Multiple Displays have problems with El Capitan

I had a similar issue with only one of two Thunderbolt 27" displays working with my Mac Pro after upgrading to El Capitan - I had also noticed the boot time had increased by 2 or 3 times. I spent a couple of hours on the phone with Apple Support and went through the PRAM and SMC resets with no success. We were about to do an erase and re-install (I was dreading this as it is my music studio machine with a ton of software on), and I noticed that one of the disks in the Lacie 2Big TB disk had been making some odd noise. On a whim I tried unplugging the unit, and re-booted - I noticed that the boot time reduced significantly, and both screens turned on just fine.

I checked the disks in the Lacie, and it turned out that one of them was bad. as soon as I replaced it and rebooted, all was fine, It seems to me that the boot script is having issues when something times out. In this case, it was trying to start a bad disk, and by the time it timed out, the second display was not being initiated. It seems this is a hardware and software issue.

Long story short, it's worthwhile unplugging all external devices and trying to boot up the machine (for me that was a trial as I had 5 TB and 4 USB connections in a specific order). If the issue still exists, it's software, or internal hardware related.

I had all the same problems with external displays but just got them to work fine again.

Inadvertently fixed it by restarting my mac and holding down the Alt/Option key during restart. Not sure why that worked but my two displays are working again.

princeakeem wrote:

I had all the same problems with external displays but just got them to work fine again.

Inadvertently fixed it by restarting my mac and holding down the Alt/Option key during restart. Not sure why that worked but my two displays are working again.

The option key is supposed to let you choose among possible startup disks.

Do you mean the Shift key? That would actually make sense: it would start in Safe Mode, which as a side effect would clear a number of caches, some of which might have been corrupted and contributed to the problem.

So 3 of my 4 screens now show as "dead" on my Mac Pro. Only if I startup from Restore-disk or from Safe Mode will it show the other 3 screens.

I've tried everything I can think of (re-installing OS, reset PMU, NVRAM, SMC etc.) but screens are still "Deadl"

One thing in the console that seems to give it away is the entry which can't locate the graphics card.

Anybody found any way to fix this ?

If it works in safe mode but not when booted normally this suggests that you are loading some incompatible driver or kernel extension that is the cause of the conflict. Clearly it is a software problem, and not an OS or hardware problem.

You said you reinstalled the OS. Did you then restore from a time machine or a clone of your previous system? If the problem was some incompatible piece of software, then restoring pretty much defeated the purpose of the reinstall.

I suggest your run Etrecheck and post its report, so we can try to figure out which kext, driver or whatever may be behind this.

Hi Luis,

EtreCheck version: 2.6.4 (224)

Report generated 2015-11-21, 10:06 PM

Runtime 1:48

Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck

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Hardware Information: (What does this mean?)

Mac Pro (Late 2013)

[Click for Technical Specifications]

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Mac Pro - model: MacPro6,1

1 3.5 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon E5 CPU: 6-core

32 GB RAM Upgradeable

[Click for upgrade instructions]

DIMM1

8 GB DDR3 ECC 1866 MHz ok

DIMM2

8 GB DDR3 ECC 1866 MHz ok

DIMM3

8 GB DDR3 ECC 1866 MHz ok

DIMM4

8 GB DDR3 ECC 1866 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: Unknown

Video Information: (What does this mean?)

AMD FirePro D500 - VRAM: 3072 MB

AMD FirePro D500 - VRAM: 3072 MB

LG ULTRAWIDE 2560 x 1080 @ 60 Hz

System Software: (What does this mean?)

OS X El Capitan 10.11.1 (15B42) - Time since boot: about 3 days

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APPLE SSD SM0512F disk0 : (500.28 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.42 GB (47.01 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

WDC WD2001FASS-00W2B0 disk1 : (2 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

CDWORK_BIG (disk1s2) /Volumes/CDWORK_BIG : 2.00 TB (1.09 TB free)

ST6000DX000-1H217Z disk4 : (6 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk4s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

DROPBOX (disk4s2) /Volumes/DROPBOX : 6.00 TB (233.79 GB free)

ST6000DX000-1H217Z disk3 : (6 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk3s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

6TB_WORK_A (disk3s2) /Volumes/6TB_WORK_A : 6.00 TB (3.14 TB free)

HGST HUS724040ALE640 disk2 : (4 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Boot OS X (disk2s3) <not mounted> : 134 MB

DROPBOX_OLD (disk5) /Volumes/DROPBOX_OLD : 4.00 TB (1.71 TB free)

Core Storage: disk2s2 4.00 TB Online

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Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

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VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub

VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub

VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub

Mitsumi Electric Hub in Apple Extended USB Keyboard

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Logitech G700s Rechargeable Gaming Mouse

Kingston DT 101 G2 8.01 GB

WAVES LICENSE (disk6s1) /Volumes/WAVES LICENSE : 8.01 GB (7.98 GB free)

Syncrosoft eLicenser

iLok iLok

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LG Electronics 29UC97

Sonnet Technologies, Inc. Echo Express III TB2

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus_1

Other World Computing ThunderBay IV

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/etc/sysctl.conf - File exists but not expected

Gatekeeper: (What does this mean?)

Anywhere

Kernel Extensions: (What does this mean?)

/Applications/CodeMeter.app

[not loaded] com.wibu.codemeter.CmUSBMassStorage (1.0.7) [Click for support]

/Applications/TechTool Pro 7.app

[not loaded] com.micromat.driver.spdKernel (1 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.Avid.driver.AvidDX (5.9.1 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver (3.9.1 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.Logitech.Unifying.HID Driver (1.3.1 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.TrustedData.driver.VendorSpecificType00 (1.7.0 - SDK 10.7) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.caiaq.driver.NIUSBMaschineControllerDriver (2.6.0 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.digidesign.iokit.DigiDal (12.3.0f4 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.driver.LogJoystick (2.0 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.drobo.SCSI.ThunderBolt (1.1 [77097] - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.logitech.driver.LogiGamingMouseFilter (1 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.sns.driver.SNSArchitectureModel (1.1.5) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.sns.driver.Xtarget (1.1.2) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.sourceelements.driver.SourceNexus (1.0.2 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]

[loaded] jp.plentycom.driver.SteerMouse (4.2.2 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.attotech.driver.ATTOiSCSI (3.4.1b1 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.m-audio.usb.midisupport.driver (1.1) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.master (5.9.1 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

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/System/Library/Extensions/PACESupportFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns

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[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.panther (5.9.1 - SDK 10.-1) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.snowleopard (5.9.1 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.tiger (5.9.1 - SDK 10.4) [Click for support]

~/Desktop/STUFF2/DiskWarrior.app

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~/Library/Application Support/Transmit/Transmit Disk.app

[not loaded] com.panic.TransmitDisk.transmitdiskfs (4.0.0 - SDK 10.5) [Click for support]

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[failed] com.apple.Kerberos.digest-service.plist

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[loaded] 9ZTHPRB4MV.com.soundradix.TTLWrapperAgent.SL.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] 9ZTHPRB4MV.com.soundradix.TTLWrapperAgent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] 9ZTHPRB4MV.com.soundradix.TTLWrapperSandbox.SL.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] 9ZTHPRB4MV.com.soundradix.TTLWrapperSandbox.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.avid.ApplicationManager.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.avid.ApplicationManagerHelper.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist [Click for support]

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[loaded] PACESupport.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avid.AvidUninstaller.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avid.bsd.ShoeTool.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avid.bsd.shoe.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avid.bsd.shoeten.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.avid.bsd.shoetoolv120.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.bombich.ccchelper.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.datarobotics.ddservice64d.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.datarobotics.ddserviced.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.paceap.eden.licensed.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.teamviewer.Helper.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist [Click for support]

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[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: (What does this mean?)

quicklookd Application (/System/Library/Frameworks/QuickLook.framework/Versions/A/Resources/quicklookd .app)

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

WSControlApp Application Hidden (/Applications/WSControlApp.app)

BACKUP Volume Hidden (/Volumes/BACKUP)

PROJECTS Volume Hidden (/Volumes/PROJECTS)

SFXLIB Volume Hidden (/Volumes/SFXLIB)

NIHardwareAgent Application Hidden (/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments/Hardware/NIHardwareAgent.app)

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[running] com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x10000003.Pro Tools

[running] com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x10000004.Time Machine Backup Scheduler

[running] com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x1000000e.EtreCheck

[running] com.avid.MC-Client.84512

[loaded] com.avid.ProTools.371552

[running] com.avid.WSControlApp.128032

[running] com.cokesoft.networkspeedmonitor.99552

[loaded] com.cokesoft.networkspeedmonitorhelper

[running] com.native-instruments.NIHardwareService.155552

[loaded] com.vinnov.TMHelper

[loaded] com.vinnov.Time-Machine-Scheduler.115232

Internet Plug-ins: (What does this mean?)

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 19.0.0.245 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Flash Player: Version: 19.0.0.245 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 60 build 27 Check version

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Aspera Web 3.3.3.81344: Version: Unknown - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Audio Plug-ins: (What does this mean?)

Avid CoreAudio: Version: 12.3.0.220 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

3rd Party Preference Panes: (What does this mean?)

Flash Player [Click for support]

globalSAN iSCSI Initiator and Xtarget [Click for support]

Java [Click for support]

Logitech Control Center [Click for support]

Native Instruments USB Audio [Click for support]

Perian [Click for support]

Time Machine: (What does this mean?)

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.42 GB Disk used: 452.41 GB

Destinations:

SYSTEM BACKUPS [Network]

Total size: 799.66 GB

Total number of backups: 32

Oldest backup: 2015-10-05, 4:00 PM

Last backup: 2015-11-21, 6:02 AM

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 799.66 GB < (Disk used 452.41 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: (What does this mean?)

112% Dropbox

17% Pro Tools

16% licenseDaemon

5% WindowServer

3% kernel_task

Top Processes by Memory: (What does this mean?)

4.13 GB Pro Tools

2.25 GB kernel_task

1.63 GB AvidVideoEngine

590 MB WSControlApp

524 MB softwareupdated

Virtual Memory Information: (What does this mean?)

11.00 GB Free RAM

21.00 GB Used RAM (8.88 GB Cached)

162 MB Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: (What does this mean?)

Nov 19, 2015, 10:58:25 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/WSControlApp_2015-11-19-225825_[redacted].cras h

Nov 19, 2015, 12:23:39 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Dropbox_2015-11-19-002339_[redacted].cpu_resour ce.diag [Click for details]

Nov 18, 2015, 10:50:26 PM Self test - passed

PACESupport is not needed and could be causing problems. You should remove this.

Also there is a bunch of things that are outdated and could be causing conflicts.

Perian has not been supported in years now. It may have nothing to do with it, but you could disable it and see if it makes any difference.

Also, make sure that all these avid things, if you need them, are updated.

yeah none of those have anything to do why the screens went out. System hasn't changed in months, and all of sudden, screens are dead.

It's actually somehow not loading the video driver I think, it's being sandboxed out, trying to fix that now.

OK, so after 8 hours of fiddling, it seems fixed. First I tried PMC, SMC resets etc. No luck. Then I noticed that a lot of extensions got Sandboxed in the Console log. So I think that somehow an update to El Capitan made it that many extensions got Sandboxed. Once most of those were figured out, it still didn't work. An SMC reset was next again.

Using the Apple way (as described here: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support) does NOT do the trick. That was problem #2.

The proper way that ended up working was to actually unplug anything that was providing external power as well (powered USB hubs, powered Thunderbolt devices etc.). Once all of those were unplugged, and I did an SMC reset, the screens came back again.

hallelujah....

I have a Mac Mini late 2012. I have had two 27 inch thunderbolt monitors on the computer for two or three years. Things mostly worked fine. Upgraded to 10.11.1. Things still working fine.

Last night, I unpowered the Mini completely, pulled out the 4GB of ram and put in 16GB. Everything seemed fine...

Today, my kid fired up minecraft (java) in full screen. This is just like every other day for the last year...

But after about one or two minutes, the primary display monitor when BLANK. tada.

The problem is definitely reproducible with Minecraft running. But without minecraft running, the computer seems cool with two displays.

Have tried the various "fixes" above. Nothing worked. Every time Minecraft is fired up with two displays the one that is running full screen mode blanks out after about a minute.

SO... here's my contribution... Until I unpowered the mini for an extended time (upgrading the ram last night), everything was good. Minecraft ran fine, both monitors co-existed fine. But after the upgrade (and being powered down for the upgrade), now the machine won't play nice with two monitors.

My fix - I disconnected the second monitor. I'm sure Apple will get around to doing something about multiple monitor support. I'll just wait for the next OS update and try again. So frustrating that my machine is hobbled for now. Oh well....

I am running El Capitain 10.11 on an iMac (3.2G w16GB)

Whenever the mac goes to sleep, when I log back in, I need to power down the companion monitor.

Very annoying. This is 100% reproducable.

How does something so basic escape testing and gets released like this? This is QA 101

markfromsingerisland wrote:

I am running El Capitain 10.11 on an iMac (3.2G w16GB)

Whenever the mac goes to sleep, when I log back in, I need to power down the companion monitor.

Very annoying. This is 100% reproducable.

How does something so basic escape testing and gets released like this? This is QA 101

100% reproducible on your machine. Very annoying, no doubt. But NOT QA 101.

This is a very long thread, which is by now too long to keep track of. There have been different people with different problems.

Several troubleshooting steps have been advised. Have you tried those?

Most problems in the end are caused by either corrupt caches (for which usually booting once in Safe Mode may work), incompatible software (hence running EtreCheck to see what is installed), or by the users having fallen for the scams of "cleaning" software out there (in which case sometimes uninstalling them helps, other times a reinstall is needed).

I am an Engineer in R&D, This is a 101 issue! Using your own words -There is a long thread.

FYI This was found in Beta!!!! Should not have been released without this basic functionality working.

BTW my entry was not fully accurate, once in 10 "wakeups" it works.

There is no corrupt cache or... This CLEARLY is El Captain (Again, please refer to the LONG THREAD)

Worked before perfectly before the upgrade, issue appeared on Day 1 El Captain.

I have been following this waiting for a fix, I am getting tired of it.

markfromsingerisland wrote:

I am an Engineer in R&D, This is a 101 issue! Using your own words -There is a long thread.

80 posts may be a long thread. Have you read it?

Some people have problems and come here for help. Some of the people asking for help got the problem resolved. As it turned out, none of those were actually bugs in El Capitan. And also none was the same as yours. It might be a bug, sure.

On the other hand, there are tens of millions of El Capitan users. Maybe just 1% of them use multiple monitors. Still, that is hundreds of thousands.

If El Capitan did not work, you can imagine there would be an outcry.

FWIW, El Capitan works just great with multiple screens for at least some users.

I am one of them, but I do not assume that it works fine for everyone. You have problems, and you seem to assume that it fails for everyone. It doesn't.

So if you really want to see your problem solved, try giving specific information about your setup and follow advice about troubleshooting. I will be glad to help.

If you just want to whine, I am out.