Thunderbolt Display "dead" after firmware upgrade to Version 1.2

I have received my new TBD from Apple. I must say I am impressed. I hope everyone will be treated with the same courtesy by Apple. Unfortunately the F/W 1.2 upgrade is now offered again. For now I don't want to brick another display so any suggestions?

You would think Apple would have updated the FW before shipping to you.

Got my TBD day before yesterday delivered through a courier service. All in all it took Apple less than two weeks to acknowledge the problem and solve it rigorously. Yes I know; it shouldn't have happened in the first place but I can't help but feel well treated by them. My original TBD almost was three years old and I got a new one. Not that anything changed for the better as the old one still was perfect.

Today I also upgraded the Thunderbolt F/W. At first I didn't dare to but I also didn't like the reminder to pop up every time I start up the thing. I did what was written down in their upgrade instructions this time and disconnected my Buffalo Thunderbolt Disk, opened my MBA and started up from scratch. The upgrade now went flawlessly. So in the end I'm a happy dude again.

Perhaps my posts can help someone having to face a grumpy Apple employee in one of their stores. Over here in Europe, through Apple Support, they know how to please their customers.

Good luck!

FWIW:

MBAir (mid-'13), Mavericks, all updated to latest, connected over thunderbolt to Apple Cinema Display

Was having same problems, tried everything. Finally started doing some power cycles. Literally the 4th time through the CD started working again fine. Cannot reproduce yet, but was about to throw it at the wall when I gave it a last shot. Good luck...

I experienced this disaster. The upgrade killed a perfectly functional display. I contacted Apple Support twice; the second time I paid $30 for the privilege. They recommended that I bring it to the Genius Bar. After several repairs attempts, the logic board was replaced. I paid $185 for this repair. The display works again.

The tech claims that the upgrade was designed for newer computers. I have a mid-2011 Air. Apparently, the upgrade causes the logic board to forget about legacy devices. The tech claimed the the upgrade is irreversible. I'm not convinced that the tech's claim is accurate because the new logic board reports the Firmware and Port Micro versions that the Update 1.2 posting specifies.

I'm happy to have my display functioning again. But I'm extremely upset. The Genius Bar tech recommended that I call AppleCare to complain. I want an explanation and a refund.

The tech is correct that the FW (any FW) is irreversible once burned. Your new board was probably updated before it was installed.

My Thunderbolt display has a 2-3Inch wide yellow line crossing the screen from top to bottom after the upgrade of the driver 😟 Just hanging on the line to apple care to see what their response is.

I experienced this same issue and thought I'd share my info.

On Nov 13th I updated my Mid 2012 (non-retina) MBP to Yosemite. The next day the 1.2 TB Firmware update was released and I went through that. I immediately started experiencing stability issues with my just over 2 year old 27" TB Apple Cinema Display; issues like it frequently going black while the power and USB ports still continued to work with no problem. Some times after unplugging it for a few hours (or days) it would start working again. Assuming it was a result of my OS Update I tried trouble shooting it for a couple days via that route. Then the screen Display just stopped working altogether.

I scheduled a Genius Bar appointment a local store for the Saturday Dec 6th. Since my warranty on the Display had expired I wasn't looking forward to the results. The customer service I received at the store was superb. The tech's didn't so much as come out and say that they were aware of any known issues, but they ran right through basic trouble shooting steps to confirm that the problem was with the Display and with the screen only. They even had parts in stock at the store. The plan was to replace the Logic Board first ($146.59), then replace the LCD Panel ($794.32) if that didn't fix it. Labor brought the total to just under $1000.

Thankfully Apple took ownership of the repairs and I didn't have to pay a thing. I just picked up my Display and got it home (after it only being in the shop for 3 business days). I've been testing it out and everything is working great.

So my story is one of success. I still don't have a clue how this firmware update caused the issue (my best guess is that there was an existing hardware problem that hadn't manifested itself yet, and the update simply brought it to light). Apple is continually impressing me with their excellence in Customer Service. My advice for anyone running into this is to (even though it may seem like a hassle) lug your Display down to your local Genius Bar (skip the phone call because a tech on the phone can't do anything for you and can't visibly confirm the problem if you're actually having this issue - in the end you're going to have to go to the store anyway). Be patient / polite to the employees, if it's this problem then anyone with experience is likely to know about it. Then give them the opportunity to resolve the issue for you. Good Luck!!

I too experienced this issue. My computer kept wanting to run the Display 1.2 firmware update. After the final and third time, it finally decided to reboot and run the EFI firmware update. With my clamshell open, connected to my monitor and it hung up right away with a 50% progress bar underneath the Apple logo. I read that a few users said the "extra" thunderbolt port was active and used an Apple Thunderbolt cable to get their display to work. I happen to have an Elgato Thunderbolt SSD drive that I was not using much because of its small size, and also noticed that all my ports on the monitor were still working. So I pulled my Elgato Thunderbolt cable and plugged that into my 15" MacBook Pro running 10.10.1. It's a workaround and it worked. Sound, USB, iPhone sync, photo sync, brightness all work. My display will work with a spare Thunderbolt cable. I then tracked down and manually downloaded the firmware to see if I could reinstall it. It won't and here is why. The main firmware # 26.2 matches but the installer only checks that number, it does not check the Micro Version number which will be incorrect if the firmware did not complete.

If you want to run the checker yourself here is where it is installed:

/System/Library/CoreServices/'Firmware Updates'/DisplayTBUpdate13/TBTUpdateCheckerX

Here is the output from mine:

Last login: Sun Dec 14 20:11:44 on ttys000

MB15:~ username$ /System/Library/CoreServices/Firmware\ Updates/DisplayTBUpdate13/TBTUpdateCheckerX ; exit;

2014-12-14 20:12:20.253 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] Host board-id = 'Mac-2BD1B31983FE1663'

2014-12-14 20:12:20.651 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] J59 at 'IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/PEG1@1,1/IOPP/UPSB@0/IO PP/DSB0@0/IOPP/NHI0@0/AppleThunderboltHAL/AppleThunderboltNHIType2/IOThunderbolt Controller/IOThunderboltPort@5/IOThunderboltSwitchType2/IOThunderboltPort@3/IOTh underboltPort@3/IOThunderboltSwitchType1' with UID = 0x000100010033cdb0 (0x0)

2014-12-14 20:12:20.651 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] Switch already has a valid UID (0x000100010033cdb0)

2014-12-14 20:12:20.652 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] UID did not need recovery

2014-12-14 20:12:20.652 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] Found TBTD at route 0x3

2014-12-14 20:12:20.652 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] Checking firmware version

2014-12-14 20:12:20.652 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] TBTD ROM Version = 26.2

2014-12-14 20:12:20.652 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] ROM Version base = 26; revision >= 2

2014-12-14 20:12:20.652 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] TBTD Up Micro Version = 0x21

2014-12-14 20:12:20.652 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] Firmware not up to date.

2014-12-14 20:12:20.652 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] TBTD connected via non-tethered (Upstream Port # = 3)

2014-12-14 20:12:20.652 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] Error 0x7 occurred with route 3

2014-12-14 20:12:20.653 TBTUpdateCheckerX[2397:1604000] Cannot update because of error 0x7

I did notice some slight bending from repeated hookups on the Thunderbolt end. My biggest grip right now is using the hub Thunderbolt port to get my display to function. I did like having my Thunderbolt SSD hooked up there, but again I really wasn't using it.

I will have to my an appt. with the GeniusBar. Unfortunately I have 4 other issues to fix and I am sure I'll be there for a few hours or more.

Apple's engineering rational is probably this: The internal Thunderbolt cable was bad and it might cause problems with either the display or the computer, so lets disable the chip that is inside the cable. In response that train of thought, Apple should have done this with the design, the main power cable can be replaced. Why didn't Apple make a Thunderbolt and computer power bundle so that it can be replaced by the user like the main three prong power cable? Firmware updates have been proven can kill or disable a Thunderbolt cable and/or Thunderbolt port. Apple makes white cables that yellow or turn a dingy gray color and eventually wear out. I really wish they would adopt black rubberized cables that are heavy duty and reinforced to the guild. Think different and think of the new cables has patronage to Steve's mock turtle necks.

This update has killed dozens if not hundreds of perfectly good TB 27" D's. This firmware update needs to be recalled and Apple needs to publicly address this issue and promptly replace out parts or brand new monitors with the firmware already upgraded or ignore this buggy firmware all together.

Thunderbolt Display Gate is here. Steve Jobs would never ignore such a wide spread problem with their hardware and software. C'ON Man! Tim Cook. It's your turn to pay the piper. This update was supposed to fix black screens (of death), not cause them.

Apple's tech note on what the version numbers should be. Notice the Micro Version is wrong on mine because the update did not finish (when it probably killed the internally connected thunderbolt cable):

About Thunderbolt Display Firmware Update 1.2 - Apple Support

Please tell us if the visit had some results or we are just here wondering with a 1000eur decoration screen!

I wonder if someone from apple really reads this things... or they just put this blog so we can drop our frustrations here.

I was able to get this issue resolved through Apple Tech Support.

My display was over a year out of warranty. I called Apple Tech Support where after about three hours of running tests they determined that it was the update tat caused the problem. I shipped my display back to them and received a brand new one two days later. Of course the new display did not have the new firmware and so I installed it first thing.

I now have a brand new display with a valid warranty and with the v1.2 firmware installed.

@ruvenss: No, Apple tech support does not read these forums. These forums are the Apple support community where Apple enthusiasts and users can discuss issues related to Apple products. It doesn't make much sense for Apple support to browse these forums looking for issues.

How We can post a public post here ?? I just can reply

I have the same problem , and I don't get any answers from apple SO

The solution is simple , WE DESTROY all our monitor filming ourself and put that on YOU TUBE , all of those people here can do the same

why I destroy my apple 1000 EUR monitor , I am really serious , if I don't give my money back or repair it properly

this , I imagine will make apple marketing team to wake up and take our needs very seriously inside apple company ,

if They have any idea about reputation