Macbook Pro won't connect via DVI

Hello all,

My Macbook Pro suddenly won't connect to any monitor using a DVI connection. If I use a VGA monitor (via my DVI to VGA connector), everything is dandy, but connecting directly to a (i.e.) Samsung or an Apple Monitor via DVI, the OS just blinks once (like if there is a connection), but the display is not being detected and is not turned on. I tried to delete all display preferences and I've zapped the PRAM without any result.

Before I send the powerbook in for repair (my fear is that it's the DVI-connector that's broken), I just wanted to see if there's anybody out there who have had similar problems, that perhaps could be solved via software (i.e. the system)...

Cheers,
Massimo

Macbook Pro, 17" 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.6), 3GB RAM

Posted on Mar 11, 2009 3:12 AM

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Posted on Sep 23, 2009 6:15 PM

I took my computer and cable in to an Apple Support Center today - we tried with a different generation MacBook Pro to no avail, then switched cables with my computer and got it to work. The new cable is a Belkin, sold by Apple for $26. The old one was an Eforcity bought off Amazon.

I am unspeakably happy that this didn't involve replacing my motherboard...
17 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 23, 2009 6:15 PM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

I took my computer and cable in to an Apple Support Center today - we tried with a different generation MacBook Pro to no avail, then switched cables with my computer and got it to work. The new cable is a Belkin, sold by Apple for $26. The old one was an Eforcity bought off Amazon.

I am unspeakably happy that this didn't involve replacing my motherboard...

Mar 25, 2009 11:19 PM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

Furthermore, when I press the "Detect Displays"-key (F7) or choose "Detect Displays" from the monitors menu bar, nothing happens - the OS won't even try to detect the displays attached. I.e. you don't see a "flash" where a detection is being made. This happens if I have connected a DVI monitor to the computer and the Mac haven't connected to it.

Can anybody please give me a hint?

Cheers,
:-m

Nov 13, 2009 2:30 PM in response to Aweks

I am having the same problem as the rest on this thread. My VGA works fine in most cases, but my DVI will not work with any amount of prodding. Also, I have been trying to make use of matrox dualhead2go's and triplehead2go's, but these will not function correctly unfortunately. I got the whole logic board replaced a year after I got this laptop because it had strange display issues (the old red/blue square problem) but I'm far out of warranty now.

I am a student and a video artist requiring use of multiple projectors for my final mfa thesis project..but this is really going to mess up my plans if there isn't a free/cheap fix..anyone have suggestions for speaking with tech support/customer relations?

May 1, 2010 10:53 AM in response to JasonD5150

Not quite the same problem but not far off....

Trying to use a newish Toshiba 32XV505D as a mirrored monitor for films played on my 2GHz Intel Core Duo MacBook Pro running 10.6.3. It worked for a short time although I couldn't get any sound with the recommended 3.5mm sound lead. I disconnected while I sorted the lack of sound and when I connected it again - nothing but that jump screen as if it was going to connect. The Mac detects the TV and shows it in the display menu(as does SwitchResX)but the TV only displays a blue(is that no signal?)screen. I've used a long Dvi to hdmi lead that works on our larger Samsung TV but can't get it or a new shorter lead to work. Made sure the HDMi ports are selected on TV and been through all the changeable resolutions on the Mac but still no joy. Made sure mirroring is selected on the Mac. Tried disabling Regza and lip sync. on the TV (in case CEC is the problem) but no joy. ..... Help please....

May 28, 2010 6:11 AM in response to Lloyd Dorsey

I am having the same issue. The DVI was working fine yesterday morning when I came to pack up the computer to go to work. Then when I got to work and plugged in the DVI cable it would not recognize the monitor. So I tried different things to isolate the problem and found that if I connected using the VGA-DVI adapter and a VGA cable it recognized the display. Unfortunately, it does not recognize the correct resolutions. The native resolution of both my display at home and work ( both ViewSonics but different models ) is 1680x1050 but the closest I can set is 1600x1200. Also the colors are all wrong. The display is much darker.

When I got home I got the same behavior with my monitor at home.

I wonder if this might have been mechanical stress on the DVI input that caused a connection to fail on the MB?

Any help would be appreciated.

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Macbook Pro won't connect via DVI

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