My mid-2010 10.8.2 iMac won't detect external displays.

My mid-2010 10.8.2 iMac won't detect external displays. I've tried using a third-party minidisplay port to DVI adapter, as well as an Apple-brand minidisplay port to VGA adapter. The monitor I'm using is a Dell SP2008WFPt. It is a functional monitor. I've tried resetting the PRAM, repairing my disk permissions, rebooting, and doing all sorts of wacky stuff with the order I plug things in. Is there a solution? It seems like lots of folks are having the same problem.
Thanks! This is really starting to make me angry.

If 10.7.0 or later...
Bootup holding CMD+r, or the Option/alt key to boot from the Restore partition & use Disk Utility from there to Repair the Disk, then Repair Permissions.
If that doesn't help Reinstall the OS.

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I previously was using a 2008 iMac desktop and running OS X Yosemite. I was using dual monitors (other monitor being Insignia brand) and everything worked fine. Since this was an earlier mac version, I was using the Mini DVI to VGA Adapter to connect. Last week, I got a brand new iMac (Mid 2014 version). I am running OS X Yosemite as well, but now it won't detect any displays. I'm now using the Thunderbolt cable to connect so I wonder if that has anything to do with it. But I have used that same Thunderbolt cable before on my macbook and it worked just fine.
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Thanks for the reply, but tried everything and it still won't work. Rebooted, installed updates, cleared PRAM, everything. It will not detect the displays at all. Maybe there is something wrong with my VGA cable.

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System Profiler:
ATI Radeon X1600:
Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 128 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x71c5
Revision ID: 0x0000
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.068
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Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Built-In: Yes
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Yeah, I realize S-video is limiting, but I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible. The TV is mounted to the wall and there are not currently any DVI or HDMI cables coming out of it. There's an S-video input from my receiver that I'd prefer to use since it's readily accessible already. In the end my goal is to use Netflix "Watch Now" on the TV, so I'm not too worried about video quality.
and before someone asks if I considered that the receiver's S-video input might be the problem...I tried taking the s-video wire from the stereo and plugging it directly into the adapter. No dice.
ONE ADDITIONAL PIECE of information...while trying to get this to work on an LCD monitor, I plugged the composite video connection from the TV into the adapter. Suddenly the Mac recognized an additional monitor, but it saw it as a VGA monitor, not as s-video or composite video, and no signal went to the TV.
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Imac won't detect external harddrives

i have never had this problem before. my iMac used to pick up on my WD passport and other HDDs. but for the past two days it won't detect anything. not even a thumb drive. help!?

Is it just storage devices, or all USB peripherals?
Try shutting down and disconnecting all of your USB peripherals, except for your standard keyboard and mouse. Disconnect any USB hubs. Restart the Mac and only connect one USB storage device directly to your iMac. Does that one device work? Try it on all the ports, if one does not work.
You can also try starting up in Safe Mode
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455
in case there is some non-Apple system extension that is interfering with USB storage devices.

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Hi,
I purchased an old 17" iMac G5 iSight,in which the screen sometimes suddenly turns to blue and the resolution drops as it detects a VGA display even though no external display is connected. It even shown two displays in the preference panel.
I opened the iMac and checked the capacitors which look okay. I reinstalled the OS and it didn't fix the problem.
Do you have some idea where to look? Or does someone know how to disable external displays?
I found this discussion from another forum: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-ati/+bug/172427
...but it's ubuntu so I don't understad what they're talking about?

Make sure that the PRAM battery is under 4 years old.
Then zap the PRAM.

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Firstly - I've searched this problem several times now and I've found this problem in four of five discussion topics on this board, each with 4 or 5 pages of people adding "I'm having the same problem" but in all of that there wasn't a single response from Apple, instead they just 'archived' the discussions and hoped that people would just go away.
That's pretty ******* disgusting customer service, considering the amount of money we're paying for your products. You owe us at least for them to ******* work properly - not just ignore major problems, which are clearly present for quite alot of your customers.
For months I've had no problems just plugging my MBPro into an external monitor by DVI using the Apple certified DVI-thunderbolt connector.
For some reason, a few weeks ago, the MBPro stopped detecting the monitor.
I have to spend about 20 minutes ******* around, unplugging and replugging in the leads, restarting with and without the leads plugged in, resetting the p-ram, reinstalling OSX 10.7 and it always seems to be just a random time when it decides to start working.
I'm not just some kid ******* around with an expensive computer for the fun of it. I make a living using this system and I need the big screen for the work I do. I don't have the time to spare every sodding day to be ******* around with **** that doesn't work properly.
At first I thought the problem was restricted to just my work display as it appeared to work fine on all other displays. However, last week I was giving a presentation at work to a company who were potentially about to spend mega bucks giving us some work. I turn on the screen and plug in my computer to show the presentation. Nothing happened. luckily I was able to quickly transfer the presentation to another working computer (a PC) and continue on.
But seriously, please justify spending over £1000 on a computer that can't perform the simplest of tasks without spazzing out?
And secondly - stop ignoring this problem and get fixing it. Now!

Hi, I'm having the same problem, tried to connect both a Viewsonic and a Hanspree. Was happy to find your response here, but I just got the Moshi adapter with the macbook pro so it seems silly it would have gone bad. :/
I suppose I'll take it into the Apple Store and see what they say. Thanks!
^_^

MBPro won't detect external display on DVI

Hi Folks,
I have a strange problem that gives me quite some headache:
Is use a MacBook Pro 3,1 2.2 Ghz, 4GB RAM, 128MB NVidia something together with a Samsung SyncMaster 215TW.
For the past year I was using my external screen without any trouble, connecting it via DVI to the mac. Every night I turn down the lid putting the notebook in sleep mode and switch off the monitor. Exactly as I did yesterday. But this morning however the external display didn't wake up as usual it did just nothing - was not even detected via the detect display function. And this is still the case right now.
So when I plug (or unplug) the DVI to the external something is still going on. I get the blue screen (don't get that wrong that used to appear just before it would expand the desktop to the external screen, but then it switches back as if there would be nothing connected.
No relevant entries in any logfile. System Profiler shows "Status: No display connected". The display itself says some no connection message if unplugged and - get this - falls to sleep mode right after I plugin the dvi connector to the mac.
I tried all this:
-reboot (with display connected & without display connected and all other imaginable combinations) - no positive result
-the display via DVI-VGA adapter works (but the image is not as nice unfortunately)
-reset PRAM (boot with optioncommand+PR)
-reset the entire thing (no power, no battery and hold the powerkey for 10 secs.) nothing
-connect some other external display to the mac via DVI - works perfectly
-connect the display via DVI to an other macbook pro computer - works perfectly too
-hard reset the display via the (red) support menu - no result
-an other DVI cable - no result
-booted from the leopard install cd - same thing
-booted from an other harddisk with 10.4.10 (removing the internal disk)- same strange behaviour with the old system
-booted ubuntu linux 8.04 - even here the same problem X doesn't recognize the external display if it is attached to the DVI port also no entries to the logs here.
-SwitchResX and tried to reset the display setting from there (vendor id 4c2d & product id 213 & 214) but still no success.
- called the apple support and my distributer of trust - no ideas but could be a hardware fault (mmh ok... but why do all other display I tried work perfectly with that beast of macbook pro but not any SyncMaster 215TW?!? that worked great for the whole last year)
I guess the macbook had a very bad dream that very last night about mac eating foo-bars that crawl through DVI cables from any 215TW display.
As for now I have a date with the local apple service partner -- in three weeks (it's holiday time in g.o. germany). Don't know what to tell him: Probably I'll need to go there with the screen to show them the entire scenario. Hopefully they (still) think it's a problem with faulty apple hardware (or system software) and replace the logic board.
But I'm still in hope! Is there anybody out there having an idea with what I could try next to bring back the love between my macbook and the lovely 215TW display?
greetings,
brutus banane

I have recently bough a new Macbook Pro 15.4", it worked first time with a Samsung Syncmaster 2493HM but after a few days the 'detect display' utility ceased to connect, then a short while after on start up I was getting a blank screen with a flashing folder with '?' on it, preventing me from booting up successfully.
I tried the reset p-ram, didn't work then I tried an archive install of OSX and that ironed out all the creases - for a day, there has been no flashing folders on start up but the Samsung has failed to be detected and this morning wouldn't work no matter how many restarts or cable disconnecting attempts.
So I called Apple helpline, told the guy what had happened, he mentioned to try the install discs again with the display connected to see of the MBP sent a signal to it, after choosing the language in the OSX installer, the display was once again recognized! I didn't have to proceed any further with the install discs so quit, reset and ejected the install discs and all seems well again.
For how long i wonder?
I have no idea of this will work for anyone else but it works for me at the moment.
Interested to see when and how this finally gets solved!
T.
Message was edited by: Tyke Tyler
Message was edited by: Tyke Tyler

Macbook won't detect external display anymore - Random shutdown injury??

Hi,
my Macbook has the dreaded random shutdown thing happening, often it can't even get through the startup sequence. If I reset the PMU and PRAM and check the disk every week I can keep it running. Applecare are making not particularly helpful suggestions like "run it in safe mode" - hello people, random means it can take days to happen again... I use this computer for work so I need it at full capacity every day!!!
Anyway, enough angry ranting. The casualty of today's RS and subsequent PRAM PMU resetting is my external display (Viewsonic LCD). The macbook is no longer sending signals to it (display says "no signal"). When I ask the macbook to "detect displays" nothing happens. I have restarted the macbook several times and unplugged and replugged the display connection it doesn't help. Yes, I have the AC power cable plugged in on the Macbook (I know it doesn't like talking to the screen if I don't).
The display and macbook have always worked fine together in the past...
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to test for causes or fix this display related problem?
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)
Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

You don't mention ever having brought the problem to Apple's attention, or what resulted from your request for Apple's help with it. This isn't a universal or widespread problem. It may be a hardware fault in your own equipment that needs to be resolved with a repair, or it may be a software problem (corrupt file, incompatible software conflict, update needed, etc., etc.). You seem to think Apple should have fixed it for you without your lifting a finger, and you're eager to complain about Apple's lack of support. But you've offered nothing to indicate that Apple even knows you need support. You do have to ask for it. Have you done so?
We have no idea what steps you've taken to try to narrow down the possibilities, e.g., making sure the monitor is turned on; trying a different video cable as iVmichael has suggested; testing the monitor with the same cable on a different computer; testing a different monitor with the same cable and then with a diferent cable on your computer; substituting a different cable adapter, if you are using one; applying all applicable system software updates and then Repairing Permissions and Repairing Disk; starting in Safe Mode and seeing whether the monitor is recognized and activated then; seeing whether the monitor is detected in System Profiler; and so on. You may have done some of these things, but you haven't told us about them or about the results.

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Hi there
I've tried multiple monitors and connectors but i can't get my mac to detect an external display. it responds as if nothing is connected. I'm fully up to date software-wise.
any ideas?
thanks for any help!!

Hi, I'm having the same problem, tried to connect both a Viewsonic and a Hanspree. Was happy to find your response here, but I just got the Moshi adapter with the macbook pro so it seems silly it would have gone bad. :/
I suppose I'll take it into the Apple Store and see what they say. Thanks!
^_^

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MacBook suddenly won't detect my display, Using Mini Display Port to VGA?

MacBook suddenly won't detect my display, Using Mini Display Port to VGA?

dohdoh1985, I have the exact same problem also! I recently bought a 42" RCA LCD TV. I connected my MacBook Pro to my TV using a Dynex Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter that I got from BestBuy. It worked great until I upgraded to Mac OS 10.6.4 and then it suddenly stopped working. Same TV, same settings, same cables, same adapter. Nothing changed since the last time it worked except that my OS was upgraded to 10.6.4, so i am assuming that is the culprit. The symptoms are EXACTLY the same as what dohdoh1985 described; when I plug in the TV, the laptop display flashes (3 times) as though it is detecting an external display and the picture on the TV briefly goes from blue to black for about 1 second then back to blue. The TV does not appear in the display menu / control panel and there is no sign that the MacBook detected it. I went through the usual troubleshooting steps (reset PRAM, checked connections, tv settings, etc) but nothing worked. Other HDMI sources (i.e. Blu-ray player) work fine on the TV using the same HDMI cable on the same port so there is nothing wrong with the cable, the TV or the TV's input settings.
Meanwhile, I can still connect my MacBook to my external ViewSonic monitor at work without any problems. It's just the TV that's not working.
I cancelled my cable subscription a while ago since I only watch shows online nowadays and this was my only way of watching TV shows, so I'm quite upset.
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Hello together,
I am looking out for some advise. My mid 2010 Macbook Pro 15inch with an anti glare display just got a new logic board. I paid more than 500 Euro at a Premium Reseller called mStore in Kiel (Germany) to replace it, because the display stayed black after booting. My Macbook didn't even have a single external mark or scratch on the housing. I accepted it and said to myself if it is working again, it is alright. But less than two month later a vertical line is drawing from the top frame to the bottom (see photo). The line is narrow, it is just one pixel, but it is really annoying because it is always in sight. I went to the same reseller and asked what to do, they recommend a second repair attempt for again 500 Euro. In less then two month I cannot afford +1000 Euro for a laptop with an actual value of about 1100 Euro.
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I am really disappointed by Apple's quality. I am 24 years old and everybody in my family is using Apple computers since I can think back. The first time I could call a Mac my own was when I was 13.
When I graduated from school I was 19 and worked in a hospital to finance a new iBook G4. I had this one for about four years and it has been traveling with me through New Zealand and Asia for more than a year. I never had any issue with it, even when I dropped it from the top bank in a dormitory. It is still alive and working fine.
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Marco

I had the same problem on a display MBP 15" in 2010, and it is a display problem recognised by Apple.
It was covered by the warranty.
If you do nothing, the number of vertical pixel lines will increase over time.
Good that Apple helped you out of this problem.

My mid-2010 10.8.2 iMac won't detect external displays.

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