Macbook doesn't detect external display

[LastLine]

Hey all
Had a 19" LCD display running nicely through DVI on my Macbook for some time, I unplugged it tonight from the DVI adapter and plugged it back in and now it won't pick it up again, any ideas how to sort this?


Help :(

[2nyRiggz]

Try restarting the computer with the external hooked up...that might wake it up:)



Bless

[mkrishnan]

Also try power cycling on the monitor side.... And try plugging the mini-DVI to DVI adaptor into the DVI cable first, and then plugging the whole thing into the Macbook, rather than the other way around, if you are not already doing that.

[LastLine]

Nothing on all the above :(

[2nyRiggz]

Is there any indication of life in your DVI port or the monitor?

Check system profiler whiles the monitor is hooked up to see if its being detected or if the port is being detected.




Bless

[LastLine]

Is there any indication of life in your DVI port or the monitor?

Check system profiler whiles the monitor is hooked up to see if its being detected or if the port is being detected.

Bless

well the monitor's alive as I can use the VGA port for my 360 happily.

Intel GMA 950:

Chipset Model: GMA 950
Type: Display
Bus: Built-In
VRAM (Total): 64 MB of shared system memory
Vendor: Intel (0x8086)
Device ID: 0x27a2
Revision ID: 0x0003
Displays:
Color LCD:
Display Type: LCD
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Depth: 32-bit Color
Built-In: Yes
Core Image: Supported
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Display:
Status: No display connected

[mkrishnan]

Does the DVI cable connect to both sides by ports -- i.e. can it be removed from the monitor? If so, pull all the cables apart and carefully put them back together. It's possible the monitor side was lose or something like that causing you problems. The other major possibility is that you somehow managed to fry your DVI port... which seems really unlikely unless there was a static discharge.

[LastLine]

I've tried dismantling the cables and plugging back in (even putting in the cable the other way around as it's identical at both ends) however still no dice. Damned weird this, just can't figure the reasoning for it. How can I check the mini-DVI port more throroughly?

[mkrishnan]

I've tried dismantling the cables and plugging back in (even putting in the cable the other way around as it's identical at both ends) however still no dice. Damned weird this, just can't figure the reasoning for it. How can I check the mini-DVI port more throroughly?

You could maybe try the Apple Hardware Test utility on the install disc. Otherwise, try plugging some other device into it, if it's possible. Or else try the monitor with another DVI device (since you only know that the monitor is working via VGA).

[LastLine]

Sounds reasonable. if it's the monitor's DVI that's dead I can live with that, it's only a cheapy, I have a miniDVI to VGA convertor at home I can try with the monitor so that'll be picked up when I'm home next. Trouble is both that and my install disk are the other end of the country for a month or two. Is the hardware test available elsewhere at all?

[mkrishnan]

Sounds reasonable. if it's the monitor's DVI that's dead I can live with that, it's only a cheapy, I have a miniDVI to VGA convertor at home I can try with the monitor so that'll be picked up when I'm home next. Trouble is both that and my install disk are the other end of the country for a month or two. Is the hardware test available elsewhere at all?

Mmm, I don't know of any free option. There's a commercial program called TechTools that might shed some light. Perhaps for starters, if you don't have any friends with comparable macs from whom you could borrow a test disc, do you have friends with DVI displays, into which you could try to plug your MacBook?

[LastLine]

No Maccy friends at all unfortunately. Guess I'll give the folks a ring and ask them to send out my stuff in the post :)

[mkrishnan]

No Maccy friends at all unfortunately. Guess I'll give the folks a ring and ask them to send out my stuff in the post :)

Awww, okay. Although your friend doesn't need to have a Mac -- just a DVI monitor. A DVI monitor hooked up to Windows or even a DVI television are fine.

[LastLine]

Awww, okay. Although your friend doesn't need to have a Mac -- just a DVI monitor. A DVI monitor hooked up to Windows or even a DVI television are fine.

Ain't got them either - here's a thought, does Boot Camp pick up the Apple DVI adapters or not? Just a way to test if it's software or hardware, but no point testing it if Boot camp deosn't support them

[mkrishnan]

Ain't got them either - here's a thought, does Boot Camp pick up the Apple DVI adapters or not? Just a way to test if it's software or hardware, but no point testing it if Boot camp deosn't support them

Yes, it should work just like the video output on a PC while you're in bootcamp. So you would plug in and configure the external monitor as usual.

[LastLine]

Yes, it should work just like the video output on a PC while you're in bootcamp. So you would plug in and configure the external monitor as usual.

Well i don't know how or why, but I booted up again from sleep today and it's working. Weird! Wish I knew why it stopped to start with mind.

[mkrishnan]

Well i don't know how or why, but I booted up again from sleep today and it's working. Weird! Wish I knew why it stopped to start with mind.

Sometimes you gotta just run with it! :) I've had basically no serious problems with any of my Apple gear, but when I first got my iBook, one of the USB ports didn't work for some mysterious reason for a week or two. One day, it worked. It's never been an issue since. Who knows? :o

[donvirgo]

I was in Malaysia when I encountered this problem with my brand new MacBook Pro 13", but didn't have the luxury of going to my local Apple Outlet to fix it, so I stayed up late to call the US and figure out how to fix it. My laptop worked when I initially plugged it into the LCD in my hotel room, but then I forgot it on battery and it went to sleep, to never work again until now. Your MacBook will get confused when this happens and it saves this in cache, so you've got to clear it like this.

1. Turn off your laptop, hold Shift + Control + Option and then Power (Note: it doesn't look like anything is happening but it is, ie.) you won't see anything and Mac will not start)
2. Laptop should still be off, then hit Command + Option + R + Power. Still holding these down when you see the Apple logo appear, press down P. You should hear the Apple chime twice and then you can let go.
3. Shut down your laptop, make sure it's pugged into A/C and your external monitor is connected. Press Power + Shift at the same time, which should start you off in Safe Mode and you should see your external display come on also.
4. Now you can restart your machine normally and it should all work for you.

Note: Remember to have your laptop plugged into AC anytime you connect to an external display and turn your power settings to Never under AC as well. When you disconnect, remove the External plug and wait 10 sec, before shutting down or closing your laptop.