Won't boot with external display connected

My MacBook Pro (circa 1997) won't boot with the external display connected. I can connect the external display (20in flat planel) after it has started, and it works just fine.
I have tried two different DVI cables (one of which I think is a DVI-A cable) and the DVI-to-VGA cable. The result is the same.
During the boot phase I get the tone, the apple logo and the progress wheel. After 30 seconds to one minute those disappear to be replaced by an empty blue screen.

In case anyone wonders, my "solution" was to change to a WB Elements Desktop 3TB (only USB 2.0 is currently available for this model). I miss the speed of USB 3.0, but it's much nicer to not have to remember to unplug and plug in the hard drive each time I boot.
Still hoping to see a proper solution to this (since I don't have the WB My Book anymore, I can't test adaher's suggestion).

Similar Messages

IMac won't start with Thunderbolt Display connected after firmware update

After updating my thunderbolt display firmware to version 1.2 this morning via the App Store, my mid-2014 iMac won't start up with the external display connected. I can get the iMac to start up only by disconnecting the display's thunderbolt connector. After the iMac comes up, I can reconnect the display and everything appears to function normally. I've tried several restarts and the iMac won't start up with the display connected. Anyone else experience this?

Hello rameta,
It may help to reset your Mac's SMC and PRAM.
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Reset your computer’s PRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
Cheers,
Allen

Macbook Pro won't boot with external HDD plugged

I have a weird problem. My late 2008 Macbook Pro won't start with external HDD plugged either FW or USB... The screen stays white until I unplug it and then the Apple logo is there.
Anyone know any solution for this? Or anyone have the same problem

yeah I had the exact same issue with one of my 750GB externals too. I just left it for a while (about an hour or so) and it was fine..
I believe its so slow because the system is indexing the drive, which can be a very slow process if the drive is big, has a complex folder-hierarchy, and/or is fragmented.
Does the hard-drive appear quite quickly in Finder once OS X has started up? if its slow it may confirm what I've just said.

Mac Mini Won't Boot with VGA Monitor Connected

I have a new Mac Mini connected to an older VGA monitor using the Apple brand VGA adapter. The mini is fully up to date and runs perfectly when booted. However, if I reboot the mini with the VGA monitor connected, it fails to boot. I just hear the faint chime sound every other second. There is no output to the monitor and the only way I can get it to boot is to disconnect the monitor and then power cycle the mini. I can reconnect the monitor just seconds after powering back on and it finishes booting properly.
Anyone else experience this? It is very frustrating. I've also tested with an HDMI connected monitor (without the VGA adapter) and it boots just fine and the display works properly.
Thanks!

Okay, I'm back with good news: I have found two remedies for the problem which will hopefully solve it for you as well.
Given that the issue only occurs when certain monitors are connected, I concluded that the root of it must be a bug in the Mac's firmware related to DDC (Display Data Channel) handling, and that the most promising way to address it should be to just disable the DDC.
Workaround #1: If your monitor has BNC connectors, use a VGA to BNC cable.
In this configuration the DDC pins are not connected to the monitor at all. This did indeed fix the problem - my Mac mini booted without a problem with the monitor connected. However, I was not completely satisfied with this solution, because VGA to BNC cables are usually quite heavy and inflexible, and do no go together well with Apple's MDP to VGA adapter and the Mini Displayport/Thunderbolt port which has no locking mechanism.
Workaround #2: Remove pin 12 of the VGA plug.
Pin 12 of the VGA plug connects the serial data line of the DDC. Pulling out this pin with a pair of needle nose pliers will effectively disable DDC. I hesitated to do this to my cable (a direct MDP to VGA cable which eliminates the need for a separate adapter dangling from the Mac) and therefore bought a tiny VGA male to female adapter (also called port saver, e.g. Delock 65250) to perform the surgery on that. This has done the trick and my Mac mini has started up fine ever since.
Of course, without DDC the Mac won't know the model name and capabilities of the attached monitor and thus offer some resolution and frequency settings which the monitor may not support, but that's a small drawback compared to having to pull out the monitor cable everytime you turn on or restart your Mac.

Yosemite Won't Shutdown With External Monitor Connected

Hi there...
I have a MBP 2010 and I've updated Yosemite from Mavericks. Now I'm running the latest 10.10.2.
Ever since I updated to Yosemite, I have had this problem of my computer won't shutdown when an External monitor is connected. This happens only when I put my computer to sleep.However, if I restart the computer and after logged in to the user and tried to shutdown, it shutdown without any problem. Every time I shutdown it just hangs and I had to force shutdown by press and hold the power button. Which I'm sure is not a proper way.
Right now only my external monitor connected to my MBP. So I did unplugged the ext. monitor and tried shutdown and it works fine. But it think this is the temporary solution that I've found but it is annoying to unplug everytime I wanted to shutdown and plug it back in once the computer is up and running. Which is not idle solution at all.
Am I the only one or a lot of people facing this issue? If there is a solution please share. Very much appreciated. Thanks.

Updated to 10.10.3 and the problem still persist. Still unable to shutdown or restart after wake up from sleep.
Any one affected? Is it something to do with Gfx card?

IMac won't boot with external drives attached

I am using iMac 27" Late 2013 model upgraded to mavericks 10.9.4. Two external drives are always attached with it, one is segate 3.5" 2TB USB 3.0 drive and another one is 2.5" usb 2.0 drive.
when i start my imac with external drives attached it won't boot up. Stuck at plain white screen after a startup chime, not even any apple logo or any progress circle appears. And i have to detach all of my drives to make it boot.
This problem arises after upgrading to mavericks. Already tried resetting PRAM, SMC and checked Startup disk and verify disk with disk utility.

Raja,
Do a SMC reset perhaps even a couple of times and see if that helps. Also in System Preferences + Startup Disk make sure the internal HD is selected.
SMC RESET
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord and all peripherals.
Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
Release the power button.
Attach the computers power cable.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
PRAM RESET
Shut down the computer.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
Roger

MSI P43 won't boot with usb devices connected

My system:
MSI P43 Neo
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
NorthQ Black Magic 850 watt PSU
Corsair 4 x 2GB ram PC2-8500 1066MHz
Seagate 320 GB hd
Hitachi 1 TB hd
Samsung 1.5 TB hd
Club3D Nvidia GTX275 1,75 GB
Samsung DVD Write Master
When i try to boot i freezes at the detecting usb devices when i have a usb device connected. It does with any usb device. But when i boot up without any usb devices connected then i boot fine and i can connect the devices right after the detection of usb devices. How can that be?

Googled on "computer not booting with usb code 6b38" and found this:
Quote
****SLOW BOOT-UP in POST SCREEN****
P.S. If you see the BIOS code 6B38 in the bottom right corner of the screen, this is a indication that USB Legancy support is enabled in the BIOS. If this is enabled and you have any usb devices attached such as a external USB Hard drive, your system will take ages to go through the POST boot screens.
So disable this setting in the BIOS and the system will then boot in a matter of Seconds
From:
http://www.rebelshavenforum.com/sis-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=30;t=000250
Also try and see if a clear CMOS will help, some people suggested that from a old post from MSI forum here, saying its bios 1.3 thats bugged.
So if disabling doesnt work, perhaps down/upgrading BIOS might.

MacBook Air 11-inch, Mid 2013 won't boot with external USB keyboard

Hello,
Just bought a MacBook Air 11-inch, Mid 2013 (8GB, i7, 512GB SSD) today.
All available software updates are installed (OS X 10.8.4 (12E3067)).
Also have a Macbook Pro Retina.
If I connect a external USB keyboard (Kinesis Advantage Pro USB) to the Air then it don't boots.
If the keyboard is connected directly to the Air USB port then it don't shows the Apple logo on grey background after power on, just give a endless loop of the turning on sound.
If the keyboard is connected to the Thunderbolt display then same empthy grey screen after power on and no sound at all.
The same keyboard and Thunderbolt display work well with my Macbook Pro Retina and a Macbook Air 2011.
Any ideas ?
Thanks,
Karsten

I like it very much. I use it on my iPad (and occasionally my iPhone). I'm kind of a keyboard snob actually. I tried the Apple wireless keyboard first. Apple keyboards have a short throw that hurts the tips of my fingers. They're very pretty but the on button turns on when I don't want it to and my iPad wakes up in my bag. Strike 1.
I went to a little keyboard called the Joy and it had a positive switch so I didn't have the wakeup problem. It worked well though after several months I wore it out and had to replace it with another one. I also didn't like how flat it sat and used rubber bumpers on the back. It too had a short throw that hurt my finger tips after a while but it was better than the Apple.
Then I discovered the Logitech bluetooth keyboard, the K811. This is a great keyboard. It switches between multiple targets with one press, it has a positive on/off switch, the keys light up, it's rechargeable and lasts a long time, and the slight cushioning on the keys keeps my fingers from hurting. I put the rubber bumpers on it though like the Joy because I like the keyboard to sit up a little. It's a tiny bit bigger than the other keyboards but I like it a lot, better than my MBA keyboard and better than my iMac wired keyboard. I'm trying out an after market keyboard on the iMac now but I'm thinking about switching to one of these for the iMac.

Macbook Pro won't work with external display?

The very first time I connected my brand new Macbook Pro to my 23" Cinema Display the laptop screen displayed mostly static, though the external monitor continued to work. The computer was sent to Apple for repair. Apple replaced the logic board. Though the nature of the problem changed following the "repair" (the Macbook's screen now goes dark instead of displaying noise) the laptop still will not drive the external monitor successfully without multiple re-starts. I've experimented with turning the sleep mode on and off as well as the screen saver. No effect. Is anyone using this set up successfully or is there some fatal design flaw in the Macbook Pro? System 1.4.8, 2 gigs RAM. Thanks.
Macbook Pro Intel Duo Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Thanks for the input. Yes, I've driven the 23" with another Mac. I took the laptop back to the shop today. Hopefully they can resolve the issue.
Macbook Pro Intel Duo Mac OS X (10.4.8)

BootCamp won't boot with USB-drive connected

Hi everyone,
since I installed my BootCamp partition I encounter a strange problem. I have an LG external DVD-drive connected via USB to my iMac. Everytime I try to boot Windows while the LG is connected the boot process just stops and gives me a white display. If I unplug the drive from the USB-Port everything works fine, and once windows is booted I can even reconnect the USB-drive and it works fine. But as you might understand always unplugging and plugging really gets to my nerves. I know of a couple friends who encounter the exact same problem, they also complain about this...
Also strange is the fact, that if I boot OSX the LG is connected and everything works fine...
Searched the forum and web, and wasn't able to find something usefull...
I hope there is somebody here who can help me...
Thanks in advance...
Legolas

I think your best bet is DiskWarrior from Alsoft, you'll need the CD to boot from if you don't have another boot drive...
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
Your best bet is DiskWarrior, you need the CD/DVD though.
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
But others that may work…
Drive Genius…
http://www.prosofteng.com/products/drive_genius.php
TechTool Pro…
http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=83
BTW, you might enjoy these DiskWarrior review/recommendations...
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9645801&#9645801
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10541019#10541019
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11918925&#11918925

IMac Won't Boot With USB Keyboard Connected

We have a suite of 10 iMacs (10,1 - 21.5 inch), but one of them will not boot and has issues coming out of sleep while a USB keyboard is plugged in.
Have tried swapping the keyboard with another iMac - the other iMac still boots but the problem iMac continues to play up.
Tried plugging the mouse into the iMac's USB instead of the keyboard's.
Tried SMC reset, PRAM reset.
Re - imaged the machine from a time machine backup of one of the other iMacs, which made the issue go away for about a month... but then it returned.
Using a magic keyboard is fine as a workaround, but the users need the number pad, and if possible I'd rather fix the issue than buy a clunky separate keypad.
Does anyone have any ideas? Any help would be very appreciated!

Hello strathglass
The same thing can also happen with other connected devices such as external HD's and iPods, the Startup Manager is lost and searching for a boot volume.
1. You may be able to fix it by going to: *System Preference / Startup Disk* and select the *Mac OS X 10.5.5 on Macintosh HD* then *Click the lock to prevent further changes.*
2. Leave those devices that cause boot issues disconnected until the iMac is up and running!
3. Only sleep the iMac, and be sure to disconnect those devices be for shutting down or updates that require a restart!
As a habit, I have always ejected and disconnected all mounted USB devices (flash driver, iPods, cameras, card reader, etc.) from my hub be for sleeping, restarting or shutting down...
Dennis

IMac will not boot with external monitor connected

Hi everyone,
I have a mid 2010, 27" iMAC. If I connect an external monitor to the Mac (using display port), everything works as it should. If I try to reboot or do a cold boot while the external monitor is connected the system boots to a white screen and no further. Sometimes I get 2 spinning colored wheels, but nothing more. If I let it sit at the white screen long enough the screen saver kicks in and everything goes black, move the mouse or hit a key and the white screens come back.
I've tried a few things (that I've found on-line) but I'm an old PC user (25+ years) so I'm not used to or know all the tricks or what I really should be trying.
I just upgraded to Mountain Lion thinking maybe that would help, but no change.
Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Sorry about my lack of details, I am using the Apple brand of display port to DVI adapter, a DVI cable that is plugged into an ACER 26" monitor (not sure of the model nuimber right now as I am at work). This monitor and DVI cable worked fine during reboots/shutdowns, etc while connect to 2 different Intel based PC's that I have that also run dual monitors. As I mentioned I've done PC work for many moons and would know how to check for drivers, etc, but now in the Apple environment I am lacking these same skills. So I've done all the standard stuff, switching known good cables etc, but I am unsure of how to uninstall drivers and those type of tasks if need be. I know it could be a monitor problem, but that same monitor works fine while connected to the PC's that I have.

Can't get Macbook Pro to sleep with external display connected

I just got a brand new (to me) used uMBP (2.53ghz/9400/9600GT 512mb). I have a Dell Ultrasharp 2005fpw LCD display. The Dell has a cable connected to it with DVI on the monitor side and HDMI on the other end. I'm using a mini displayport to HDMI adapter.
When I close the lid on the laptop, everything seems to sleep OK. But when I wake up in the morning, I see the screen saver running on the Dell, so I know the computer has been on all night. I have also tried putting the laptop into sleep before I close the lid with the same result.

THe USB devices are much more likely to be the culprits than the monitor, tasslehawf.
Try disconnecting the hub and the Logitech mouse dongle and se if the problem persists. If not try each of them individually. If this doesn't fix it try uninstalling the Logitech drivers. (I'd actually be more suspicious of the Logitech mouse than anything else, as it probably "polls" the computer from time to time to see if it is active, quite possibly waking it in the process, but the hub and the attached speaker should be regarded suspiciously for the moment, too).
Cheers
Rod

Windows 7 won't boot with HP c7280 connected

After a new computer build, i installed Windows 7, loaded all drivers and devices with no problems. When the printer is connected via USB the computer hangs on Bios screen. If I unplug the printer then the computer boots right up. Is there a fix for this problem?

I think the solution to both problems is to either disable the option to Boot from a USB device, and turn off an option called USB Emulation, or something named similar to it. The option can be changed in the BIOS of your PC. Please refer to the documentation provided by your PC manufacturer, or call your manufacturer to get this done.
Make it easier for other people to find solutions, by marking my answer with \'Accept as Solution\' if it solves your problem.
Click on the BLUE KUDOS button on the left to say "Thanks"
I am an ex-HP Employee.

Mac G4 won't boot with slave drive connected

I have two G4 boxes. 1-Dual 867 Leopard and 1 -Dual 1.25 Tiger.
I have been trying to clone the system drive of the Dual 867. Everytime I add the second drive to the 867 box and try to boot i get the "Flashing ?." I have tried various reformatted drives and the result is the same. I have even tried to accomplish this by using the 1.25 box. Same result.
if i unhook the 2nd drive (ie backup drive) both computers will boot as usual.
What is the problem?

Hi larbok, and a warm welcome to the forums!
I think it's the Jumper settings on the Hard drive.
Older G4s should be set to Master on the end cable & Slave for the Middle of the cable.
MDD usually use the Cable Select jumper settings on both drives.
Jumper settings are generally shown on the HDs themselves.

Won't boot with external display connected

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for