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Second display problem with 10.9.4

After installing Mavericks 10.9.4 my second display stop working, does not detect external display anymore, I even try the "Detect Display". I downloaded and install the 10.9.4 Combo update, it doesn't work, try a clean install of OS X Mavericks but nothing working to solve this problem. I try downgrade with my time machine but the restore process take about 25 hours to finish connecting via Ethernet cable, and I can't wait that long... 😟 Someone are experience the same problem I have with this update?


My computer specs:

Processor 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5

Memory 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6750M 512 MB

Capacity: 500GB


I just have one thunderbolt on my iMac. And I have the cable with thunderbolt to HDMI.

Posted on Jul 2, 2014 4:11 PM

Reply
95 replies

Sep 22, 2014 5:48 AM in response to homiebrotha

Have you tried this work around:

<Re: Second display problem with 10.9.4>

<https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6430600?answerId=26542996022#26542996022&tstart=0#26542996>


Also it would help if you reported this problem via

BugReporter

<http://bugreporter.apple.com>

Free ADC (Apple Developer Connection) account needed for BugReporter.

Anyone can get a free account at:

<http://developer.apple.com/programs/register/>


The more reports the more likely Apple is going to give a greater weight to selecting this problem for a fix and that the fill will solve the problem for the most people.

Sep 22, 2014 6:53 AM in response to homiebrotha

homiebrotha, thanks for writing about your experience; it parallels mine. I'm using a 2008 MacPro.


The kext fix was working for me as well on 10.9.3 and 10.9.4, but left me unable to boot on 10.9.5. I didn't try safe mode – glad to know that works – and had to boot from a second system drive, update that one to 10.9.5, get the new kexts, reinstall them improperly in the original boot drive (by simply dragging) and then fix the permissions using DiskWarrior. Whew.


That got the original drive booting again, but of course, I still had just one screen working, so I was back where I started. Very frustrating.


That other fix (deleting window server pref file) did nothing for me, either. I've looked high and low, and I'm not seeing anyone with working fixes for this 10.9.5 problem. Doom, defeat, despair.

Sep 22, 2014 11:03 AM in response to therandyzone

I've been using the kext solution since 10.9.3 and just like the last couple posts it's stopped working on 10.9.5 upgrade... I've reverted back to using only one screen, but this is an incredibly frustrating bug to be around for as long as it has. Bug report submitted but I'm not holding my breath.


Was going to upgrade to the new mac pro soon but with this kind of support I'm starting to reconsider...

Sep 22, 2014 11:43 AM in response to Hessel78

I have clean installation of Mavericks for last two days, second display is connected to my MBP with DVI to DP cable. Since installation of a system up to fully working design workstation (all needed software inc. Adobe CC) the second display is working well. The clean installation began with 10.9.4, I had to resolve some minor issues with a few files' rights, then combo update to 10.9.5. No such issue with second display.



MBP early 2011, 2.2 GHz 16 GB RAM,

2nd display: ForMac Extreem Raven 2010 1600x1200, DVI, ~10 years old.

Sep 23, 2014 10:18 AM in response to altoronto

I began experiencing problems with my DP-connected display after upgrading to 10.9.5. Thankfully, the altoronto fix worked for me, too.


However, in addition, I also had to open System Preferences --> Displays, then hold down the Option key and press Detect Displays before the second monitor would display at the proper resolution.


MBP late 2011, 17", 2.4GHz i7, 16 GB RAM, Radeon HD 6770M 10.9.5

2nd display: Samsung SyncMaster SA850 (2560x1440) connected via Apple's mDP to dual-link DVI adapter

Sep 26, 2014 12:16 AM in response to Limos42

10.9.5 does NOT work for me

...but in a very different way.
This is a 2012 iMac 27" (A1419) with GeForce GTX 680 MX and Dell 2709W as secondary display, using an Apple-certified Thunderbolt -> DVI adapter.

The behaviour is that the secondary display, when I plug it in (again), works without problems. But only until the iMac goes to sleep.
After waking from sleep, the secondary display wakes, too, but I can ONLY see the mouse on the secondary display, no screen content (remains black).
I have to unplug and plug in again to see the screen content. This is different from before, as the display is now recognised at least, but it doesn't show anything.


I have tried the 10.9.2 kernel extensions, which worked for me for 10.9.3 and 10.9.4 without problems. DO NOT TRY THIS!

After installing the kernel extensions in the usual manner

(i.e.

- copy to /System/Library/Externsions

- sudo chmod -R 755 <myExtension>.kext/bundle/plugin

- sudo chown -R root:wheel -R 755 <myExtension>.kext/bundle/plugin

- clear caches

- restart )

the iMac will go into a reboot loop ("Your computer restarted because of a problem..." grey screen).

I had to manually re-install the 10.9.5 extensions (in the same way) to make it boot again using the installation USB stick to boot from (single user mode, i.e. holding 'shift' while booting didn't work either on that occasion).


If anybody knows a fix for this, I would be grateful.


I'm feeling increasingly disappointed about Apple I must say. That's been over a year that the iMac bug hasn't been fixed, the iPhone 6 bends like Beckham, my 2008 MacBook Pro crashes when I turn the WiFi off, iOS 8 was released with a bug, the fix of which (iOS 8.0.1) breaks connecting to the network.

There's been no design update to the MacBook Pro since 2009 (isn't theLenovo Yoga 2 design so much more appealing), and the HTC One M8frankly seems the best phone on the market right now.


Apple, what is going on with your Quality Control?!?

Sep 27, 2014 11:14 AM in response to altoronto

I wish the altoronto solution worked for me, but now instead of it periodically sending a signal out the displayPort / thunderbolt, it no longer does ever.


I got a reply on my Apple bug saying 'we think this is fixed in the Yosemite Developer Preview, could you please try that.', which underscores how incredibly out of touch Apple QA is with its user base; to presume that i could simply take the machine i rely on for work and install less than beta software on it, is totally cuckoo banana.


(... and the implication that they won't bother fixing this for Mavericks but instead rely on the notion that users will suffer through the regular crappy quality of Apple's dot-dot-0 and dot-dot-1 releases of new OS for a fix is somewhat infuriating.)

Oct 3, 2014 3:31 AM in response to quarkdoll

Hi Quarkdoll and all others


I fully agree with you. What kind of crap response is that, "just try Yosemite Developer Preview, because we THINK this is fixed !!!"

Are these guys serious !?


I am running 10.9.5 on a Macbook Pro Retina 15 inch and it is all f... up after the Maverick upgrade

I have done all of the suggestions and do not get a second display to work after upgrading to 10.9.x

Tested it on multiple monitors, projectors, etc...


All the same behavior...

Screen turns black when I attached the monitor via VGA Minidisplay port adapter, comes back again once every 1 -2 minutes

Mouse start to act weird and moving slowly across the screen. No image on the second display or projector

And this behavior continues until I unplug the display adapter and everything returns normal.


Applied the Altoronto solution and all other suggestions in this thread, no luck !

Also playing around with SwitchResX, did not work for me..


Today, i will buy a HDMI->VGA adapter to see if this will fix my issues.


Keep you guys posted...

Oct 3, 2014 3:38 AM in response to quarkdoll

quarkdoll wrote:


I wish the altoronto solution worked for me, but now instead of it periodically sending a signal out the displayPort / thunderbolt, it no longer does ever.


I got a reply on my Apple bug saying 'we think this is fixed in the Yosemite Developer Preview, could you please try that.',

Got some substantiation available for that, or are we just taking your word for it?

Oct 3, 2014 8:05 AM in response to hankovg

Gents,


I fixed my problem.


Here is the solution to my problem.


I bought a Mini display to VGA adapter third party brand that works fine with Mountain Lion.

Never had any problems, so I never guessed that it would give problems with Mavericks, but it does !

Just tested Mavericks with an official Apple cable and it works !


Took me weeks to figure this out, so I will never be cheap on these items...

Buy and use the official Apple cable because in my case these third party cables do not work with Mavericks anymore.


Greetz,

Hanko

Second display problem with 10.9.4

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