Distorted video on Acer monitor using closed clamshell mode

I have a 15" Mid-Late 2007 MacBook Pro that I'm using in closed-lid mode with an Acer AL1917w monitor (DVI connection). After upgrading the Mac to Mavericks (10.9.2), I can't get the Acer monitor to display a non-distorted image when the Mac goes into closed-lid mode. With mirroring turned on and the MacBook Pro open, I can set the preferences to the highest resolution and I get a perfect image on both the MBP screen and on the Acer.
However, when I close the display lid and the machine goes into closed-lid mode, the Acer monitor image changes to a slightly stretched, distorted image. This happens no matter what resolution I choose from the Displays preferences resolution choices.
Again, it worked fine under Mac OS 10.5, but this problem shows up under 10.9.

Hmm I can't think of any way to do that that doesn't involve wires and major mods (Drilling holes et al) .
How to use your Mac notebook computer in closed-clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display - Apple Suppor…

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HDMI Closed Clamshell mode display wake crash with Mavericks.

Hi!
Macbook Pro 2.8 GHz Intel i7, 16GB DDR3 RAM, OS X 10.9.3
So, I am running a macbook pro with an external HD display through the HDMI out on the computer, and the comptuer itself running in closed clamshell mode. Sometimes when the display sleeps I can not wake it up again, to the extent that I have to unplug everything and do a hard reset of my macbook. If music is playing it begins to skip. The display attempts to turn back on but then the screen goes blank. This seems to only happen when the display sleeps, not the computer itself.
I was just wondering if a) Anyone else was having this problem and b) if Apple were aware of it?
I have done my research and I use closed clamshell mode properly (Restart my comptuer when plugging in to the monitor, sleep before disconnecting etc.) and so far I have not lost any data, however I am concerned that having to manually restart my computer 3-4 times a week may at some point severely affect a document I am working on, particularly with Apple's latest software such as Mavericks and Logic X seemingly being so volatile at the moment.
Any help you could provide would be much appreciated!
Thanks!

Hello bambambam8am,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
What troubleshooting have you done so far? Have you reset the SMC and PRAM? If not, follow the articles below for instructions:
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
About NVRAM and PRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
Take care,
Alex H.

Can no longer use an external display in closed clamshell mode

Hi,
I have this weird problem that just started couple days ago.
I own a MacBook Pro Early 2011 since March.
It's always hooked up to an external display and the MacBook Pro's LCD is turned off (closed clamshell mode).
Lately, if the MacBook Pro's LCD is turned off, the external display won't show anything.
But as soon as I open the lid, the external display will then mirror the MacBook Pro LCD.
If I close back the lid, the external display will get blank.
I also tried to change the display settings with no luck.
In other words, I can no longer use my external display with the MacBook Pro in closed clamshell mode.
I'm wondering if someone experienced this problem before. Thanks for help.

Hello sebastieng
Open both, your MBP connected to the external screen. Open Preferences click here on "Displays" and then make the external Window to the main window by dragging the bar (line?) on top of the laptop window to the external window, which makes the second window the main window.
If this does not help you may read this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3131
Hope this helps
marek

Closed clamshell mode on mba 13" - Keeps loggin out every 30 seconds

I'm trying to use my MBA 13" in Closed clamshell mode, connected to a 27" Thunderbolt Display
however it's not working-
Every 30 seconds or so, it locks the screen, and makes me log in again.
I have just reset my MBA to factory settings to see if that would fix it -
Same problem.
I also have a 13" MBPr - if i connect this to the same Thunderbolt display, I can operate it in closed clamshell mode no problem
Any idea what's causing the problem?

Oh..
And i "meet the criteria" for closed clamshell -
It's plugged in, external keyboard (bluetooth) and external mouse (bluetooth)

HT3131 Operating MBP in closed clamshell mode with external display

I have a new MBP retina display. Trying to operate in a closed clamshell mode. I connect a USB keyboard and a wireless mouse. My external display is a Dell 2007FP display screen connected via a VGA adapter. Whenever I close the computer lid to operate in clamshell mode the screen goes to sleep/power save mode. Have tried various combinations of attaching keyboard and mouse first then screen, switching computer off on etc. The external display states there is "no signal coming from computer"...any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciate

Congratulations on taking one more step in becoming more self sufficient in tech stuff.
But I have to wonder why you spent so much on a Retina display only to have it cooking uselessly there.

Solution to Closed-Clamshell Mode in Lion

Hello all!
Lion has changed to default behavior of the internal screen from the old functionality in Snow Leopard. Previously, in SL (Snow Leopard), a Mac with an internal screen could be connected to external mouse, display, and keyboard and be ran with the external as the primary monitor WITH the laptop screen open. It is important to keep the screen open on laptops to release heat. Here are the steps to restore this functionality in Lion:
I have found that this command in Terminal restores Snow Leopard functionality in Lion to closed-lid/clamshell mode.
1. Open up Terminal in /Applications/Utilities
2. Type the following command: sudo nvram boot-args="iog0x0"
3. Press return
4. You will see a warning about using the sudo command. PLEASE make sure you typed the command into Terminal correctly. Mispelling sudo commands can be... dangerous.
5. Type in your password to confirm and press return.
6. You should see Terminal move to a new line.
7. Restart your Mac and the Snow Leopard functionality should be restored!
Note: Resetting the PRAM will erase this modification. If you are ever told by Apple to reset the PRAM or need to do so for another reason, you will have to repeat these steps again. The mod holds as long as the PRAM is kept intact!

hi Luke20333,
Thanks for the info, really appreciated it!!
But I think there's a little mistake in your instruction. It didn't work for me at first, but with a little googling I found the one that did the trick:
instead of:
sudo nvram boot-args="iog0x0" (step 2 of your instruction)
I used:
sudo nvram boot-args="iog=0x0" (= sign between iog and 0x0)
Now I can close the lid of my MacBook without having to think if it's connected to an external monitor or not. Much more natural, like what we expect from Apple products...

HT3131 Display on to apple tv in closed clamshell mode?

Hi Can anyone help me?
When I AirPlay my MacBook pro display to my apple tv, all is fine.
However when I close the lid, (clamshell ) with mains connected, my display drops out and turns off AirPlay on my MacBook pro?
Any ideas please

Yup. I have no issues using an external display in clamshell mode. It's only when I try to airplay to my apple tv while in this clamshell mode that I run into problems. So to clarify, there are 3 devices in my situation: my macbook, my external monitor, and my apple tv (which is connected to my hdtv of course, so 4 devices). Usually I just use my external monitor with my macbook closed. That works fine. But when I occasionally want to airplay to my apple tv as additional mirrored/extended monitor, I have to open up the macbook first to exit clamshell mode. Otherwise if I just go straight into airplay while still in clamshell mode, my hdtv shows a frozen image, my external monitor goes black and I have no choice but to manually turn off my macbook. Hope that makes sense. I think it would be easier if I could draw a diagram haha.

HT201834 How to disable the closed-clamshell mode?

Means I just want to close my external screen too after close my lid.

We have no public interface to forcefully change the system state to Slate/Clamshell Mode from an application. The mode is controlled by hardware only.
Why do you want to change the mode from your desktop app?
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Closed clamshell mode-work with magic mouse & keyboard?

does the clamshell mode work on the macbook pro w/retina (late 2013) with the magic mouse and keyboard?
I know that it does with wired pheriperals, but im not sure if it does with the magic mouse and keyboard. if it does, i am going to go buy it, so i just need to know.

Yes.
<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131>

HT3131 Is there a way to use 2 external monitors with the MacBook Pro in closed clamshell mode?

My internal display on my MBP is having issues and occasionally displays white lines all over the screen. The current external monitor displays properly. Is there a way to use two extrernal monitors intead of one external + the internal display?
==========
Model Name:          MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)
Model Identifier:          MacBookPro5,2
Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:          2.93 GHz
Number of Processors:          1
Total Number of Cores:          2
L2 Cache:          6 MB
Memory:          8 GB
Bus Speed:          1.07 GHz
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M:
Chipset Model:          NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
Type:          GPU
Bus:          PCI
VRAM (Total):          256 MB
Vendor:          NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID:          0x0863
Revision ID:          0x00b1
ROM Revision:          3436
gMux Version:          1.7.10
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT:
Chipset Model:          NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
Type:          GPU
Bus:          PCIe
PCIe Lane Width:          x16
VRAM (Total):          512 MB
Vendor:          NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID:          0x0647
Revision ID:          0x00a1
ROM Revision:          3436
gMux Version:          1.7.10
Displays:
Color LCD:
Display Type:          LCD
Resolution:          1920 x 1200
Pixel Depth:          32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display:          Yes
Mirror:          Off
Online:          Yes
Built-In:          Yes
Cinema HD:
Display Type:          LCD
Resolution:          1920 x 1200
Pixel Depth:          32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Display Serial Number:          *************
Mirror:          Off
Online:          Yes
Rotation:          Supported

Hi Mike, this isn't the first such problem report I've seen, perhaps another option...
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/VIDU2DVIA/

Is it safe to use the MBP in closed clamshell mode?

I've connected my MBP to my LCD TV and started to use it as my desktop.
I'm deactivating the main display of the MBP by putting it into sleep mode and moving my mouse, so it wakes the computer up and shows image only in the TV, keeping the main display turned off.
I'm constantly monitoring the temperatures of the MBP with iStat Menus. It seems that the temperature is always the same, no matter if the main display lid is open or closed.
So, based on these 2 articles:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1778
Is it really safe to use the MBP with the display lid closed?
If I decide to run a heavy load application (like a game) and the MBP starts to get warm, would it damage the display, because it is too close to the body of the MBP?

Yes it's perfectly safe and designed to be used that way, 90% of the time this one's used in a similar configuration. The only time the fans come on 100% is when I watch Flash-based items from YouTube or similar. I've never run it for any extended length of time with the fans at maximum I must admit but as long as the air flow is good there shouldn't be any problem.

External monitor with closed clamshell without mouse

Hi,
I use MacBook Pro with a non-Apple monitor (via VGA adapter) which is easily detected and performs screen extension and mirroring well.
I have wireless keyboard from Apple and pen & touch tablet from Wacom, both connected.
When I close the lid, the external monitor always goes to sleep (miror mode and extension mode) and is not activated via keyboard (Bluetooth activated, devices can wake the computer via Bluetooth).
Do i definitely need a mouse or is the problem in something else?
Thanks in advance!
RR

Maybe this will help. If you monitor the "More Like This" box (top right), other threads appear. Opening them usually displays other threads.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/19273106#19273106

Not waking up with external display in closed clamshell mode.

Hello all!
I have the newest Macbook (late 2009), and have had it docked in a BookArc using an external display, keyboard and mouse. Everything has been working perfectly since I got it a couple months ago. I've traveled with the Macbook and redocked it at home a few times. This morning, I woke the computer and the display lit up as usual. A moment later, the display went black, said no signal and the power light went yellow (it's blue when operating). I hit the keyboard and clicked the mouse to wake it again to no avail. Took the Macbook out of the stand, opened the display and it works perfectly. Checked my energy saver settings, fine. Closed the clamshell, redocked, wont wake/start the external display. Took it out of the dock again, everything is fine, rebooted. Docked again, no wakey. I'm using it now as a normal laptop typing this. Any ideas as to suddenly why it wont wake/work with the external display? Thanks!

Last week I bought an Acer X223W 22 inch display for my MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) – Model A1342 Polycarbonate Unibody and an Apple Keyboard MB110LL/A - Also using a Apple wireless Magic Mouse but not a BookArc. ( Just leaving on the desk next to the Acer display )
I've found that you have to have the MacBook connected to the AC Power Supply to keep the MacBook awake when trying to use an external display. It's kinda a pain sometimes, I usually boot up my MacBook before connecting the Display and Keyboard then once I'm logged in......
and Once everything is loaded I plug in the Keyboard first then The Display adapter cable, Close the MacBook up then Click/Move the Magic Mouse ( System Preferences settings - Bluetooth ( Advanced: Allow Bluetooth Devices To Wake This Computer - checked ) Energy Saver AC and Battery set to 3 hours ( All other settings Unchecked )
Sometimes takes a few clicks before the Desktop appears on the external display, Now once its on I can open the MacBook ( just enough to help keep it running cooler ) and unplug the AC Adapter unless it needs charging.

External keyboard and mouse not working in closed clamshell mode

Hi - can someone help with this strange issue. Yesterday in closed clamshall everything was working fine. Today I cannot use my external keyboard and mouse. Note the external monitor does show the screen (after the blue flicker etc), but keyboard and mouse is just not detected.
Using Mac OS X (10.7.5). Tried fiddling the "mirror" settings etc in the display preferences but nothing seems to help. Really annoying....please help

don't worry - figured it out !

HT3131 External display in Closed Clamshell Mode

This worked for me until today. Now the display just goes off on my external monitor if I close the lid of my macbook. It doesnt re-appear as it says in the article. MacOS X 10.7.5

Congratulations on taking one more step in becoming more self sufficient in tech stuff.
But I have to wonder why you spent so much on a Retina display only to have it cooking uselessly there.

Distorted video on Acer monitor using closed clamshell mode

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