Mac Mini not detecting second VGA display (1xmdp > VGA 1x HDMI >VGA)

I tried several different methods on my mini, to get HDMI to VGA.
I could not find any adapter/converter that worked (without spending nearly $200, which I was trying to avoid )
I now have (and it works perfectly) mDP to VGA (connecting to an older video projector), and HDMI to DVI on my main display.
Do you have DVI available on either of your displays?

HDMI is a digital signal and VGA is analog, so without an active adapter you won't get any valid output. Can you post what adapter you are trying to use?I'd recommend trying a different HDMI to VGA adapter, since all other components seem to work fine.

This adapter http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters...F8&qid=1406954491&sr=8-1&keywords=hdmi+to+vga seems to get good reviews.

I really wonder what monitor you have. Only a bunch of low quality TN monitors from the early years of LCD (>7 years old) came with VGA only connectors.
Are you sure it does not have a DVI connector? Neither of the 2 screens?
If both have them, get 2 DVI cables at once. They are only like 5 bucks (HDMI-DVI or MDP-DVI).

I have seen some video adapters that may work OK on one computer, but do not work on a different computer, with similar response to what you are reporting.
Try a different adapter. (I also had difficulties in getting HDMI to VGA to work on my mini, but went to DVI instead)

You may ask why the HDMI to VGA adapter seemed to work on another mini?
I can't answer that, but I do know that the HDMI to VGA does not function properly on different Macs, and likely has something to do with the active components that may not always match up electrically between the video output and the display in use.

Does your display have a DVI or other input, in addition to the VGA input?
You may have better luck by trying a different input, such as DVI (and that will need a different adapter, too)

It's likely the HDMI port only sends a digital signal. You can't use a simple HDMI to VGA adapter because there's no analogue video via HDMI. It's a similar situation using a DVI to VGA cable with my own Mac Mini via a Mini-DVI to DVI adapter. I had to buy a dedicated Displayport to VGA adapter instead and use the DVI adapter with my DVI monitor.