MBP CD2 DVI to VGA not working with projector

I am having issues getting the MBP to recognize a DELL 2300 projector through a DVI to VGA apple cable.
A few months ago there were posts about this, but no solutions. The problem seems to be with the 'INTEL' side of things, as the same projector with the same DVI to VGA apple cable works on an older G4 tower running 10.4.9. The projector also works on an old G4 iBook with it's version of a VGA adapter. To make things more confusing, a DVI to Video apple cable works with the DELL 2300 on my new MBP C2D-but produces a terrible quality picture. Mysteriously, my previous 1st generation MBP CD worked with the DELL 2300 via a DVI to VGA apple cable (but I'm not sure which OS was out at the time 10.4.8?)
My new MBP CD2 definately recognizes the projector through the DVI to VGA adapter, but the projector doesn't recognize the video signal from the computer. It is DEFINATELY the MBP (or universal drivers), as I have checked the DVI to VGA dongle (works), have checked the projector (works with an ibook running 10.4.8 OSX with VGA dongle), have changed resolution settings before and after connecting, have restarted computer, have tested various orders of connecting the projector and cables. STINK! (I also have TWO DVI to VGA adapters, so it is not a bad adapter). I have also played with exchanging various plist files from older universal versions of 10.4.8 that worked with the projector-no help.
As I stated, the projector will work (in horrible quality) with a DVI to Video dongle. Why it will not work with the DVI to VGA dongle is a mystery and annoying I would hope that a newer MBP CD2 would be plug and play (like my previous MBP CD and an old G4 tower and an old iBook G4...but no).
Any ideas, any help, any answers?

Here are the actors in our play today
1. MacBookPro A. (my system a CD2 2.16 with OSX 10.4.9)
2. MacBookPro B. (my friends system a CD2 2.16 with OSX 10.4.9)
3. an iBook (my friends 1.07 GHz G4 with 10.4.8 and a VGA adapter)
4. DELL 2300 MP projector
Plugged in DVI to VGA adapter to the virgin MacBookPro B (never had the projector plugged into it before) Dell projector shows that it recognizes an analog RGB 800X600 signal from MBP B. It projects a beautiful desktop. All is well for a moment.
In Display preferences we see for the MBP B
Color LCD, Display: 800X600 stretched, Colors: Millions, Refresh Rate: N/A
VGA Display
Now, I unplug the DVI to VGA adapter and naturally MBP B readjusts to it's native resolution. Great.
Now I immediately plug back in the DVI to VGA adapter. The computer and the projector searches for signal with none found, while the computer shows no attempt at an automatic readjustment as above (800X600 stretched).
I try the 'detect display' option. It causes computer to stall for a second (as it searches) but it does not detect projector and does not readjust it's own resolution to 800X600 stretched as it did initially. F7 key does nothing.
This is a problem!
So, I shut down the projector. I unplug the projector's power source and waited 20 seconds. plugged it back in, started projector back up.
I shut down/restarted the MBP B.
I plug back in the DVI to VGA adapter into the MBP B. The MBP B screen flashes to all blue, but does not automatically change to 800X600 stretched (remains at native resolution and does not recognize an external monitor/projector)
Enter the iBook!
I plug the iBook's VGA adapter into the projector. The projector shows that it recognizes an analog RGB 1024X768 60Hz signal and projects desktop screen immediately. Plug and play!
iBook display prefs reveal:
Color LCD, 1024X768, colors: Millions, Refresh rate: N/A
Color tab: Generic RGB Profile
VGA display, 1024X768, colors: Millions,
Now. I unplug adapter from iBook, iBook readjusts to native display
plugged back in adapter to iBook, immediately recognizes and displays projected desktop.
Scene 2: The FREAKY thing!
Now, I immediately (after unplugging the adapter from the iBook) change adapters to the DVI to VGA adapter and plug the projector into the MacBookPro B, whallla! Back in business. (computer screen adjusted to 800X600, and projector recognized signal).
Now, what about my computer? I unplug from MBP B and plug into MacBookPro A, and NOTHING...the computer doesn't automatically adjust to a new resolution, and the projector doesn't recognize any signal from the computer.
Ahhhh Freak out! Now, I plugged adapter back into MacBookPro B, and now back to NOTHING. MBP B no longer recognizes projector or readjusts it's resolution. Was something somehow corrupted?
Now, I plugged iBook VGA adapter back in, and iBook once again with it's awesome G4 technology (or dated video drivers or something) recognizes the projector in an instant and projects the screen.
Now, logically I try again to immediately unplug the adapter from the iBook and switch adapters and plug back into MacBookPro B-it worked once right? But, sorry, NOT twice. The mystery deepens.
Well, I think, maybe it is because I didn't restart MacBookPro B before attempting the switcharoo from iBook to MacBookPro.
So, I plug back into iBook-projector. And the iBook works immediately again.
I restart MacBookPro B and plug in to the freshly restarted MBP B...HOUSTON WE HAVE LIFT OFF! The MacBookPro B recognizes the projector and the projector kindly displays the desktop.
Now what about MacBookPro A...Last time, when I did the switcharoo, it corrupted something to cause the MBP B not to work. Let's try it again. Will this plug-unplug-restart-switch adapters-immediatly plug in technique work...let's see. I restart MBP A, and plug DVI to VGA adapter in. Sorry. Same ol' no signals recognized. MacBookPro A not auto readjusting resolution, and does not list any projector in display prefs.
Let's get crazy and immediately plug the adapter into the MacBookPro B...it works-oh so logical...NOT! Why wasn't it corrupted this time by MBP A? MacBookPro B readjusts its screen to 800X600 stretched and projector immediately recognizes and projects desktop.
Now lets see if I can break it again as before. I unplug it from MacBookPro B and back into MacBook Pro B, knowing that this caused it to stop working previously. And...it still works-WHAT? I do it a third time. It still works on MacBookPro B.
So,
I plug it back into MacBookPro A...still nothing. Back to MacbookPro B works like a charm. This time it struggles a bit showing that initially it sees a signal from MacBookPro B of 1192X900 (i Think), then the MacBookPro B switches automatically to 800X600 and the projector works.
Wait..I see something amiss! I see in my MBP A menu bar an icon for Labtick which MBP B does not have. I shut down Labtick, plug back in the DVI to VGA adapter and 'Boom' the projector is recognized.
I unplug DVI to VGA adapter and plug back in to MBP A and 'Boom' the projector is recognized again...no it couldn't be!
Well, it is possible it couldn't be because, I shut down the projector, unplug it's power source, plug it back in. I plug it back into the recently working MBP A with Labtick not running, and sorry folks, now the projector doesn't work again. The MBP A does not readjust it's resolution, nor recognize a projector and the projector doesn't recognize the MBP A.
Let's try the projector in MBP B....same deal. Now it doesn't work. Same symptoms of MBP A.
Back to the good ol' iBook. Of course it works.
Now switching over directly to a restarted MBP B. -DOESN'T WORK (as it did using this technique previously)
Now switching over to MBP A- DOESN'T WORK.
As you can see, it is hard even with multiple computers to find a series of doing things that consistently makes the projector work.
Any thoughts, ideas, ways to diagnose? Thanks!

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