Disabling MBP display with external monitor connected in Clamshell Mode - Works with DP->DVI, but not DP->DP I have an issue discussed previously on Ask Different but have not found a solution in my use case.

I have macOS High Sierra installed on a MBP 6,2 (i.e. a vintage 15" i5, mid-2010, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256MB VRAM).

With a new external monitor (Viewsonic VP3268-4K) set at 2560x1440 and connected with mini-DisplayPort to my MBP, the external monitor loses it's video signal when I try to deactivate the internal LCD display by clamshell-ing it (I use a refrigerator magnet to make the MBP believe the lid is closed).

However, this works fine when another external display (1920x1200) is connected via mini-DP --> DVI cable.   

-- What Works --

Deactivating the unused MBP internal display worked fine with my older external monitor (1920x1200) connected to the MBP via mini-DP --> DVI adapter cable.  When clamshell-ed the internal LCD display goes dark and also disappears from the System Preferences --> Displays --> Arrangements tab page.  My mouse cursor remains only within the external display.  Everything works as expected.

The new (2560x1440) external display connected via mini-DP works with no issues as long as the MBP internal display is also active.  I can turn down the internal display's backlighting to remove the visual distraction, but this still leaves it's video framebuffer active: it is listed in System Preferences... and the mouse pointer is not restricted to the external monitor video space and can go off into the internal display area.

-- Fixes Tried so Far --

Lots of reading online, here (lots of good info) and other sites led me to try editing boot NVRAM parameters to force the internal display to be inactive, terminal commands suggested in other postings were tried (see below), different DP adapters, changing the new external monitor's settings: force DP v1.1. but nothing tried had the desired effect: to clamshell the internal display while using the external monitor (2560x1440) via DP. Unfortunately I cannot use DVI with the new external monitor because single channel DVI only supports (1920x1200) and I do not have a dual channel DVI cable or Apple cable adapter.

The terminal commands I've tried (after disabling SIP) are:

sudo nvram boot-args="niog=1"

sudo nvram -d boot-args

sudo nvram boot-args="iog=0x0"

sudo nvram boot-args=niog=1


I've also tried resetting the external monitor settings by removing the Folder ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/     

Can anyone offer any other suggestions?
As a start I think we need to establish if you can get your display to work correctly while your MacBook Pro is in closed-clamshell mode. To do this, follow these steps:


Connect a USB keyboard and mouse to your MBP (or pair a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse with your MBP)
Connect your MBP to an AC power source
Connect your Viewsonic display to your MBP 
After your MBP desktop appears on your Viewsonic display, close your MBP's lid 
If your display goes to sleep, press a key or click your mouse to wake it up


NOTE: If your Viewsonic display doesn't wake up, then disconnect the display and shut down your MBP. Now connect your display while your MBP is off and then switch the MBP on. After logging in close the lid. Remember to keep the external keyboard and mouse connected