Help! Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter causes computer to freeze!

Saturn1217 · Jan 21, 2013, 08:16 AM

Just wanted to know if anyone else is experiencing this problem or might have any ideas on how to fix it.

I have a brand new 2012 13" Macbook Air. This computer is great except for one thing.

Waking from sleep in general is a bit unreliable.

I've noticed that a lot of the unreliability is associated with my thunderbolt to ethernet adapter which I use while I am at work.

Twice now I have plugged my macbook air into power opened it and wakened it from sleep. And then plugged in the thunderbolt to ethernet adapter (with ethernet cord attached). And then the computer completely freezes. Unresponsive. I can't put it back to sleep. Unplugging the adapter doesn't do anything. The only thing I can do is turn the computer off by holding the power button. Strangely it doesn't happen every time and after a restart I am able to get my MBA working with ethernet.

This is a big problem as I need ethernet 100% of the time at work.

I bought the thunderbolt to ethernet adapter from apple btw.

I will of course call Apple and see what they say but I just wanted to see if anyone here had any ideas for a solution. I've already reset SMC twice.

KPOM · Jan 21, 2013, 08:21 AM

Make sure you have installed all the software updates. Apple released a few updates for Thunderbolt and a new firmware since the Air was first released. If it is brand new, it is possible that these haven't been installed.

Saturn1217 · Jan 27, 2013, 05:36 PM

Update: applied a the latest firmware update which does seem to deal with thunderbolt issues. Hopefully this fixes things for good (because it is getting really annoying)

Will update if my problems are resolved and thanks for the tip.

rhinosrcool · Jan 27, 2013, 06:57 PM

I agree with KPOM. Install the updates. On my 2012 Air, my thunderbolt ethernet adapter works great. Maybe nothing, before I connect via ethernet, I turn off wi-fi.

Saturn1217 · Jan 31, 2013, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinosrcool

I agree with KPOM. Install the updates. On my 2012 Air, my thunderbolt ethernet adapter works great. Maybe nothing, before I connect via ethernet, I turn off wi-fi.

So I installed all the updates and I thought things were fixed but then it just happened again today...

I do notice that sometimes my laptop is trying to connect to my work's wifi (which requires you to sign in) and that this might be an issue. I will try turning off wifi before I connect ethernet but I do hope I can figure out a real solution soon. I switch between wifi at home and ethernet at work on a daily basis so remembering to turn off wifi isn't exactly the ease of use I'm used to working with macs.

But thank you for the suggestion. Still worth a try.

I think eventually (when I am not so busy) I will try reinstalling my OS from scratch. I just migrated over from my old computer and many things haven't been as smooth as they were on my 2009 MBP (not in term of speed but rather predictability)

SpoekGTi · Feb 1, 2013, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saturn1217

So I installed all the updates and I thought things were fixed but then it just happened again today...

I do notice that sometimes my laptop is trying to connect to my work's wifi (which requires you to sign in) and that this might be an issue. I will try turning off wifi before I connect ethernet but I do hope I can figure out a real solution soon. I switch between wifi at home and ethernet at work on a daily basis so remembering to turn off wifi isn't exactly the ease of use I'm used to working with macs.

But thank you for the suggestion. Still worth a try.

I think eventually (when I am not so busy) I will try reinstalling my OS from scratch. I just migrated over from my old computer and many things haven't been as smooth as they were on my 2009 MBP (not in term of speed but rather predictability)

The problem you describe i have it also, in the 6 months i have the MBA now it happened only 3 times so i'm not to worried, but still it is kinda weird. Also i have applied every possible updates.

Saturn1217 · May 13, 2013, 10:19 PM

Any updates on this?

It is still happening to me. I am going to try the latest thunderbolt firmware update but I'm not holding my breath. Right now I just avoid the issue by never pluggin in my TB/EN adapter while my MBA's screen is open. But sometimes I forget and then BAM! all my work lost...

It really sucks...

jevcm · May 14, 2013, 03:21 AM

Take a look on your System Preferences > Network and move your Thunderbolt Ethernet connection to first place. Then your Air will connect to Thunderbolt before WIFI.
Hope this is helpful.

Saturn1217 · May 17, 2013, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jevcm

Take a look on your System Preferences > Network and move your Thunderbolt Ethernet connection to first place. Then your Air will connect to Thunderbolt before WIFI.
Hope this is helpful.

It already is in first place but thanks!

Jan 21, 2013, 08:16 AM	#1
Saturn1217 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2008	Help! Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter causes computer to freeze! Just wanted to know if anyone else is experiencing this problem or might have any ideas on how to fix it. I have a brand new 2012 13" Macbook Air. This computer is great except for one thing. Waking from sleep in general is a bit unreliable. I've noticed that a lot of the unreliability is associated with my thunderbolt to ethernet adapter which I use while I am at work. Twice now I have plugged my macbook air into power opened it and wakened it from sleep. And then plugged in the thunderbolt to ethernet adapter (with ethernet cord attached). And then the computer completely freezes. Unresponsive. I can't put it back to sleep. Unplugging the adapter doesn't do anything. The only thing I can do is turn the computer off by holding the power button. Strangely it doesn't happen every time and after a restart I am able to get my MBA working with ethernet. This is a big problem as I need ethernet 100% of the time at work. I bought the thunderbolt to ethernet adapter from apple btw. I will of course call Apple and see what they say but I just wanted to see if anyone here had any ideas for a solution. I've already reset SMC twice. __________________ 13" MBA 2012, 2.0 GHz i7, 8GB RAM, 256 SSD
	1

Jan 27, 2013, 05:36 PM	#3
Saturn1217 Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2008	Update: applied a the latest firmware update which does seem to deal with thunderbolt issues. Hopefully this fixes things for good (because it is getting really annoying) Will update if my problems are resolved and thanks for the tip. __________________ 13" MBA 2012, 2.0 GHz i7, 8GB RAM, 256 SSD
	0

May 13, 2013, 10:19 PM	#7
Saturn1217 Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2008	Any updates on this? It is still happening to me. I am going to try the latest thunderbolt firmware update but I'm not holding my breath. Right now I just avoid the issue by never pluggin in my TB/EN adapter while my MBA's screen is open. But sometimes I forget and then BAM! all my work lost... It really sucks... __________________ 13" MBA 2012, 2.0 GHz i7, 8GB RAM, 256 SSD
	0

May 14, 2013, 03:21 AM	#8
jevcm macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2013	Network settings Take a look on your System Preferences > Network and move your Thunderbolt Ethernet connection to first place. Then your Air will connect to Thunderbolt before WIFI. Hope this is helpful.
	0

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Jan 21, 2013, 08:21 AM	#2
KPOM macrumors 604 Join Date: Oct 2010	Make sure you have installed all the software updates. Apple released a few updates for Thunderbolt and a new firmware since the Air was first released. If it is brand new, it is possible that these haven't been installed.
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Jan 27, 2013, 06:57 PM	#4
rhinosrcool macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MN	I agree with KPOM. Install the updates. On my 2012 Air, my thunderbolt ethernet adapter works great. Maybe nothing, before I connect via ethernet, I turn off wi-fi.
	0