MacBook Pro Freezes using Thunderbolt Ethernet

I experience a similar problem. I have a mid 2012 MacBook Air running Mountain Lion 10.8.2 now but also faced this problem with 10.8.1 once:

Let me describe how it appeared:

I use Wifi somewhere with the MBA running on battery. Without turning wifi off I put the MBA to sleep. Afterwards I connect the MBA to my power supply and to the thunderbolt adapter with the ethernet cable attached. Then, I open the MBA and half a second I'm able to move the cursor. Suddenly, nothing works anymore, the screen is frozen and even shutting the MBA won't turn out the display or anything.

The first time it happened running 10.8.1 and a screen appeared telling me that the system was frozen (can't recall the exact error notification though). The second time on 10.8.2 nothing happened and I had to push the off-switch some time to reboot.

The problem is very annoying, I would really appreciate any help regarding this issue.

Best

rb_trage

I have the same problem in which connecting any of my Thunderbolt devices to any Thunderbolt port freezes my MacBook Retina 15", except the mouse pointer still moves.

No rhyme or reason, I haven't been able to discern a pattern. On one TB chain, I have an external SSD drive connected to a FW800-to-TB adapter; the other has a Matrox DS-1 dock, which in turn has the Ethernet cable and a Dual-SATA adapter for an external RAID drive.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the MBP will be conveniently ignored, and all blame placed on everything except the MBP. The Matrox site points me to the Apple site; the Lacie site points me to Apple and Matrox sites...therein lies the problem: finger-pointing. I can reproduce the issue no matter which TB ports/devices are plugged/unplugged. This would seem to me to be an MBP issue with the TB ports, in which the OS or whatever doesn't like the voltage spikes/drops when plugging/unplugging devices.

Console logs haven't produced anything abnormal ("TB device plugged in", "TB device unplugged" doesn't say much that isn't already obvious.)

This issue occurs with the various user accounts I've created. My next step is to take the MBP into an Apple Store and demand a new one.

I've also performed the SMC reset, as noted above, to no avail.

OS X 10.8.4 / MBP Retina 15" 2.7GHz i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD

Having this issue too, only when using the apple Ethernet adaptor. It only ever happens when the computer is left idle and shuts off the screen, and only with the Ethernet adaptor in use. WIll try the SMC Reset

I often use the TB port on my 13-inch MBPro (late 2011, M.Lion, 2.4Ghz.,not retina) for my 1TB external HDD. When it is in use, it causes my USB mouse pointer to intermittently freeze, quite hard to control.

I think this is probably because the USB and the TB ports suck either energy or processor power from each other.

Please keep here updated.

I've just experienced this behaviour too. My MBPro Retina 13'' got frozen and restarted spontaneously after I had plugged a Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter in.

There wasn't being plugged anything else in other slots, my MB wasn't being charged at the time.

I've experienced the freezing after plugging in the thunderbolt ethernet adapter. I'm using a MBP 15" with Retina. I've been to the Genius Bar every week over the past month. My OS is Mavericks 10.9. I've tried using a different network profile. I would like to have a solution soon. I wonder if this problem is on the Apple radar.

My computer is a Mid 2012, too. And, my ethernet adapter is from Apple. Sorry I forgot to mention it.

Same problem on MBP Retina 2013 OSX 10.8.5 with all updates except the SMC 1.2 update (did not install as it's just meant to just address a battery related problem). Occasional total hang about 2 seconds after plugging in the Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter. Seems like updating to Mavericks won't solve it from the poster above.

Also have this problem. Just started within the past week. Within a few seconds of connecting the ethernet adapater the machine freezes completely. It is completely unresponsive and I have to do a forced shutdown.

2012 15'' MBP Retina / 2.3ghz i7 / 16gb RAM / 256gb ssd / OSX 10.9 and all available updates.

Yep! I have a 2013 13" MBP Retina and plugging in the Thunderbolt Ethernet adaptor quite often (but not always) hangs the machine. Only way out is to hold down the power button.

Come on Apple! Sort this out please 🙂

SOLUTION / WORKAROUND:

I am using a MacBook Retina Mid2012, OS X 10.9 Mavericks. The following solution/workaround works for me before and after upgrading to Mavericks. The following has worked reliably for me for the past year+ (2012-2013):

1) Plugin Thunderbolt Ethernet Adapter WHILE moving mouse around screen

2) If my mouse pointer immediately stops moving after I've plugged in the Thunderbolt Ethernet Adapter, then I immediately uplug the Thunderbolt Ethernet Adapter.

3) After waiting 1-2 seconds, I re-Plugin the Thunderbolt Ethernet Adapter again, WHILE moving the mouse around screen... and at this point it works fine for me. I have never had to repeat steps 1&2.

So, for me, on my Mid 2012 Retina MacBook I occasionally experience the "System Hang" when plugging in the Thunderbolt Ethernet Adapter. It does not always hang my MacBook. And, if I catch it within the first few seconds of plugging it in (because I'm watching the mouse pointer for quick feedback on whether or not it is hanging) as long as I unplug it and replug it in, then I have found that my MacBook never hangs or crashes.

Summary: Moving the mouse pointer while plugging in the Thunderbolt Ethernet Adapter seems to be a reliable way (for me) to witness whether or not my machine is beginning to hang. Subsequently, un-plugging and re-plugging the Thunderbolt Ethernet Adapter, at that point, has always resolved the problem for me.

I hope this helps others.

I've got the same problem with a brand new 2013 MBP 15" Retina and an genuine Apple TB-Ethernet adapter.

I'll try the SMC reset and report back.

Anyhow, this needs to be corrected, Apple...

core i7 13" retina, same problem here too