Thunderbolt, mini display port, suddenly stopped working.

[JT2]

This is quite maddening. I've tried every fix on line and still nothing. Replaced cables. Plugging other units into the monitor to make sure it's working properly. The only thing that is different is Mojave. I think it killed my Thunderbolt I've got a 2012 Pro that I use for music and online stuff. Always been a great workhorse. I've always used the Thunderbolt port to a LG TV as my monitor. Now, ........... Zero, Zilch, Nada.

Running the hardware diagnostic show no issues. Here are 2 screen shots that show some items that may be the problem but I'm not savvy enough to fix it. Does anyone here see a fixable issue? Thank you big time.

 

[Honza1]

You do not say why and how Mojave killed the port. Mojave has been around for ~year so if this was common problem, Google would uncover lots of reports about this by now.

Can it be hardware failure? Every device will eventually fail and while Apple devices are long lasting, they do not last forever. Hardware can fail any time and after 6+ years of use chances grow...

If you just installed Mojave and then port stopped working, testing with prior version of macOS will show if it is hardware or software. Do you have backup? Ideally bootable backup from before upgrade? If yes, boot on it and see if it works there.

 

[chabig]

I've always used the Thunderbolt port to a LG TV as my monitor.

I have never seen a TV with a Thunderbolt port. What kind of TV do you have?

 

[JT2]

I have never seen a TV with a Thunderbolt port. What kind of TV do you have?

I've used a TB to HDMI cable for years.

 

[JT2]

Does the Hardware test not look at the TB port. The test says no problems.
If my TB port is shot I understand I can use USB to HDMI. My Pro is a mid 2012 so the USB ports are 2.0. Do you know of any way I can accomplish this? Thank you.

 

[JT2]

If a Thunderbolt port dies is there a way to go from a mid 2012 Pro, on Mojave, to a HDMI TV via USB 2? I'm stumped.
Thank you.

 

[chabig]

I've used a TB to HDMI cable for years.

Right. So the adapter or cable are far more likely to be the cause of your problem than the port. You said you tried different cables. Try a new adapter. Try a different port.

 

[JT2]

Right. So the adapter or cable are far more likely to be the cause of your problem than the port. You said you tried different cables. Try a new adapter. Try a different port.

Nope. I replaced them and get no signal from the Mac. Plugged in another device and it comes up on the TV so it's the TB on the Mac. Probably cost a lot to fix it.

 

[kohlson]

Perhaps a test pf the TB's other functionality can help diagnose. Do you have access to a TB to Ethernet adapter? Shut off wireless and see if you still have connectivity. Before I sunk money into a logic board or replaced a computer, I would want to be certain there was an issue.

 

[Fishrrman]

Suggestion:
(and yes, I know it's work)

Try an EXTERNAL bootable USB3 drive with a copy of Low Sierra or High Sierra on it.

Boot from that, get to the finder, and see if the tbolt port again becomes "live".

 

[JT2]

If a hardware test shows nothing wrong but the software shows issues, as in the OP, seems the software killed the TB. Can I use the USB to stream to the TV HDMI port. How?