Disconnecting my MacBook Pro from my Thunderbolt Display

<https://www.apple.com/ca/thunderbolt/>

"With Thunderbolt, your external devices like RAID arrays and video capture solutions become hot‑pluggable and easy to move between your Mac computers."

but not when running Windows.

<http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5219#27>

OS X has always supported hot-swapping Apple displays, with the execption of displays using ADC (Apple Display Connector).

<http://osxdaily.com/2014/03/31/detect-displays-mac-os-x/>

Hot-swapping is only mentioned in the rare cases when it doesn't work, such as:

<http://www.cnet.com/products/apple-thunderbolt-display/>

"Note that the Thunderbolt Display doesn't support hot-swapping to a Mac running Windows in Boot Camp. The computer must be restarted already connected to the display to work properly."

<http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3131>

"Note: If your external display is not recognized when it is connected and the computer is powered on, try connecting the display while the computer is asleep or while the computer is off; wake or power on the computer after you connect the display."

<http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5219#27>

"27. Can I plug and unplug devices (Hot Plug) into a Thunderbolt port under Windows 7 or 8 via Boot Camp?

No. To add Thunderbolt devices, shut down the computer, connect the new devices, and then boot to Windows"

Apple claims Thunderbolt is hot-swappable, but the reality is it is bug-riddled and has been since at least 2010. I and many of my colleagues (software developers) all suffer from this problem: disconnect or connect Tbolt display, laptop crashes. I even burned up a laptop when I didn't notice the crash and it stayed in a hung state all night, fan running, until the video card fried. Thanks, Apple. Way to make Microsoft look good.

The only truly safe way to plug or unplug a display is to shut down your machine. Which is a royal PITA.

I am glad to see your post; yours has been my experience as well, and I have been assuming my MBP was the issue. I just bought a new one (not for this issue, it was just time) and the same thing happens with the new one. I was very disappointed, as I was counting on the problem disappearing. It is good to know that it is nothing I can resolve, and that I can stop puzzling about it, but I am quite surprised/disappointed that there is not yet a resolution. I have always been a big advocate of a MBP paired with the thunderbolt display, seemingly ideal solution for many, but I must say, this makes me a good bit less enthusiastic. That being said, I have no plans to change either, still the most practical configuration for me. Thanks again for your post.

I had this same problem and it turned out to be this:

http://www.apple.com/ca/support/macbookpro-videoissues/