but Apple replaced the all-in-one cable and after that it has never missed a beat going on 4 months.

I did have to understand the mechanization of the USB network, but that has been written about in Apple's tech FAQ on USB 3.

I run USB 3 superspeed out of the MBP connected to a powered USB 3 Hub, and all USB 3 devices run at Superspeed rates. I happen to have all my USB 2 devices plugged into the USB 2 ports on the TD display and those are recognized and operate at the USB 2 Highspeed rates. Of course the USB 2 network comes to the TD via the built in Thunderbolt cable which also sends over the USB 2 audio, camera, and video functions.

All in all, I can connect or disconnect my MBP from the TD and plug it back in and it is always recognized properly. I have no special secrets at this point.

However, my standard method (although it doesn't matter) is to eject any external disks on the display then command "sleep" and after a few seconds when things are asleep I disconnect the Thunderbolt cable from the MBP and then the power and also USB cable from the USB 3 port on the MBP.

As a side note: I also use an App called Desktop Saver from the App Store to save position of icons when using the TD display so that I can instantly get my desktop configuration back from just the MBP display which is a different scale.

Again, I usually put the MBP to sleep before re-connecting it to the TD, but sometimes don't and it doesn't matter (after a few seconds, either way, the display is recognized and operating again). I do this normally with the clamshell closed after it is sleeping, and I don't open it up when connected to the TD. The display activates and I have full control with my USB 2 external keyboard and mouse. I usually plug my USB 3 hub back into the MBP when I start to use some USB 3 stuff.

Perhaps my machines have something updated for the Sep version, but I just havn't had any difficulties since getting the TB cable replaced that was on the display. I don't do anything special and can plug or unplug the MBP and TD with no ill effects.

Now, I did have to understand how to ensure that the MBP would recognize USB 3 at a given port (the FAQ about USB 3 from Apple), and I did study the USB 2 net via the System Information - USB, and also had to troubleshoot the cable issue (not too difficult as I used an external TB cable to bypass the permanent one).

They can work properly together. By the way, I am running OS 10.8.2.

Keep on it with Apple as necessary.

Barry Breen wrote:

As a side note: I also use an App called Desktop Saver from the App Store to save position of icons when using the TD display so that I can instantly get my desktop configuration back from just the MBP display which is a different scale.

Barry - that sounds as if it's the app that I've been looking for - but when I search for Desktop Saver in the App Store, all I come up with is a screensaver sort of app... could you verify the name, please?

Clinton

Clinton, no problem. It in in the category "Utilities" and if you search on the name "Desktop Saver for Icon Positions" you will find it (a truly valuable app!). It is version 1.1.

Enjoy!

Barry

Good to see this thread has 26k views, but no solution and no response from Apple...

I have a 2012 MBA 13" and a 2012 TB Display. Apple magic mouse and apple wired fullsize keyboard.

I see this problem every morning.

Same Here... Come On Apple. Give a Firmware for old MacBooks to fix it.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4742767?answerId=21073285022#21073285022

I have this same issue. Exact issue.

Nicolas, I don't believe this is a MacBook or related firmware issue. Everyone I know who has resolved the issue found it to be a TD issue (I actually think Apple had a quality issue in the first build of the displays, but who knows). People have tried so many "tricks" or connecting, disconnecting, turning off, turning on, sleeping, opening the clamshell, closing it, etc, and etc., and none appears to work consistently over the long term (although might initially show proper operation). Like I've posted before. I no longer have the problem after steering the Apple Store to the problem I identified and having them replace the All-in-Cable.

By the way, the Thunderbolt page on "System Information" is NOT the page where you really can see the problem. It is on the USB page. If the TD USB items (audio, camera) are not there (In addition to the MacBook USB items), then the display will work improperly (but, again, this isn't a MacBook issue, it is a TD issue, and the USB page simply demonstrates what the computer can see connected, or not connected). When the problem is present, there will not be the USB connections shown for the display.

It surely is a quagmire for many people.

Just so you know, I have Mountain Lion and I am having the same problem. Everything works fine and then for no reason all my USB ports go dead which in my case includes my keyboard. I have gone through techincal support calls where they had me do resets. We'll see if the latest reset works, but doesn't look good from what I'm reading. I was wondering if it was a faulty thunderbolt display cable.

LAStory, if you have followed quite a bit of this thread, you'll know that the only way I isolated my problem (for the same thing you are experiencing was to substitute a stand alone Thunderbolt Cable for the All-in-One cable from the Display which plugs into the computer (Thunderbolt port) and then to the Thunderbolt port on the display (leaving the All-in-One Display cable unplugged). IF this solves your problem, I would take the set to the Apple Store and show them the issue. That should have demonstrated its the cable coming from the TD or the electronics inside the TD controlling the cable.

Unfortunately, this is a flakey problem and its related failures are quite inconsistent (you might do something different and it might work for a while then you have the same problem again, etc). The reason I tried to isolate it was to demonstrate a solution to the Apple tech folks. Then, they focused on the cable and the display electronics. Many people try focusing on the computer, but that is not where it is to be solved. I have had zero problems since taking it to Apple and showing them the issue. That way, rather than experimenting with a so called "fix", I could really get the issue resolved (in many cases Apple would do the same thing users would do in monkeying around with connections, power on routine, clam shell position, hubs, etc, which created a temporary fix but didn't really fix the underlying issue). That's all I can say. Mine is still working with no issues. Now for six months.

Thanks so much for the reply, Barry. I would prefer not to have to shell out the bucks for a thunderbolt cable but I ultimately may have to. Especially since my problem is so intermittent, the moment I shut down the computer or disconnect it and the macbook goes into sleep mode the problem is then fixed when i reboot so it's been very hard to actually show the problem unless I just hook it all up at apple and wait it out till it crashes again. Interesting what you said about the quick fixes, resetting NVRAM/PRAM did seem to fix the problem, but we'll see for how long and then I will invest in the cable. Thanks again.

Per Apple support, I reset the NVRAM or PRAM and it seems to have fixed the problem. My USB ports are not longer turning off. They were crashing every few hours and it's been 24 hours without an incident, so we'll see if it lasts. For those who don't know how to reset there is a link below.

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

No, Reset PVRAM and PRAM doesn't Fix anything.

I Thinks is like Barry Breen Said, some TD the first ones Have this problem. So I will send my TD to Apple Support .