Problems connecting my MacBook Pro to a video projector

I have a MacBook Pro. I have used it many times to connect to a video projector and give presentations in my classroom. Lately, it is hit or miss concerning whether the laptop will give a signal to the computer. I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I have followed the instructions in the MacBook guide.(Start with projector and laptop off, connect, turn on, etc. )
I am using the DVI to VGA adapter. I have also tried to use the function keys and manually tried to get it to detect displays. Can't think of what to do next. I gave up and hooked up a Windows computer and it worked.
Could it be the adapter? Does anyone have any ideas I can try? Thanks!

I have problems too with some projectors and the DVI--VGA adapter that came with my MBP. The projector is recognized by the computer, but does not show any signal.
With the help of Stéphane Madrau, who has written the excellent tool SwitchResX, I found out that the projector reports that it takes digital input when I connect the MacBook Pro, but analog when I connect it to my 12" PBG4. From the DDC information (collected with SwitchResX):
MacBook Pro, DVI--VGA:
Input signal & sync:
Digital
PBG4, miniDVI--VGA:
Input signal & sync:
Analog input with: 0.700V / 0.300V
Separate Sync
Composite Sync
Given that the VGA cable is analog only, I would think that the MBP tries (or rather, does) output digital signals only, which don't make it into the VGA cable. If I find a solution I will post it here.
The clue was that the computer did not report any vertical scan frequencies for the external display, while it did so for a projector that worked.

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I have problems too with some projectors and the DVI--VGA adapter that came with my MBP. The projector is recognized by the computer, but does not show any signal.
With the help of Stéphane Madrau, who has written the excellent tool SwitchResX, I found out that the projector reports that it takes digital input when I connect the MacBook Pro, but analog when I connect it to my 12" PBG4. From the DDC information (collected with SwitchResX):
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Input signal & sync:
Digital
PBG4, miniDVI--VGA:
Input signal & sync:
Analog input with: 0.700V / 0.300V
Separate Sync
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Given that the VGA cable is analog only, I would think that the MBP tries (or rather, does) output digital signals only, which don't make it into the VGA cable. If I find a solution I will post it here.
The clue was that the computer did not report any vertical scan frequencies for the external display, while it did so for a projector that worked.

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Hi bonfig,
If you are having issues with the external display settings on your MacBook Pro, it may be worth going throught the following article, in particular the portion about resetting the SMC and PRAM:
Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1573
Cheers,
- Brenden

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Problem description: My macbook pro since this afteon has been slower, every application I open, it takes a long time to open, and shows the spinning beach ball for a while before it opens or performs some task, or responds to a click- EtreCheck

My computer
Problem description:
My macbook pro since this afternoon has been slower, every application I open, it takes a long time to open, and shows the spinning beach ball for a while before it opens or performs some task, or responds to a click…
EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)
Report generated 31 de março de 2015 18:29:15 BRT
Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck
Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.
Hardware Information: ℹ️
    MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) (Technical Specifications)
    MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1
    1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core
    16 GB RAM Upgradeable
        BANK 0/DIMM0
            8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
        BANK 1/DIMM0
            8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
    Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
    Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
    Battery Health: Normal - Cycle count 250
Video Information: ℹ️
    Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 512 MB
        Color LCD 1280 x 800
System Software: ℹ️
    OS X 10.10.2 (14C1514) - Time since boot: 0:25:47
Disk Information: ℹ️
    Hitachi HTS545032B9A302 disk0 : (320,07 GB)
        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
        Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
        Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 318.84 GB (47.94 GB free) - 51 errors
            Core Storage: disk0s2 319.21 GB Online
    MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-898
USB Information: ℹ️
    Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
    Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
    Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
    Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️
    Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
    Mac App Store and identified developers
Launch Agents: ℹ️
    [not loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]
    [running]    com.trusteer.rapport.rapportd.plist [Click for support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]
    [running]    com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd.plist [Click for support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
    [loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]
    [running]    com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Click for support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
    iTunesHelper    UNKNOWN Hidden (missing value)
    AdobeResourceSynchronizer    Application Hidden (/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)
    Stickies    Application (/Applications/Stickies.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
    JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 31 Check version
    FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
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    AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.13 [Click for support]
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    QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
    SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.8 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 [Click for support]
    Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8
User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
    npsf_cef: Version: sf 3.3.1.1 [Click for support]
    Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: Unknown
Safari Extensions: ℹ️
    DivX HiQ
    DivX Plus Web Player HTML5 <video>
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
    Flash Player [Click for support]
    Java [Click for support]
    MacFUSE [Click for support]
    Perian [Click for support]
    Trusteer Endpoint Protection [Click for support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
    Skip System Files: NO
    Auto backup: YES
    Volumes being backed up:
        Macintosh HD: Disk size: 318.84 GB Disk used: 270.90 GB
    Destinations:
        Time Machine Backups [Local]
        Total size: 999.86 GB
        Total number of backups: 60
        Oldest backup: 2012-07-15 01:16:54 +0000
        Last backup: 2015-03-29 19:28:06 +0000
        Size of backup disk: Excellent
            Backup size 999.86 GB > (Disk size 318.84 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
        97%    rapportd
         3%    WindowServer
         1%    mds
         0%    fseventsd
         0%    distnoted
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
    155 MB    Safari
    120 MB    Finder
    86 MB    rapportd
    86 MB    WindowServer
    69 MB    mds_stores
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
    12.56 GB    Free RAM
    2.53 GB    Active RAM
    428 MB    Inactive RAM
    1.66 GB    Wired RAM
    1.04 GB    Page-ins
    0 B    Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
    Mar 31, 2015, 06:00:15 PM    Self test - passed
    Mar 31, 2015, 01:13:05 PM    /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Error Reporting_2015-03-31-131305_[redacted].crash
    Mar 31, 2015, 01:05:42 PM    /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Error Reporting_2015-03-31-130542_[redacted].crash
    Mar 31, 2015, 12:24:33 PM    /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Error Reporting_2015-03-31-122433_[redacted].crash
    Mar 30, 2015, 05:45:38 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Skype_2015-03-30-174538_[redacted].cpu_resource .diag [Click for details]
    Mar 30, 2015, 01:52:07 PM    /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Last.fm Scrobbler_2015-03-30-135207_[redacted].crash
    Mar 29, 2015, 05:55:05 PM    /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.WebKit.WebContent_20 15-03-29-175505_[redacted].crash
    Mar 29, 2015, 01:06:38 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/VLC_2015-03-29-130638_[redacted].hang
    Mar 29, 2015, 01:02:47 PM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/VLC_2015-03-29-130247_[redacted].hang

Open Activity Monitor and kill this process - rapportd.
Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility and press the Continue button. After Disk Utility loads select the Macintosh HD entry from the the left side list. Click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If Disk Utility reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit Disk Utility and return to the main menu.
Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.
Alternatively, see:
Reinstall OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Choose the version you have installed now:
OS X Yosemite- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mavericks- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mountain Lion- Reinstall OS X
OS X Lion- Reinstall Mac OS X
     Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet
                 if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

Problems connecting my MacBook Pro to a video projector

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