New MacBook connected to external VGA display screen flash.

Quebec Canada
Registered: Jan 15, 2009

Re: Syncmaster 2032MW LCD-TV to alu MacBook problem
Posted: Jan 16, 2009 1:41 AM in response to: Frank van Herwa...
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I'm having the exactly the same problem on my late 2008 macbook when connected to a LG L227WTG monitor. Every few minutes my screen goes black for a second or two and everything is fine right after. I went through some trouble shooting, NO CHANGE. I changed my mini display to VGA, NO CHANGE. I tested it out on a 19" hp monitor and EUREKA, all was well but something inside of me wasn't 100% convinced so I went back for an exchange. Tried the new one out on the LG and to my horror the same problem. It's definitely not the LG because I had it connected to a white macbook with no incident. I called Apple up and they told me they were not aware of the problem. I'm hoping all that's needed is a software fix.

Hi guys, same problem as everyone: the external monitor flashes once in a while to black for a second or so. Just want to add my voice to this forum and warn others of what monitor not to get and to pressure Apple to correct this problem.
I have a late 2008 13inch macbook. My external monitor is a 20inch LG (W2052TQ-TF). Hope Apple fixes this soon.

The problem remains. My toshiba display flashes (black screen) ramdomly for 1 or 2 secs. This is a big problems for public presentations. Is this going to be fixed. Any answer from Apple. I have already asked the technicians from apple with no solution. Please this is a priority problem for a laptop. I think apple today is not what it used to be.

Thanks,
Please we need a fix.

Hi Again.
After taking my MacBook into the Apple Store in Regents Street to the Genius Bar the guy I saw when he checked on their system told me that Apple had only acknowledged this problem to the stores today. It was the first time he had seen anyone with the problem.
He did say he was not supposed to tell me this and he printed off the email to prove he was not lying. He would not let me keep it though!
He also said that Apple have advised not to take the hardware in as it is not a hardware fault but something that can be fixed with a software update when released.
Lets hope its not to long!!!

I think the cause is a defective mini Connector (either DVI or VGA). I had (evidently) identical set ups at work and home: Mac 13.3 driving Samsung 244ts: Home was flashing, and would only work then with a VGA connection, DVI signal worked for only a few seconds- then black, etc. Work setup was fine using a DVI adaptor to the 244T as the monitor. So, I started swapping all of the parts around. Turns out the mini-DVI adaptor I was using at work also works at home (with a different DVI cable). So I conclude that the mini-DVI and mini-VGA connectors for the MacBook must be the source of the problem. So much for Apple QA/QC. I never had the problems earlier associated with the NVidia hardware in the older MacBook Pros. Just the problems outlined here.

Today, at work, I did the "control" experiment. Sure enough, only one of my mini-to-DVI adaptors connected to my 13.3 MacBook worked correctly, while the other one worked for a couple minutes then all of the usual glitches started appearing. The fact that the glitch on the defective connectors seems to have a "time-dependent" aspect or sometimes depend on graphics activity makes me wonder if there is an RC circuit somewhere in the system (the video adaptor?) polling the signal somehow that is causing the problem (I once had a freak problem like this in a computer controlled instrument). Off to the Apple store with my two connectors to find another one that works.

I just bought a new unibody macbook so i decided to see it on my new LCD FULL HD SAMSUNG so i got the mini display port to vga and the tv didnt recognize it! "CHECK CABLE SIGNAL" c'mon! Apple support told me to download MAC OS X 10.5.6 but nothing! it keeps showing me the same message! Very angry i talked to samsung asking fr help and they told me the tv was the problem ! OMG its new too! C'mon! this can be happening!!! So they took it away to fix it and today i just receive it! Im so mad people I Connect it again and i didnt get a solution! I tried everything changing resolutions, etc. the rumor about an update that will fix the problem is true?! Im so frustrated!

Its the adaptor. Fits all of the data when you think about it. Maybe it has something to do with the graphics hardware being out of tolerance on performance specs, but certain mini to DVI and VGA connectors seem to work fine.

I'm STILL having the same problems 3 months after buying this laptop & Apple's solution is to WAIT FOR A FIX.

I don't want to wait for a fix. I want a laptop that works with an external monitor.

I'm feeling like I have wasted a lot of money rite now.

C'mon Apple . Accept the problem & sort it out OR give me a refund so I can have a Laptop that works!

Hello! Here from Portugal just having the same problem...
My old Macbook does not make this kind of things... Hope we have a solution soon...

I'm also having the same problem as everybody else. Using mini-display to vga on a Pioneer plasma display. It's quite annoying while watching a movie.

I`ve never had any problems with flashing on my 24" BenQ monitor!

Does happen with DP to DVI as well. For me works OK if the Mac is connected to power source. When just on battery acts same as with DP to VGA connector or HDMI connection to TV monitor. Screen randomly flashes.

Is there an option to set what Mac should do when the lid is closed (similar to the "windows" based laptops where you could specify "do nothing" or "go to sleep").

Same problem for me. Unibody aluminum MacBook (Sept. 2008) connected via Mini DisplayPort->VGA to a 1920x1200 Westinghouse L2610NW.

The external monitor occasionally blanks (as if it were changing resolution), and then the image comes back about 4-5 seconds later. Sometimes it happens twice in a row.

The monitor blanking seems to occur randomly, and happens on average about once an hour.

I don't know if it happens at other resolutions or not.

I previously had this MacBook hooked up to a 19" BenQ LCD, and I did not have the screen-blanking problem.

Same problem as everyone else. I am using Macbook 2.4 Aluminum with mini display to vga and I get the screen blank out for a couple seconds while its hooked up my Dell 17in monitor. However, when I hook it up to my Sony 40 LCD TV I dont get the screen blanks. I think its the mini display adapter and it depends on the quality of the cable you use to connect the external display.