Macbook Aluminum to VGA Output

I have a Macbook Aluminum and I am trying to output that to my TV. I have bought the miniPort to VGA adapter and hooked it up to my LCD TV with a VGA input. When this happens, I am only able to see my desktop background and nothing else. It will not show me my HD or Safari windows or mouse cursor or anything else. Anyone have any thoughts on why this is happening??

Then it's a mini-->DVI and then DVI--HDMI/DVI-->DVI or
mini-->VGA and then VGA-->VGA
There are also a composite and s-Video, but that's not HD.
You can get the mini cables at apple.com, an apple store and I believe Best Buy. Note that there have been some problems reported in buying mini-->DVI cables that are non Apple.
Also, whatever you get, you will need a separate cable from your headset jack-->L/R RCA plugs for the sound with all options.

Similar Messages

Can a laptop with VGA output use the Apple Thunderbolt 27" display?

I bought a 2011 Macbook Air and I'm thinking about upgrading my office monitor. The new Apple Thunderbolt 27" display comes to mind.
However, I also have a Lenovo X201 with VGA output, which I would also like to connect to the Apple Thunderbolt 27" display sporadically.
Will the VGA to mini-display port adapter work? If not, does there exist a VGA to mini-display port converter that will work and if so which one?

You are thinking of that adapter backwards. It is not VGA to MDP but is "Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter". This means it will take video out of a a MDP connection and convert it to a VGA connection. It will not go the other direction like you need.
Sorry but that Lenovo just doesn't have the ability to connect to the new display. If it had a HDMI video port like some other Lenovo models, you could adapt from that but I don't know of any VGA to Mini-DisplayPort/ThunderBolt adapters.
Even if you were to use such an adapter, the video card in that laptop couldn't drive a 27" display at the native resolution so it would look very bad.
One other option would be to use the Lenovo X200 docking station which has a full sized Display Port. You would have to use a Display Port to Mini Display port adapter then you could attach the TB cable to it. There is also a USB video replicator that has a DVI-I output then then yet another adapter to get to Mini-Display.
However, both of these options would still be limited by the graphics card at 1920x1080 so it still wouldn't look good.

VGA output to External Monitor or Projector

One of the main reasons I bought the iPad is to start using it as my travel devise instead of the bulky MacBook. I make a lot of sales presentations using Keynote but I also have to demonstrate Web application using browsers such as Safari. I was totally crushed to discover that the VGA output only works with certain applications and DOES NOT WORK with Safari. So much for using the iPad as a travel device! You would think given that using a browser is at least 50% of what most people do on these devices, Apple would have found a way to provide VGA output for Safari! They certainly missed the boat on this one big time.
Does anyone know of an App that would allow you to run the browser through a "Video" wrapper so it can be seen on an external monitor or projector? Here is an idea for a creative developer to make a ton of money! It will make my iDud (did I say that?) be worth taking along on a trip. If i am staying home I can watch movies on my desktop, I don't need the VGA for watching movies!

First and foremost, I love my iPad, using it for the many things it does as my personal tablet is great!
While experimenting with it for a mobile work device, or a lightweight travel device, I've had mixed results.
I understood when buying the iPad that it was not a Mac or PC replacement, I'm just surprised at the limitations.
On the VGA out cable, I gotta say I tried to do the same level of research, but unfortunately being a relative newby to the Apple experience, I fell for the Apple makes it quicker simpler easier, they think of everything hype. I too thought that a VGA out cable would do exactly that and did not see anything that described the limitations.
I also think Apple missed the boat here, they could have made this the perfect lightweight travel/mobile companion device to whatever Mac/PC is sitting back at the office. I understand they are trying to protect their Mac business, but this could have been a perfect Trojan horse for them. By getting PC users hooked on Keynote/Pages/Numbers on an iPad, they would have been more inclined to purchase a Mac to replace whatever they currently have.
I know I would have.
I'm using this in business today, I'm accessing all of our web enabled back office tools without issues and using webmail to access outlook, basically 75% of my daily work can be accomplished on my iPad.
The webex app works great, but doesn't support the VGA out (nor did it say anywhere that it would or wouldn't).
The remaining 25% of my works needs fall to these apps:
I want to use Numbers, but can't, since it won't export in .xls format, which is what the rest of my company, is standardized on.
I will be able to use Keynote in a Kiosk mode at tradeshows or in meetings to project via the VGA connector, but won't be able to use it for any serious work since I can't export in .PPT format.
I won't be purchasing Pages, while it does save in a .DOC format, I'm now leery of what it won't do, and without the ability to use Numbers and the limited use of Keynote, this keeps me from using this more in the business world.
While it may sound like I’m whining, I’m not, I’m trying to express a few of the short comings, that could have made a similar impact to my business life as it has within my personal life.
In addition, for folks doing research, I hope this helps clarify some of the items that appear to be more difficult to find.

Degraded VGA output following Snow Leopard 10.6 software updates

IN the last two weeks I have accepted all Snow Leopard updates. Since installing these updates, the VGA output to a Data Projector and a VGA monitor have degraded, lost colour resolution and gained a red filter effect. I have tested this failure on an updated 3 year old iBook, same problem, and on a 1 year old MacBook Pro - same problem and on my 2008 MacBook Pro. The common link is that all 3 machines have taken all updates issued up to Friday 16th April. But on my MacPro, I have not installed any updates in more than 6 weeks and the problem does not occur when the MacPro signal is sent to the same data projector used with the laptops. Further, a friend has tried their family IBook that has not had any recent 10.6 updates and it works without a problem. There appears to be a problem in recent updates that degrades the VGA signal. Has anyone else had a problem with a post update laptop on a Data Projector and get the same problem, but does not get this problem on a pre- update laptop. The updates were only released in the last 4 weeks.? Warren

Thank you to those of you who have provided support for this problem. I have spoken to the Apple Technical people who have read this thread and expressed concern that it was so repeatable. I think that's there way of saying it may be a software problem I think.
I promised to try one more test for them. Yesterday I received my brand new model MacBookPro 15" i7 processor running the 500Gig 7200 HDD(oh so very nice). This has come with the latest 10.6.3 etc. Took all the instal upgrades. Connected it to the same data projector that 3 of the 5 other machines we have tested, and the same problem exists.
Remember 3 of the 5 have been upgraded to 10.6.3. and the two that still work are running 10.6.2 or lower. There is clearly a software issue now, and I am hopeful the technician I spoke to yesterday is monitoring this thread and will pick up this message. I have a case number so I will call them (when I can find where I wrote it down) next week.
From your feedback folks this is consistent with what you have been seeing also. I also notice in another discussion forum on this site, there is a reported "screen" dimming when connected to a VGA screen. I suspect this is the same problem.
Apple - over to you, I think you have a bug in 10.6.3 (patch and full install)
Warren

Satellite L300 1BD - VGA output is not working

Hello.
I have a Toshiba Satellite L300 1BD (Model PSLB8E). I was usinng the VGA output to connect to my LG tv. It worked fine until last week. All of a sudden the TV doesn't get reckognized by the laptop anymore. The TV says that no external device is connected. I have tried different things: starting up with the TV connected and not connected through the VGA cable, pressing the FN+F5 button, removing the battery and pressing the powerbutton, checked for the latest videodriver, removed the existing driver and installed it again...unfortunately without any result. I also tried to hook the TV up with a different VGA cable, but no result. It's not the TV, because i did try to hook the laptop up to a TFT monitor and it didn't work as well. Tested the VGA cable with my friends laptop: it works perfect.
The strange thing is: if i hook the TV up to the laptop, i can hear the laptop is making the 'new hardware detected' sound and the laptopscreen even turns black for a second, then everything appears back on the laptopscreen. If i check the graphic properties with the rightclick on my desktop, i can see that they are no set for 'clone device'. As if the laptop knows, something is connected, but just can't transfer the image to the TV screen.
The graphic adapter is a Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset family.
The OS is Vista Home Basic (32).
It's a shame the VGA output seems to be out of order since i watch tons of video's and movies through my laptop on the TV screen. I don't know if this could be a software or a hardware malfunction. If anyone has an idea or some clue, please let me know. Thanks in advance!
Marcin.

Hi,
I would like to give my 2 cents to this post (and the answers from Toshiba):
>{quote}I have a Toshiba Satellite L300 1BD (Model PSLB8E). I was usinng the VGA output to connect to my LG tv. It worked fine until last week. All of a sudden the TV doesn't get reckognized by the laptop anymore. The TV says that no external device is connected. I have tried different things: starting up with the TV connected and not connected through the VGA cable, pressing the FN+F5 button, removing the battery and pressing the powerbutton, checked for the latest videodriver, removed the existing driver and installed it again...unfortunately without any result. I also tried to hook the TV up with a different VGA cable, but no result. It's not the TV, because i did try to hook the laptop up to a TFT monitor and it didn't work as well. Tested the VGA cable with my friends laptop: it works perfect. {quote}
> {quote}The strange thing is: if i hook the TV up to the laptop, i can hear the laptop is making the 'new hardware detected' sound and the laptopscreen even turns black for a second, then everything appears back on the laptopscreen. If i check the graphic properties with the rightclick on my desktop, i can see that they are no set for 'clone device'. As if the laptop knows, something is connected, but just can't transfer the image to the TV screen. {quote}
>{quote}The graphic adapter is a Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset family.{quote}
>{quote}The OS is Vista Home Basic (32). {quote}
>{quote}It's a shame the VGA output seems to be out of order since i watch tons of video's and movies through my laptop on the TV screen. I don't know if this could be a software or a hardware malfunction. If anyone has an idea or some clue, please let me know. Thanks in advance! {quote}
I have exactly the same L300 19F with the same graphic adapter, only with Windows 7 Ultimate (32) and was watching DVD's through my Toshiba TFT TV-set/VGA Monitor for a couple of years as well as all of a sudden it doesn't work anymore. The same as the gentleman who started this thread I checked everything there is to check: my laptop/another screen, another laptop/my screen, drivers, new cable, even installed the (original and licensed) W7 OS again etc. etc. etc. TO NO AVAIL !!!
Since this is the first time that I can't solve a technical computer problem in more then 25 years I got mad and started to think what the heck I did different over the last few weeks, and now I think I know the culprit.
One day, a few months ago, I saw a warning in my screen to flash my BIOS with a new upgrade from the Toshiba website. Having seen that message for several months I did not give it much attention because everything worked fine, and the reason given for the update was a quote "password protection update" unquote, a function I don't use anyway and that's why I didn't run that fast.
After a while I decided to flash the BIOS, just to get rid of the annoying message and now I am quite sure that it really did kill my VGA output capabilities.
So, instead of the nice "Check your Power Cord" and "Go to the Official Toshiba Dealership" hints, maybe there is some technical solution. Maybe there might even be a nice technical Toshiba person have a look into the BIOS update and what the heck the differences are with the old one.
At the very least you could offer a "downdate" of the current valid BIOS for this type, because everything used to work pretty good and, as a 25 year long time customer of Toshiba laptops, I could be entitled to a little better (quality) answer.......
My friend Marcinondrums and I still have hopes.
Thank you !!
/Hans

My VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA doesn't work.

Since I upgraded to Mavericks, my VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA doesn't work. When I was using Mountain Lion, as soon as you plugged in the Mini adaopter into the mini display port, the screen would shrink and format to where it would project via a RGB cable to a projector. No such luck since Mavericks! Also, I had a lot of trouble with the DVD player when I tried to play a DVD and project it via a projector. It all worked seamlessly with Mountain Lion. Can anyone help me?

I think if you go to System Preferences >> Displays and Option-click on the "Scaled" radio button, it will show you all of the resolutions that you would have had before under Mountain Lion. I just upgraded to Maverick and my resolution preferences (mirrored on a TV using the Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter, using 1280x768) were completely reset (my display was no longer mirrored, and the resolution on my main iMac screen became 2560x1440). I found my answer here: https://discussions.apple.com/message/23599645#23599645. Hope that helps.

Cannot use VGA output on my Satellite A100

I have Satellite A100 laptop and when I use the VGA output my monitor informs their is NO signal. I have checked my monitor and it does work.
What I would like to know since their is no signal output from my VGA does this also mean that the *S-Video* will not have any signal either?
I dont have a S-Video >> VGA adapter as present trying to save the cost of buying one if it does not work...

I really don't know what are you doing wrong?
Is your notebook connected with VGA cable or with some adapter to the VGA port on your notebook?
When monitor is connected please use FN+F5 key combination to switch between LCD display and connected monitor.
Does this work?

Tearing on VGA output, LVDS OK on 950GMA with xf86-video-intel-2.6.10

I'm crossposting this message i sent on intel-graphics ml and xorg bugzilla, because maybe some of you can point me to a solution.
i own an asus eeepc1005ha, it uses intel gma 950.
Playing a video on the internal LVDS panel is very pleasing and tear
free, but as soon as i connect the vga output, i can notice tearing or
flickering on the picture.
I tried all possible configurations:
-Booting with the lid open (tty on LVDS) and then switching to xorg
with a VGA only output. (VGA tears)
-Booting with the lid closed (tty on VGA) and using xorg on VGA. (VGA tears)
-VGA+LVDS in clone mode (VGA and LVDS tears)
-VGA+LVDS in multihead mode (expanded desktop) (VGA and LVDS tears)
Using xv adaptor via mplayer results in a different tear effect, seems
more like a flickering, while the GL output definitely tears.
I couldn't try overlay adaptor because i don't have a 2.6.33 kernel yet
(believe it or not, i've seen overlay tearing too with an old intel
driver in the past, i think 2.7.1, in a cloned mode if lvds was at
60hz, while vga was at 70hz)
I'm using xf86-video-intel 2.10.0 and kernel 2.6.32.9
I used the framerate test videos available here:
http://spng.se/frame-rate-test/
Thanks for reading.
Last edited by kokoko3k (2010-03-07 08:23:48)

You're right, here's the references:
http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/i … 06092.html
http://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=26925
About your command, i'll try, but what it does is just picking the first port from first adaptor, right?
By now (xf86-video-intel 2.10.0 and kernel 2.6.32.9), we just have a single adaptor, the textured one;
why the first port should make a difference?
Maybe with your setup the overlay adaptor was picked, and in 99% of the cases that would certanly help.
As a side note, newer mplayer versions comes with an useful option: -vo xv:adaptor=#
What i think is that vblank interrupts generation is (and was) messed up in the drivers code.
see:
(believe it or not, i've seen overlay tearing too with an old intel
driver in the past, i think 2.7.1, in a cloned mode if lvds was at
60hz, while vga was at 70hz)

New MacBook (Aluminum), new Time Capsule (Dual-Band), backups not working

My Mom got a new (refurbished) 13.3" MacBook (Aluminum) and new (not refurbished) Time Capsule 500 GB (Dual-Band.) The Time Capsule is working great for wireless internet and we can copy files to and from it, but Time Machine backups are not working. I enabled Time Machine, selected her TC, and then when it tries to backup it sits at the preparing stage for a little while and then gives a very unhelpful "the backup failed" message. Unfortunately I don't have the exact error message, but it never gets out of the preparing phase. It doesn't stay in preparing forever, it only stays there for a minute or so before it gives up and reports the backup failed message and stops. It's unclear to me, searching these forums, if this problem is the same as others are reporting.
I've tried turning off Time Machine and back on, removing and reselecting the Time Capsule, etc. Nothing makes a difference. There are no backup files on the TC - it's brand new.
This happened out of the box, but I also tried installing the latest Time Capsule firmware. It didn't help.

Apple needs to create a configuration tool that configures all the Apple devices one owns by creating a network diagram using drag and drop symbols...
Sounds like a cool suggestion. If you want Apple to hear it, go to www.apple.com/feedback/timecapsule.html

Satellite A210 (PSAELE) - VGA output not working

Hello everybody,
i've got an A200 PSAELE and I am trying to connect it to an external Monitor via VGA.
The external Monitor is a Medion 19" Widescreen with a Resolution of 1440x900.
The problem is, that I am not able to get the external display to work.
I just get a "no signal" message on my external monitor.
I tried various things, tried another VGA cable, another monitor (Benq FP93G X) and another driver.
I am using Windows 7 Beta ans also tried to get it to work using Windows Vista Home Premium & Windows XP.
In the "resolution settings", I tried using the "recognize displays" button.
When i use it, there is a second image of a display displayed like a box.
In this box, there is the following text: "Antoher display couldn't be recognized".
Regardless of the settings I use (clone, span, ...) I can't get any image onto my second screen.
I tried changing some BIOS-Settings without success and made a BIOS-Upadte to Version 2.00, same problem.
I also tried switching to the external monitor via "Fn + F5", but nothing happens onto the second screen.
Can anyone help me?
Thanks in advance,
StarGeneral
Message was edited by: StarGeneral

Hi,
I tested two more things:
-> I downgraded to the Toshiba Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit drive, which works on Windows 7 as well. There in the Catalyst Control Center I've got the "Displays Manager" section, which I don't have with the release drivers.
But even there, when I click on "dectect displays", nothing happens.
When I press the Windows-key and "P", a display opens, where I can select how to use the external VGA out, but when I e.g. select "clone", the resolution on the laptop-screen changes, but there still is no signal on the external monitor.
-> I tested the laptop with a real CRT analog monitor, but I didn't get any further.
But I have got the sneaking suspicion, that I've got a conflict with the HDMI / VGA version of the A210 laptop.
I know that there are a few laptops with an HDMI output and a few with a VGA output.
I checked my audi-devices and found an entry named "HDMI-Audio-Out".
Isn't that strange, because my laptop doesn't have HDMI connector?
Probably I've got a Mainboard/Graphics-card combo, which has got a HDMI port and no VGA output and which was designed for a HDMI-A210?
Could something like this be possible?
Thanks in advance,
StarGeneral

Satellite Pro U200: VGA output not working properly when AC adapter was connected

Hi,
I have a problem with vga output. When I'm working on battery and connect my notebook to external monitor it's ok, but when I connect AC adaptor then start waving also bluetooth and wlan does not work properly. In other case when I remove battery from notebook and connect AC adaptor it works properly.
thanks in advance

As long as you use a CRT you should set the refresh rate new, at least 85Hz. Standard is 60Hz as far as I know, and that hurts in your eyes.
The wireless lan behaviour is quite normal as long as your not right next to the access point. On battery power the wireless lan card reduces its energy consumption thus the connection will be poor if you dont have a perfect signal. You can turn this off in the iNTEL Pro/SET wireless software, where you can configure the adaptor. Try to change the powersafe mode to manual and full power, this should solve your problem.

Upgrade from 160 GB to 1 TB internal hard drive for MacBook Aluminum Late 2008?

I'm trying to upgrade my MacBook Aluminum (Not Pro) Late 2008 from 160 GB SATA Disk to 1 TB Western Digital WD10JPVT Scorpio Blue 1 TB 2.5" Internal Notebook Hard Drive. But I wasn't sure if this would work with my laptop and if it will fit. Can anyone help me out? Here is the links about the hard drive.
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=800

It may not work if it is a SATA III 6 Gb/s interface because your model only supports SATA II 1.5 and/or 3.0 Gb/s interfaces.

VGA output signal is present but my VGA monitor won't display it --- why?

When I connect the iPad to a Samsung SyncMaster 570STFT display (with the Apple iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter) and try to play a movie, the audio plays and the image on the iPad is not updated (which I would expect, since it's supposed to be playing on the external VGA), but the monitor reports "Video mode not supported" (which is what it says when the display resolution is out of range).
I've verified that the monitor works fine at iPad resolution (by plugging it into a Mac Mini and confirming that it is operating at 1024x768).
Is there something unusual about the iPad's VGA output that is incompatible with some displays? Has anybody else run into this problem?

Scan rate and frame rate are different item. VGA is analogue and is based on CRT in which the electron gun scan the phosphors on the screen. Frame rate, as you seem to know, is how many screens there are per second.
If you look at the properties of your video what does it say. Does it play on your iPad?
The tech specs for the iPad say the following. Note that it says:
"640 by 480 pixels" for MPEG-4
TV and video
Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable
H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

Vga output from iPhone

I don't know if this is the correct place for this post or not. I teach at the post graduate level and give many lectures. I need to find out if the videos that I create and download to iTunes can be run from the iPhone through the vga in our auditorium so that I do not have to bring in my MacBook. This is especially a problem if I do it spur of the moment and I do not have my MacBook with me. Projection system is windows based but I never have a problem playing the Quicktime videos from my MacBook using the vga adapter that came with it.
Apple composite or component cables will not solve the problem.
Thanks

Ansus is right; however, there are lot of (relatively) cheap VGA convertors that can work with the component out cable for the iPhone.
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/vga-rgb-component.html
and these do work just fine with the iPhone component cable because another poster here got and used them.
Now, remember that videos on the iPhone need to be MPEG4 -- you can convert them even in iTunes by right-clicking and doing a "Convert for iPod". Otherwise you'll be set.

VGA output - no signal or image

So, I've had this machine for almost two years and I am having a problem that I simply should have discovered before now.
As you know from the heading, I have no signal at all from my VGA output. The adapter works. I know this because I've used my wife's iBook to check it and I have also tried the adapter that came with her computer, which also works on hers but not mine. My computer is recognizing that a monitor has been attached to it and even correctly identifies the monitor in the displays menu and in System Profiler. But no usable signal is getting sent to the external display. Any external display. I've tried about six by now, ranging from 15" CRTs to 22" LCDs. The monitors are all working properly.
Does anyone know if this is a common problem? Do I just have a bad mini-VGA port? Is there some kind of software troubleshoot I can try? I have some work coming up soon that I need to be able to view a lot of information all at once and an external display would make my life a great deal easier. Can anyone enlighten me?

Hi Frank
Thanks for taking the trouble to reply. I thought this thread had gone dead, like my projector connection!
Well, I've been running around doing all kinds of things and I found a solution - perhaps totally by chance.
I went to confer with a 'video guru' at my local Apple retailer. He reckoned that my PB was sending out the video signal 'too fast' (faster processor than previous iBook and PB) so the projector could not pick up the signal. He advised me to try to reduce the resolution to 800x600 and also use the lowest possible refresh rate. Well, that sounded plausible.
But on the way home, I stopped by at a computer accessories store to buy a replacement VGA-VGA cable to connect my PB to the projector; the original one is a little short. I was intrigued to find that this was labelled as a 'SVGA' cable, although externally it looks just like a common garden VGA cable.
When I got home and plugged it all together - without any thought about sequence of connection or resolution - it worked straight away.
So how do you answer that! Still, I'm keeping a record of your instructions, in case I had inadvertently done that. Well, see next time.
Cheers.
Robert

Macbook Aluminum to VGA Output

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