VGA identified at MacBook but no picture

I'm trying to use a HDTV with VGA input with my MacBook. The TV works perfectly with a PC, so it isn't the TV or the VGA cable.
I plugged in the Apple mini-DVI to VGA connector to the VGA cable; the TV is correctly recognized by the display preferences; I have matched the screen sizes for the TV and the MacBook display to 1024x768; I have turned mirroring on; everything looks perfect except nothing shows up on the TV.
One post helpfully suggested restarting after everything is set up for the correct resolution, so I did that. After restart, the TV responds promisingly with the letters VGA (indicating that it is getting a signal, I suppose) for about 1 second. This little hopeful glimmer occurs immediately before the startup "loading bar" (or whatever it is called) appears on the MacBook, and then darkness forever after. When the MacBook finishes its startup, it looks like it recognizes the VGA TV just as before.
From other posts, it looks like this is a common problem. What gives, Apple? If I tried to use my MacBook for a presentation, I'd be laughed off the stage. This is unacceptable.
If anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate help on this. Frankly, I'm not hopeful, but I would love to be wrong.
The TV has a lot more inputs, so maybe something else will work better: any suggestions for a foolproof connection before I go out and spend more money on cables and adapters?
Cheers!

i have a macbook black, i hooked it up perfectly with the mini dvi to vga cable.. you can try switching out the vga cable to another, sometimes different vga cables dont work.. or you could do the dvi to hdmi and connect via that way..

Similar Messages

I've got a MacBook pro 15' running 10.6.6. I want to use an external monitor for my graphic design work running Adobe software and thought I'd try an HD TV. I ran a Mini Display to HDMI lead to the TV but the picture quality was disappointing.

I've got a MacBook Pro 15' running 10.6.6. I want to use an external monitor for my graphic design work using Adobe software and thought I'd try an HD TV. I ran a Mini Display to HDMI lead to the TV but the picture quality was disappointing. I also tried a Mini Display to VGA lead and that wasn't much better. I tried all variations of resolutions in System prefs - Displays but nothing helped. Am I getting something wrong? Thanks all.

In addition to pixel density, you are up against the translation driver card in the TV.
If you read the fine print of computer-resolution-capability in the TV user guide, you will see a chart as tall as the manual page. At the top is the smallest resolution capable, at the bottom is the full use of the 1080p in the TV.
Mac falls into the top 25% of the page, maxing out at 1366x768 often. This is because the TV control card is expected to do too much of the work, but is not designed for computer-monitor processing.
I looked at the resolution charts on 2 TVs before deciding to buy a 1080p LCD monitor that has a TV interface/connector. Computer monitor first, TV second. But the thing is only 27 in. Good thing TV is not as important to me as it is to others.

I am trying to hook my macbook pro to a projector, which has a VGA cable. I bought a VGA to HDMI adapter, but whenever I hook it up, the screen on my macbook just goes black and I can't make it do anything else or even show up on the projector.

I am trying to hook my macbook pro to a projector, which has a VGA cable. I bought a VGA to HDMI adapter, but whenever I hook it up, the screen on my macbook just goes black and I can't make it do anything else or even show up on the projector.
My laptop is still on; it just has a black screen that I can't get rid of without shutting down the computer by holding the power button.

Hey there lynmrigg,
It sounds like have an HDMI to VGA adapter connecting your MacBook Pro and your projector but the screen on your computer goes black and no image appears on the projector. I would use the troubleshooting in the following article to help resolve or isolate the issue here, named:
Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays
Try unplugging the video adapter or cable and then plug it back in.
If more than one video adapter is in use (or "daisy-chained"), troubleshoot by using only one adapter.
Example: A mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter connected to a DVI to HDMI adapter is an unsupported configuration because there is a series of adapters in use.
If available, try using a different display and or adapter (or use a different connector by using DVI instead of VGA, for instance).
Reset the system
You can reset the Mac's parameter RAM and SMC.
Reset the resolution
Start by resetting the Mac's parameter RAM. If the display does not come up, was previously set to an unsupported resolution, and still results in no video:
Start up in Safe Mode.
From the Apple () menu, choose System Preferences.
Choose Displays from the View menu to open the preferences pane.
Select any resolution and refresh rate that your display supports.
Restart your computer.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Take care,
Sterling

I have a new MacBook Pro with OS10.8.2 and cannot get Contacts to print a list of addresses with pictures showing. There is a check box selecting "picture" which has been checked - but no picture. This worked fine on OS10.7.5. Problem??

I have a new MacBook Pro with OS10.8.2 and cannot get Contacts to print a list of addresses with pictures showing. There is a check box selecting "picture" which has been checked - but no picture. This worked fine on OS10.7.5. Problem??

First, back up all data immediately, as your boot drive might be failing.
There are a few other possible causes of generalized slow performance that you can rule out easily.
Reset the System Management Controller.
If you have many image or video files on the Desktop with preview icons, move them to another folder.
If applicable, uncheck all boxes in the iCloud preference pane.
Disconnect all non-essential wired peripherals and remove aftermarket expansion cards, if any.
Check your keychains in Keychain Access for excessively duplicated items.
If you have more than one user account, you must be logged in as an administrator to carry out this step.
Launch the Console application in the same way you launched Activity Monitor. Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
Select the 50 or so most recent entries in the log. Copy them to the Clipboard (command-C). Paste into a reply to this message (command-V). You're looking for entries at the end of the log, not at the beginning.
When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Important: Some personal information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting. That should be easy to do if your extract is not too long.

Uploaded my pictures from my iPhone to my MacBook- Some of the videos I made show that they imported and play sound, but no picture- are they gone?

I Uploaded my pictures from my iPhone to my MacBook… Some of the videos I made show that they imported and play sound, but no picture… are they gone?Becuase they offer to delete what was imported, so to save space i did... Is there anything I can do to restore the picture?

Do your videos play in QuickTime Playerwhen you reveal one of them in the Finder with "File > Reveal > Original"? Try to open the revealed movie in QuickTime and see if it plays.
Check the format of the movie. You can see it in the Inspector in QuickTime Player from the "WIndow" menu: Window > Show Inspector.
iPhoto does not support all movie formats and codecs that QuickTime player can play, and not all frame rates.
See: Using AVCHD video with iPhoto '11
If the movie does not play in QuickTime Player either, install QuickTime 7 for more codecs.

I have a VGA adapter that I hooked into my MBA, but the picture is not projecting. What button do I press to project the image?

I have a VGA adapter that I hooked into my MBA, but the picture is not projecting. What button do I press to project the image?

If you want to mirror the MBA screen, Press Command F1
This will toogle between extended desktop mode and mirror mode.
Regards,
Captfred

Using Mini DVI to VGA adapter on MacBook

I bought the adapter from Apple & hooked up my LCD monitor to the MacBook, but the video I get on the monitor is different that on my laptop. It has an old screen background & the dock but nothing on my desktop shows up. Also, when I'm plugged to the monitor, my dock disappears on the laptop screen. Is there some setting I need to change? It worked fine with my G4 PowerBook.
Thanks for any help....
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.6)

i use the mini dvi-vga adapter in my classroom almost everyday. It sounds like your new monitor is running as a side by side monitor to your display instead of a "replacement" display.
To get your projector/monitor to basically show whatever is on your macbook screen once you've hooked up press F7....this should make your projector/monitory become your display with your dock & all of your desktop stuff. Your new monitor will completely mirror your display.
THis should do what you're looking for.

Receiving email on iMac and MacBook, but not iOS devices?

Not sure why this is happening, but I'm not getting all emails on iPhones and iPads. I've had several emails addressed to my me.com address that show up on my iMac and MacBook, but never show up on our iPhones or iPads. This applies only to my me.com stuff. Even an iTunes marketing email doesn't show up on my iPhone.
I just transitioned to iCould last week and that's when it started. All devices were converted to iCloud and the iMac and MacBook are set up as IMAP accounts.
Any ideas?

I finally figured this out. I use SpamSieve and when it's identifies something as Spam, it moves the email into a local folder and removes it from the cloud. The solution (in SpamSieve's documentation) was to create a new mailbox in iCloud and change the rule to move the messages there so that you can see any mis-identified on the iPhone.

17!" Studio Display connected & recognised but no picture?

Hi I have an iBook G4 & have connected it to a 17" Studio LCD.
It shows up in "about this Mac & in System Prefs/ Displays but no picture.
When I press the power touch sensitive swith on the front that lights up white.
Same when I touch it again. Hard to know when it's on or off because nothing else changes. Black dead looking screen.
Any ideas what the problem is?
It was working fine on my friends MacBook.
I bought an adapter for it & the fact that it is recognized makes me think the connection is OK but why no pic?
I've not used an external display before.
Is there something I'm missing?
What to do?
Thanks

First try 'resetting' the Display by disconnecting it from mains for about 15 minutes and then plugging it back in. I've only had the problem that you describe once and this was the 'fix' for me.
Clinton

HT2499 I can hear my dvd's but no picture

I can control and hear the DVD but no picture. Tried several dvd's that work on everyone else's MacBook and no luck.

Try the standard fixes:
- Reet. Nothing is lost.
Reset iPod touch: Hold down the On/Off button and the Home button at the same time for at
least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
- Restore from backup
- Restore to factory defaults/new iPod
If still problem then you likely have a hardware problem and an appointment a the Genus Bar of an Apple store is in order.

Video clips have perfect audio but no picture in Quicktime, VLC has perfect audio and jittery picture... How is this fixed?

I have a Canon 550D and a class 6 Sandisk extreme 3 card which I have been taking great photos and film clips.
Yesterday I captured some content and when I put it into my macbook pro, the images were clear as per usual however the videos only appeared to play the audio in aperture 3 and also in quicktime.
I then tried the videos in VLC and it had perfect audio once again but with picture this time. This picture quality seemed to freeze.be jittery.
Has anyone had/fixed this before..?? The content I have captured was of a once off opportunity for work...

hi,
thanks. i already have that. wmp 9 for the mac. (i forgot to post that in my list.)
every darn thing i have does the same thing.
audio but not video
i clicked on "open in rosetta" for flip4mac and now it does open once more but the same...no video.
i don't understand why nothing is working.
do i have to upgrade fliprmac and buy it to make it work? i am not going to do that tho.
this is really frustrating.
i'm curious - suppose i send it to you - unless i can put it here somehow - and see if you can
open and listen and watch?
i tried it on my ibook and the same thing happened.
Message was edited by: itsmesunny

My screen is gone black when I restart I get the chime but no picture mac book pro can any help get me going again

My screen is gone black on my mac book Pro.when I restart I get the chime but no picture mac.can any help get me going again

Is the TV at minimum a 1080p with an HDMI port?
What is your Machine ID? DO NOT give us your serial number. We just need the x and y values of the Machine ID in your system profiler as given in this format:
MacBook Pro x,y
This will tell us what display cables can connect to your TV.

HT201335 Using mirroring with my apple tv and everthing shows up on the tv untill i try to watch a movie, i get the sound but no picture. I checked and both are on the same wifi?

Using mirroring with my apple tv and everthing shows up on the tv untill i try to watch a movie, i get the sound but no picture. I checked and both are on the same wifi?

I had this problem also. Several times in fact. And it has not been any relation with sw update (Apple TV). I managed to fix this on a strange way. I drop off WiFi in iMac and joined back. Right after thatI tried to adjust Airplay settings, but I didn't manage. Reason was that my iMac didn't found any Airplay devices (?). After about 2-3 minutes iMac recognized my Apple TV. And also audio "posting" to Apple TV started to work.
So restart your WiFi connection on your iMac or MacBook Pro - it may help.
Another hint is to use command: "sudo killall coreaudiod". More information about that: http://wwwx.cs.unc.edu/~cquammen/wp/2011/02/18/resetting-audio-on-mac-os-x/
I have not tried this, but maybe next time
Br
Mikko R

How do i get my video to play from my ipod to my pioneer AV2300DVD music, but no picture. Will play on the ipod itself but not connected.

How do i get my video to play on my Pioneer AV2300DVD music, but no picture. Will play on the ipod itself, but not connected. Also some songs and album art randomly cannot be located..

How are you connecting it?
What video are yu trying to play?
Some video have copy protection that prventplaying them ia VGA out from the iPod.
You really ae not provideing us enough information to help you. I do not know what a Pioneer AV2300DVD even is.

HT1657 We just downloaded a movie from Itunes but the picture is completely scrambled. Audio is fine but all you can see are funny color pixels on the screen..how do we fix this?e

We just downloaded a movie from Itunes but the picture is completely scrambled. Audio is fine but all you can see are funny color pixels on the screen..how do we fix this?

The movie is from iTunes. You would think that a download from iTunes to a MacBook could be watched on an HDTV using Apple TV without any headaches bit this does not appear to be the case.

VGA identified at MacBook but no picture

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for