Help with external display/broken macbook screen

I have an old MacBook that has a screen which broke a while ago, since then I have been using it hooked up to an external display through the mini-dv port.
However yesterday the system froze and I had to do a hard reboot. When it came back on, the external display was no longer set up properly. Being that the screen is broken as well, I can't figured out how to fix this.
How do I force my macbook to use the external display at startup?
Thanks.

I have the same problem too, but when I try, nothing shows up on my external. I cant see my screen at all, and the laptop just keeps humming as if its still starting up. I just had the hard drive replaced a couple weeks before my screen "magically" shattered.. any advice?

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Help with external displays

Just installed Lion and afterward I noticed that things work differently with external displays. In the past I could have my laptop open to mirror but now it must be shut and the mirrior button or selection isn't available within the display preferences. So my question is, 1. does any one know how to better manage displays? and 2. does anyone know how to mirror while having the laptop screen open?
I know trhis sounds petty but where I work it is very hot and it seems like with the screen shut the computer syncs heat away a lot less efficiently.
Thanks

Thanks,
I now know how to turn on and off mirrioring with command/F1 (didn't know that yet), but would you know how I can use my external display in mirror mode with the laptop display completely turned off, not dimmed till black, but off?
Before lion I was able to do this by shutting the laptop screen which would put the machine into sleep mode and then by clicking the mouse or hitting a key on the keyboard it would wake it. Once the external display came on then I would open the laptop and the laptop display would remain off while using the external display. Hope that makes sense. Any suggestions?

Urgent help with external displays

I really need help please... I'm using two DisplayLink USB adapters to connect to external desktop on my imac6,1. The problem is that every so often it seems like the display adapters disconnect and reconnect and it ends up messing things up. This imac is at our church and each display adapter displays something different (one for the band leader and one for the congregation). When the displays do the reconnecting thing, the screens go blank for a second and my external displays get swapped (the congregation see what the band leader should see and the band leader sees what the congregation should see). I would really appreciate any feedback because I've spent hours researching this subject without success. I'm running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 and have the latest drivers for the DisplayLink adapters. the iMac is a 2006 model and does not have a automatic graphics switching option in the power saver menu. Thank you so much!

Sorry I don't know a thing about DisplayLink USB adapters however I'd recommend contacting the developer's support, my thoughts would be they would know what the issue is. However before doing so so a iMac SMC and PRAM reset first and then retest.

External Display Causing MacBook Screen Edge Darkening?

I recently purchased a Dell 2209WA monitor (rotated to portrait) and since using it I've noticed that my MacBook screen has a shadow down the right hand side.
Now I'm assuming that some part of this new monitor isn't suitably shielded and is affecting my MacBook screen.
I need to know whether this is causing any permanent damage or if it might be an issue with cables rather than the monitor itself?

I'm a total idiot. It was late, but I'm an idiot all the same.
Turns out the drop shadow from maximised applications crosses monitors...

Dual Display - help with Cinema Display for MacBook Pro where MB won't detect displays.

I just got a Cinema Display (a1081 20") ("CD") off eBay to use as a dual screen with my Macbook Pro OS X 10.6.8 ("MB"). However, I can't get MB to recognize CD! I've tried power cycling both the MB and the CD with and without USB cord connected. MB won't recognize CD display in any situation. However, it is recognized in some capacity although I can't use dual display because the CD power button triggers MB to ask me if I want to restart, shutdown, or cancel.
Any help is appreciated!!

Have you tried smc and pram resets?
Try Detect Displays in the Displays preference pane.
Does the Displays preference pane Arrangement show two screens? If so do click gather windows and check the resolution setting of the new screen.

Need Help with external display...

First, let me explain what is happening. I'm using an external 19" Gateway LCD display with my Powerbook G4 1.25Ghz. Via DVI-D input. Everthing from connection to correct resolution is working fine. But the moment I change the refresh rate from 75Hz to 60Hz, the monitor starts to jitter or seems to have a nervous condition. The problem corrects itself only after a restart but I can change from 60Hz to 75Hz with no problem.
Now, from my understanding refresh rate has no bearing on LCD monitors, is this correct? and why would the monitors manual say that the native refresh rate is 60Hz. So, I'm concerned if running the monitor at 75Hz will degrade or hurt it. And once again why does the monitor image shake when going from 75Hz to 60Hz but not vice versa.
Any and all response with your experience is greatly appreciated.
David

You shouldn't need to adjust the refresh rate on an LCD display. Just leave it at it's default.

Help with external display please

Hi,
I'm using a min-dvi to VGA adaptor to connect a macbook core 2 duo
to a dell 2001FP display. This is unsatisfactory as the characters on
the dell look fuzzy. (The monitor itself is fine- when I hook it up to
a dell inspiron under windows the display is crisp and sharp.
How can I solve my problem? The Dell has a DVI input and came
with a DVI cable (two large male DVI connectors on each end). If
I buy an Apple DVI to mini DVI connector, will this clear up the
fuzziness?
Thanks,
Jonathan

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
It may improve matters, and then again may not. Some people from the Windows world are not used to Mac OS X's method of getting rid of aliasing in text. I've noted that colorblind people are even more sensitive because of the use of colors that may not be visible to colorblind people. Different fonts have sharper appearance that the system's built-in font. You can adjust the calibration of the colors in Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Displays -> Colors -> Calibrate to approximate a tonality of color you feel most comfortable with. One thing that definitely is improved is that DVI is a Digital display technology, where VGA is analog. Some people have a harder time seeing type with low resolution, whereas others in higher resolution. What this really means is you need to examine what color combination and display resolution you are most comfortable with. Each person is different.

Does 512mb of vram help with external displays?

I'll be buying a MBP soon and was wondering if the additional vram in the 2.5 15" version will be of benefit to me compared to the 256mb of vram in the 2.4 MBP...anyone know?...I'll be attaching to a 23" monitor, maybe Apple, maybe NEC...maybe 24"...oh, and I won't be using it for games...only work...
I am thinking the additional L2 cache in the 2.5 version might make a difference in how agile my computer is working on photoshop files...that's my most used program and probably most power hungry...i don't work on film/video, music, etc...just design and photography...Photoshop/Illustrator/Indesign/Lightroom...
the only other thing i do that seems to bog down my current computer is making backup dvd's of films I buy...that just takes forever...sometimes over 2 hours...
thanks...

thanks tthiel1...I'm thinking to buy the base model...2.4...save myself about five hundred bucks...the 2.5 is tempting but I don't think it'll make a real world difference for the type of work i do...i watched a salesman playing with a 2.4 hooked up to a 23" monitor yesterday...very impressive...amazing that a portable can be so powerful...and man, the color on the 23" was very nice...
kind regards...

24-inch Mid 2007 as external display for Macbook Pro Retina?

I'm a video editor looking for a new laptop. Tough decisions, but these facts may help my decision...
Can I use my 24-inch Mid 2007 as external display for Macbook Pro Retina?
And if so, would the Macbook be able to access the external hard drives that are connected to the iMac? Or do the external hard drives have to be connected to the Macbook Retina?
Retina's picture quality is just incredible but compared to Macbook Pro non-retina you sacrifice: disc drive, port options, customization, anti-glare screen. And its more expensive. Arghh

I would use the retina as the primary screen for the canvas and viewer, while putting the browser and timeline on the iMac.
Apple won't help here. Unfortunately, they leave they're old products in the dust and wouldn't waste time writing an article about connecting a macbook retina to an '07 iMac.
Thank you for replying though Ralph. The answer has to be out there somewhere.
N

No Wireless Internet with External Display, Other Issues

Hello,
When I connect an external monitor to my MBA, I lose my connection to the Internet. The wi-fi signal remains strong, but pages will not load (I tried many) and I cannot retrieve email. The connection times out when I try to ping as well. This occurs whether I have the MBA open or closed. The loss of Internet happens immediately when I connect an external display using the supplied dongle, and returns the moment I disconnect it. It is clearly an issue with external displays.
On the advice of an Apple Genius, I also tried disabling bluetooth. I did so, and turned off all my bluetooth devices (Apple keyboard and mouse, iPhone), but the problems persist.
The other trouble I am having is difficulty connecting to a network for the first time in a session. In other words, I was connected all day yesterday, take the MBA home, and return to the office the next day. MBA takes a long time to see the network, then fails to accept the password. If I carry the MBA closer to the wireless router, it finds and connects automatically as I'd saved my password. When I return to my desk, I remain connected with full signal strength. This has happened in two locations, one with an Airport Extreme, the other with a Netopia 802.11g router. When my Macbook Pro is sitting right next to the MBA, it recognizes and connects to the same networks almost instantaneously.
Anyone have any suggestions? Much appreciated.

Just a quick update... I was on the phone with Apple Support on Saturday morning and I thought we were making progress. The basic idea behind the proposed solution was that there was some "Preferences" that were causing the problem. We started over with a clean Preferences folder and tried connecting up the external monitor. At first, this approach was showing progress. The suggestion was to copy over my original Preferences (I had made a backup copy) just a few at a time until we figured out which ones caused the problem. The problem with this approach is that immediately after I got off the phone, the internet started not to work again. So, even with a clean Preferences folder, the internet would quit working after connecting up the external monitor.
So, I'm back to the drawing board. I have since restored my Preferences folder and I don't have my external monitor and internet working at the same time. BTW, I also upgraded to 10.5.3 and it didn't help.
Still bummed,
Kevin

Which is better(generally): MacBook Pro with Retina Display or MacBook Air?

Which is better(generally): MacBook Pro with Retina Display or MacBook Air?

Better for what? These are two very different computers. Tell us which things you are looking for and we may be able to help you. Examples - weight, standard RAM and flash memory available, video resolution, etc.
See the technical specifications articles for each -
MacBook Air.
MacBook Pro retina display.
Best of luck.

TV for external display of Macbook air

Is it possible to use LCD TV as external display to macbook air?
I am planning to utilize the macbook air as both portable and station PC. When I am at home, I want to be able to connect it to the LCD TV via HDMI, and then still working with wireless keyboard and mouse.
Is it do-able?
Thanks

Yes, All you need is an MiniDisplay port to HDMI adapter and a HDMI cable.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/H1824ZM/A/Moshi_Mini_DisplayPort_to_HDMI_Adapt er?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng
If you have the 2011 MBair then you plug this into the Thunderbolt port.
Regards,
Captfred

I have the iPad with retina display and the screen is cracked, however it is not yet a year old, how much does it cost to replace it

I have the iPad with retina display and the screen is cracked, however it is not yet a year old, how much does it cost to replace it?

I don't know what country that you are in, but in the US the price for repair (i.e. replacement) is (from here) $299 for the iPad 3, and here in the UK (from here) £256.44

MBP Retina low performance with external displays

Hi everyone!
I have a very bad performance with my MBP 15´´ retina display when it comes to ad an external display. I have a FUL HD LG monitor that looks very bad when i connect the HDMI or the thunderbot port with the proper adapter (as bad as you can´t even read). I want to know if this may ba a hardware problem just with my computer or if it is a software problem, any ideas? does anyone have the same issue?
How can i update my NVIDIA card???
Thanks a lot!

Topic seems to come up here often. Apple has a tendency to dismiss the issue.
Its a pretty well known problem that Mac font smoothing doesn't seem to work well on high resolution third party external displays, making text hard to read. In addition, I think the Mac HDMI resolution support is limited to 1080p, so you must use DP or DVI video interfaces to see full monitor resolution.
The OS default is no font smoothing on external displays (except perhaps the apple display). There is a terminal command that will enable font smoothing for any external monitor, but it often doesn't work well enough. I found that using the OS zoom feature magnifies text to the point to be easily readable. You can set zoom parameters in the accessibility systems preference panel.
For some reason, sometimes the Mac OS thinks some monitors are TVs and use YCbCr instead of RGB. You can open the color sync utility and brouse the settings to see what is being used. There are scripts available that can fix that but are more complicated to install than an app.
It seems that PCs are way ahead of Macs with external display implementation. Most folks having monitor problems with a Mac do not see the same issue with PCs or Unix/Linux OSs.
Oh as far as updating the video card, can't. The monitor "drivers" are built into the OS. When a new display is connected, the OS finds the profile for it.

Hdmi display setting on tv with a broken macbook screen.

Okay guys, so the screen broke on my macbook pro the other day, it went completely black. I am a broke college student and have to save up to pay for it to be fixed, so in the meantime, I bought an hdmi adapter to connect my computer to my tv so I can still do my homework and use my computer. The problem is like many others, I can only see my background on the tv and nothing else. I've perused different discussions and understand that I need to select the appropriate display settings to make everything appear on the tv, but I can't do that because I can't see anything on my computer screen. What do I do??? I have two online classes that have special downloaded programs that I won't be allowed to download on a public computer in order to do my class work. Eerk... Very frustrated. I have a Mac OS X but not sure which specific operating system I am running, I bought the computer new in 2008.

Hi there Rcwaldrup,
If you have an external mouse and keyboard, you may have better results by trying closed clamshell mode. Take a look at the article below for more information.
Mac notebooks: How to use your computer in closed clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3131
-Griff W

Help with external display/broken macbook screen

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