MacBook Air/iMac in Target Display Mode

[MarkW19]

Hoping for some help with this if possible!

I'm wanting to connect my MBA to my iMac by Thunderbolt, using Target Display Mode (while the MBA is closed) so I can use the iMac as a monitor; and I'm also wanting to use Synergy to control the MBA with the iMac's keyboard/mouse while doing this.

I've come across two problems:-

1. In Target Display Mode, the iMac essentially ignores input from the mouse/keyboard, so I can't find a way to use them on the MBA (via Synergy) while the iMac is in this mode.

2. The MBA goes to sleep when closing the lid (and can't be woken except with a USB/bluetooth keyboard/mouse), so it won't stay on when I put it in my BookArc (vertical stand).

I've been trying to figure a workaround to both of these issues for a few weeks now, but no luck as yet. Hoping someone on here can figure it out?!

Thanks in advance.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Hoping for some help with this if possible!

I'm wanting to connect my MBA to my iMac by Thunderbolt, using Target Display Mode (while the MBA is closed) so I can use the iMac as a monitor; and I'm also wanting to use Synergy to control the MBA with the iMac's keyboard/mouse while doing this.

I've come across two problems:-

1. In Target Display Mode, the iMac essentially ignores input from the mouse/keyboard, so I can't find a way to use them on the MBA (via Synergy) while the iMac is in this mode.

2. The MBA goes to sleep when closing the lid (and can't be woken except with a USB/bluetooth keyboard/mouse), so it won't stay on when I put it in my BookArc (vertical stand).

I've been trying to figure a workaround to both of these issues for a few weeks now, but no luck as yet. Hoping someone on here can figure it out?!

Thanks in advance.

1. Maybe Teleport can help, but I doubt it.

2.

InsomniaX
or
InsomniaT (rebuild for SL) (fix for 2011 MPBs)
or
Caffeine
​

 

[GGJstudios]

2.

InsomniaX
or
InsomniaT (rebuild for SL) (fix for 2011 MPBs)
or
Caffeine
​

InsomniaX/T will help, but Caffeine won't keep a computer awake with the lid closed.

(I like your new avatar! Makes me dizzy!)

 

[harlex]

Connect the two machines with the thunderbolt cable. Shut down the iMac then switch the iMac on and whilst dong so hold down the command and fn and F3 i think it is on the MBP keyboard and that should switch the iMac into display mode.

It works the opposite way to how you think, you would think you would have to hold the iMac keyboard in the fn positions but the opposite you use the MBP as the master control, unless you wan't to do it all the other way round and use the MBP as the target screen.

 

[GGJstudios]

Connect the two machines with the thunderbolt cable. Shut down the iMac then switch the iMac on and whilst dong so hold down the command and fn and F3 i think it is on the MBP keyboard and that should switch the iMac into display mode.

Those aren't the instructions Apple gives for setting up Target Display mode:

Mac OS X 10.7 Help: Use another Mac as a display

 

[jmgregory1]

The keyboard and mouse or trackpad need to be sync'd to the air, for you to be able to use them - otherwise they're going to be connected to the iMac and will have no effect on the Air. It's why your Air is going idle and to sleep - because you are not doing anything with it when the lid is closed.