Crashing MBA w/lid closed?

I have been having some very weird intermittent problems with my MBA (description below). Sometimes, when the lid is closed, it will chime and reboot. Never happens with the lid open/not sleeping. Sometimes it's right away and other times it can be after a long sleep.
I can't actually tell whether this is a software issue or a hardware issue, and it seems difficult to reproduce reliably. It only seems to crash when VMware Fusion 5.0.2 running, although it doesn't matter whether a guest is running, suspended, or not even open. I haven't seen a crash with Fusion *not* running. Usually nothing else is running (except of course Finder).
But OTOH, it seems like it could be a hardware problem because if I touch or gently squeeze the MBA at the back near the hinge, I can sometimes get it to crash. Lid closed, touch or pinch the back hinge, and you'll hear the chime, and if you open the lid it will have restarted. It doesn't seem like it's related to the power button at the upper right because if I pinch the MBA closer to where the button would be, it doesn't crash.
I have an open issue with VMware on this, but they can't figure it out, and as I say, it may not even be a software issue, except that I can't crash it if Fusion isn't running (yet ).
I'm totally perplexed.

I've finally verified that this has nothing to do with Fusion. With the lid closed and nothing running, I can (sometimes) crash the machine just by pinching the top and bottom, near the rear hinge about 1-2" from both edges. Maybe it's a hardware bug - has anyone else seen thing? I suppose I need to call support.

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Can I work with MBA's lid closed?

I have connected my 23" Cinema Display to my MBA, and it works beautifully. However, everytime I close the lid of the MBA, both displays go off and there is no way to reactivate the main one by clicking with the mouse or pressing on the Bluetooth keyboard. Is there any reason why the MBA should not work with its lid closed?

Try giving it a little more time to kick back on. Mine didn't work either when I first hooked it up because I was expecting a short delay before the monitor went back on. I tried several times to no avail. So was keeping the lid fairly far down while working when the cat stepped on it (grrr) and shut it. While cursing cat and trying to get her off the desk, I left the lid down and after a delay it all just kicked in. Go figure. I've had it woking with lid closed since then. Tried it several times and just had to leave it down longer. Hope this helps

Using MBA connected to iMac with lid closed

Just purchased my 11" MBA and its working a great replacement for my 15" MBP, especially for travel.
One thing I haven't been able to do yet though is work with the MBA closed while connected to my iMac (like using an external Studio Display). I do this all the time with the MBP. I can plug it in (power and mini-display) keep the lid closed, and wake it with my BT keyboard an mouse.
Unfortunately, the MBA is not waking with the keyboard or mouse.
Any ideas? Is anyone else using their MBA like this?

Performed an SMC reset and it works like a charm.
This 11" MBA is a great replacement for my old 15" MBP. Runs on the 27" iMac fantastic (although no sound is coming through).

HT3131 With the lid closed in clamshell mode, the lid covers the fans - won't it overheat?

With the lid closed in clamshell mode, the lid covers the fans - won't it overheat?

This is useful but the MBA gets a bit hotter due to intake, but if you have the lid open + external screen it gets even hotter due to more for the GPU (processor) to do.
Only way I’ve manage to run only external screen with the lid open is to trick the MBA that the lid is closed with a magnet positioned on the left.
I’d really like a software solution to this though…

How to keep unplugged macbook awake with lid closed

My macbook would stay awake while its plugged in with its lid closed, but it won't stay awake once its unplugged.
any suggestions?
thx!

Requirements for closed display mode:
Power adapter
External keyboard, mouse, or trackpad
External display
If any of these conditions are missing, then the closed MBA will sleep. So, unplugging the power will sleep the system.

Laptop lid closing function doesnt work correctly

Hello,
I use openbox and acpid is installed.
When I close laptop screen, my laptop does not sleep nor hibernate, fans continue to work and if I put the laptop in to a laptop bag ( which I did because I thought it was working ), the laptop becomes very hot in very short time.
If I want to open the laptop again, screen does not open. I dont know if the system is really working or not but it doesnt open no matter what. So I'm forced to do hard reset.
systemd-logind service logs like its working normally but it is not;
Mar 01 20:02:11 isg00051371 systemd-logind[356]: Lid closed.
Mar 01 20:02:11 isg00051371 systemd-logind[356]: Suspending...
Mar 01 20:02:11 isg00051371 logger[1286]: LID closed
-- Reboot --
What should I do to fix this problem ?

Both of them failed again.
systemctl restart systemd-login made X crashed, so I started X again and used them together "sudo systemctl restart systemd-login && systemctl suspend", but same thing happened
pm-utils made fast move and I thought it worked, but then fan started to make noise, and when I tried to open it, it failed again;
Mar 02 00:46:34 isg00051371 sudo[601]: kerem : TTY=pts/0 ; PWD=/home/kerem ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/pacman -S pm-utils
Mar 02 00:46:34 isg00051371 sudo[601]: pam_unix(sudo:session): session opened for user root by kerem(uid=0)
Mar 02 00:46:44 isg00051371 sudo[601]: pam_unix(sudo:session): session closed for user root
Mar 02 00:47:10 isg00051371 sudo[647]: kerem : TTY=pts/0 ; PWD=/home/kerem ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/pm-suspend
Mar 02 00:47:10 isg00051371 sudo[647]: pam_unix(sudo:session): session opened for user root by kerem(uid=0)
Mar 02 00:47:10 isg00051371 kernel: EXT4-fs (sda5): re-mounted. Opts: data=ordered,commit=0
Mar 02 00:47:10 isg00051371 systemd-udevd[215]: error opening USB device 'descriptors' file
Mar 02 00:47:10 isg00051371 kernel: usb 3-7: USB disconnect, device number 2
-- Reboot --
I find arch wiki very confusing, it's not helpful. Only helpful guide was beginner's guide, the rest is either confusing or incomplete.
I think I'll install either Xfce or Gnome, because this is making me feel I'm going nowhere.
Also, another thing is, I dont know if its about disabling acpid but, now whenever I do something new, like opening a tab in firefox, clicking on search area in arch wiki, my machine acts like a new cd inserted, but instead it uses hdd, it stops for 1 second, drive starts moving, then it acts, and I'm talking about 8gb ram, i7 machine...

Mac book pro is very very slow/it hangs for even the smallest tasks/even with the lid closed it is still running if it is not completely turned off. Dose any one know what may be wrong ? and how to fix it?

More details about the problem : My computer is a Mid 2012 Mac Book pro 2.9GHz i7 processor with 8GB RAM updated to OS X v10.8.5
- I ran a compleet scan of my computer for any threats ( I used virus barrier express ) and there was nothing identified
- When I oppened the Activiti Monitor there are about 20-30 processes which I do not undersatand they are run under the user "root" 2 in perticular ( Kernel_task & fseventsd ) they both take up a lot of threads and kernel_task is constantly using 1.2 GB of "real memory" which is at least 20 times any other process that is running espesially the ones that run under the user "Apple" I do not know if this is causing the problems on my mac but i tryed to forces close it and it dose not even let me click the button, the others close but reopean immideatly. I will attach a screen shot of what i have mentioned here.
- The problems I am facing are mainly performance :- To state a few examples, my mac dose not seam to be able to handile even the smallest tasks like switching tabs on safari, typing any thing, playing a movie withought stopping inbetween, etc.. ( let me elaborate on why I said its not able to handil these tasks, it is because when I am trying to do any one of the afformentioned tasks inbetween the cursor becomes a rainbow collered spinning disk and I am unable to do anything for about 10 seckonds after which it starts to work again for some time before it happens again. )
- Another concern of mine is that my mac seems to be on even with the lid closed if I do not shut it down compleetly, if i just close the lid after some time the computer starts warming up, and the fan starts running. the battery is drained at the same rate or slightly less rate than it would have if i was using it normally with the lid opean. ( altough this is happning the screen dose not turn on untill the lid is opean again )
- I have only 300+ GB full out of my 750GB so i believe these are not issues caused by my mac's memory being full ( BUT THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS WAS HAPPNING WAS WHEN MY MEMORY WAS ABOUT 720GB FULL WHEN THESE ISSUES FIRST AROSE I IMMEADITLY DELEATED 400+GB OF MY USELESS FILES THAT I HAD BEEN HORDING ALL OF WHICH WERE MOVIES ) that about covers it all PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO.
Ps: I apoligize if I have given too many unrelevant details, not enough usefull information and or if i was just all over the place with my explanations but I am really frustrated and was hoping not to miss anyting. Please let me know if any information at all is required and ill do my best to provide it.
Thank You

Start with this comprehensive troubleshooting article:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3521
Look at this one for possible solutions:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3353
Ciao.

How can I use an external display with my MBP lid closed and disconnected to power?

I know that I can use an external display when my MBP lid is closed and it is connected to power. I was wondering why it does not work when the power cable is removed.
I only use an external display when I am at home so my MBP acts like a Mac Pro or Mac Mini in that way, but it is not good to leave the battery charging constantly on a MBP so I want to disconnect the power and use external display and have the lid closed. Is this possible or do I have to leave my lid open when running on battery power?

I'm plugged into my wall socket at least 90% of the time - probably more. I always make sure that I take my MBP off mains about once every two weeks and let it run down to about 30-40% and then plug it back up. This keeps the ions flowing and the battery healthy. My MBP will be one year old on March 20, 2013, and my battery health is still at 99%. I run in clamshell mode most of the time now - since I bought a 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display. Only occasionally am I off mains - and then because I'm exercising my battery, usually.
Don't worry about running of mains most of the time - just be sure and unplug about once every two weeks (or twice a month) and let your battery dip to the 30-40% mark and you'll be fine.
Good luck,
Clinton

How do I use my macbook pro lid closed

How do I use my macbook pro lid closed?

Well what i'm trying to do is keep file sharing on while macBook is closed so i can access files through "newtwok" (Back to my mac) with my imac...
Ideally i would then control my macBook with screen sharing on my imac while the MacBook is stored behind my iMac...
Somehow it worked before but now it stopped...and everytime i close the lid ..mac book pro goes black screen and completly disconnects from the newtwork...
Everything works fine with lid open..
I am trying to do this because i have a new imac with thunderbold and an older macbook pro with mini display port..and as you might already know...you canot connect these thow devices using thunderbolt cable...which really *****....there is also no adaport enabling this...and i really dont need to buy another mac book that just has one more hole in it >.<
Anyway..hope there is a solution somewhere to keep file sharing going while lid down..
regards remo

Computer freezes in lid-closed mode when connected to external display

I have a Sylvania SC190 CRT display connected to my Powerbook via a VGA to DVI adapter. Every time I put the computer in lid-closed mode and try to run it off of just the SC190, after a few minutes it freezes up and I have to hard restart it(hold power button down).
Now, a few days ago, my powerbook stopped recognizing the display as an SC190, and just recognized it as a VGA Display. Don't know if this is relevant, as I have never used lid-closed mode before.
Does anyone know what the problem is, and/or what I can do about it?
Thank you.
PowerBook 15" G4 1.67 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.8) 512MB, 80GB, SD-DL

I have the exact same problem.
Here's my story:
To give you some backgroud, my setup involves having the macbook on a mstand hooked up to an external monitor. I run a usb hub from my macbook, this is where my mouse transceiver is plugged in. I use am Apple wireless bluetooth keyboard (latest slim model)
I recently purchased the 13.3' inch 2.26 MBP as I gave my older 2.0 uMB to a family member. The computer is in the stock configuration with no hardware upgrades.
I have noticed weird behaviour when waking the computer from sleep when the lid is closed. When i wake the computer up (by tuning on bt keyboard), the keyboard light blinks like there is not bt connection and the computer will wake in an inactive state. The led light will be on, but when i flip the screen up....nothing. Screen is dark, keyboard pressing does not illicit any responses. I have to do a hard reboot by holding down the power button to restart the computer. Unfortunately any previous data or work is lost.
I work in IT so I completed troubleshooting and also things outlined on forums in google. Reset PRAM, reset SMC and also reinstalled OSX. Still I get the same result. Fearing I purchased a defective unit, I called Apple and they told me i could exchange the computer so I dropped by the apple store and exchanged it quite easily.
I've spent hours restoring from time machine and I am experiencing the same issue on my new laptop. I'm now assuming its not hardware but more firmware related as I had to do a bluetooth firmaware upgrade when I bought the computer when I checked for software updates.
Is anyone else having any wake issues with their new MBPs? And what should I do next? Should I exchange for a 3rd unit? Thanks for you help everyone.

Lid closed mode--ntsc and pal

I used to be able to put my MBP's display onto a TV using lid-closed mode and the Apple DVI-video adapter. I was changing my TV's resolution to something slightly higher, clicked the wrong setting (set the display mode to PAL), and now whenever I use lid-closed mode (or when I use boot camp to boot into windows XP) my TV (NTSC) does not work. It only does this in lid closed mode, and I've reset the PRAM to try to fix it. I can't see the TV display in PAL mode, so I can't change it back to NTSC. Please help!!! Should I reset my PMU or use some EFI command?
15" MBP Mac OS X (10.4.7) using composite video on dvi-tv adapter (ntsc)

I recommend running both the MBP (lid open) and the TV at the same time in screen spanning mode (not mirror mode). In this way, you should have complete control over the TV's Display Preferences settings from the screen on the MBP. Make sure you have the "Show displays in menu bar" check box clicked in Display Preferences. You should be able to restore the old settings you were using for your TV with this technique.
Once you get your old settings restored, you can go back to using just the TV with the MBP lid closed again.

Why doesn't the Macbook work lid-closed??

I've only just discovered that the Macbook will try to go to sleep every time i close it's lid. For me, this is possibly the most annoying thing that any laptop could ever do!
I know the Macbook is designed for lid closed use when external keyboard, mouse and display are connected. But if it doesn't overheat in this situation, then why should it be a problem without any of these connected!?
I use my laptops esentially as desktops. Download and encode video overnight, play mp3's 24/7 and don't want to leave the lid open for dust to collect just to be able to do these things.
Can anyone think of anything to explain this crazy behaviour? Or vouch for the use of software to work around this, such as sleepless.
Macbook (White) 2.0GHz Mac OS X (10.4.6) - 2Gb RAM, 80Gb HD

Wtihout knowing Aple's specific reasons I would think that it were a safely reason. With the lid closed it would hence but unknown if it were on. There are no lights or anything to say this so potentially you can grab it and move it as though you would when off. Thi s could be extremely bad, even with the sudden motion sensor.
When it is connected to an external monitor you will at minimum have to disconnect it and USB mouse/keyboard which does give you time to think that it's on.
I have the same issue as you do though as I have a PowerBook currently running as a server. I use a very high tech device to keep the lid open just enough to keep the thing from sleeping.… it's called an eraser.

Audio & video via HDMI to an external monitor with lid closed.

I would like to run a Macbook Pro Retina (2014) with the lid closed and all video and audio via HDMI routed to an external monitor (Samsung Syncmaster from 2010). Is this possible? When I try this, no sound is transferred to the external monitor and I cannot operate the Macbook Pro with the lid closed. As soon as I close the lid, it cuts the signal to the external screen.
I’ve tried looking for previous posts but they’re about MCP’s connecting via Thunderbolt or DVI. Any ideas?

Seems like there may be two separate questions here. Audio working in either configuration and video from HDMI when lid closed. First, you are doing this with the Mac running off of AC, not battery, right?
Audio:
Is the HCMI cable you are using able to carry the audio? Some cables don't.
The only way I've ever used external displays with lid closed is with the thunder port (or DVI) adapter, not with the HDMI. I see the specs from Apple:
HDMI video output
Support for 1080p resolution at up to 60Hz
Support for 3840-by-2160 resolution at 30Hz
Support for 4096-by-2160 resolution at 24Hz
So have you tried varying the screen res to determine the results? I can find no specs regarding what ports remain operational in clamshell. Like you, I would have assumed all of them.
I suspect only the thunderbolt port would support your desired config -- try a thunderbolt/hdmi adapter.
Finally, clamshell mode doesn't allow the MBP to cool efficiently. Heat kills electronics, so if it's too warm or the fans really kick in, you might want to reconsider this setup.

Front Row - Lid Closed - Blank Videos (but with audio)

I hooked my computer up to my TV last night to watch some videos through front row (stupid quicktime and the pro lockout on full screen - talk about penny pinching from Apple!). Front row worked fine if I set it up so that the TV mirrored my laptop display. However, if I tried to run the laptop in lid closed mode with the TV as my main/only monitor everything would work except for the videos. They would be black while retaining the audio. For example, the little preview movies shown in the selection menu were black as was the movie when you played it.
Is this a known bug? Is there a fix? (Obviously I can run it more or less similarly with mirroring and my main screen dimmed as I did.)

i'm having the same issue. The video i tried was purchased from the iTunes music store. i see no preview of the video and no video is played on screen however audio is present. the same problem also occurs when trying to watch a movie trailer via movie trailer front row interface. All Front Row graphics are seen, only video is a problem. I can open and play back the video without problems in Quicktime Pro. (fullscreen)
The video output is 1280x720 sent to a samsung tv using a built in profile with overscan disabled.
Macbook (white) Mac OS X (10.4.6) 2.0Ghz Core Duo - 2GB RAM

How to work on external monitor with lid closed?

I have an external monitor connected to my MB Pro and would like to work with the lid closed. When I shut it, the monitor also goes to sleep. Yesterday I did something right and the monitor woke but I was able to keep the computer closed. Today it's not working. I use a wireless keyboard that also goes to sleep when the lid closes.
What's the procedure to keep the monitor awake while the laptop is closed?
System 10.6.8

Yes, I have done that and tried it over and over and it still won't work. The monitor went on for a few seconds and then went black again.
Is it possible to do this with a wireless keyboard? I do press the power key to try to wake to keyboard but nothing happens.

Crashing MBA w/lid closed?

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