Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter not working under Vista (Boot Camp).

Question

Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter not working under Vista (Boot Camp).

Hi there,

I'm facing a very serious issue with MacBook Pro Unibody running MS Vista under Boot Camp: using the Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter to hook a projector is 95% impossible because the only resolution available is 640x480 or sometimes 800x600. No solution came from the adaptor firmware update, still same behavior: connecting the external projector/monitor toggles 640x480 resolution with no more choices available. Just 5% of attempts on selected projectors gave me access to the complete resolutions list.

This is having a serious impact on my job where I do need both Mac&Windows running natively and with external display capabilities, please I'm looking for some feedback from users facing the same problem or someone who had an official answer on this issue from Apple. Do avoid posting about using modded display drivers please: I know they exist but the adaptor should be working with original ones.

I can understand Apple does not support MS Vista issues but this seems to be a hardware/driver one.

I'd like to point out I'm using a clean Vista installation with Apple drivers (from the Leopard DVD) and I've run Vista (same version, same gfx drivers etc) under Boot Camp on my previous MPB (with integrated DVI output+adapter) on hundreds of different projectors with never a single problem.

Any feedback is really appreciated.
L.

MacBook Pro Unibody, Mac OS X (10.5.6), Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter

Posted on Apr 11, 2009 9:14 AM

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Answer 1

dsmcclin

Level 1

0 points

Apr 17, 2009 1:11 PM in response to thelazydesigner

I am having the same problem as well - hooking up my Macbook to an external Sanyo HD projector in MS Vista 32-bit OS gives me only the option of having cloned displays at 640 x 480 - I cannot choose any other resolution. Also, the 2nd display in the Nvidia control panel shows up only as "Digital Display" (which I assume is the mini display adapter. Any suggestions anyone?

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Answer 2

Apr 23, 2009 3:26 AM in response to dsmcclin

Will do a 100% clean Vista installation and also an XP-sp2 one and will post the results, however seems really to be a serious driver/hardware incompatibility issue with still no solutions. Not good.
Any feedback from users succeeding is really welcome.

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Answer 3

Apr 28, 2009 9:41 AM in response to thelazydesigner

I have the same issues with the mini displayport to VGA and the dual link adapater. I am stuck at the lowest resolution under Vista. It looks to be a driver or firmware issue to me.

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Answer 4

Apr 29, 2009 8:28 AM in response to Paul J. White

I am having the same problems too. I have one monitor & projector that worked, but both last monitor & projector I tried only 640x480. I need 10x7 for work presentations. I hope someone can help us.

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Answer 5

Apr 30, 2009 2:35 PM in response to thelazydesigner

I've found a rather dumb solution, or at least so it seems: re-inserting Macbook Pro DVD (with bootcamp drivers on it) and choosing a full repair of all drivers fixed the display detection problem and I've got 2 of 2 external displays get back to work. I never updated the video driver but could have been some other who needed a restore. Please try this simple step and report any feedback.

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Answer 6

May 5, 2009 11:35 PM in response to thelazydesigner

I need to step back to Unanswered. Yesterday during a presentation my system refused to connect to the external projector, again. 640x480 output on Vista.

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Answer 7

May 5, 2009 11:37 PM in response to thelazydesigner

I need to deny my own previuos post: yesterday during a presentation my system refused again to output on the projector, 640x480 resolution again (and the presentation got completely screwed).

Problem is still there and reinstalling driver maybe was only a coincidence that I tested it on a compatible working projector.

Please report any feedback, I'll keep investigating.

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Answer 8

May 6, 2009 8:53 AM in response to thelazydesigner

Hi there,

I have the exact same problem with Vista running on a MB unibody.

I use the MB mainly in a work environment and need to be able to present a lot. If there is any solution so far, please let me know. I tried as well as the other guys installing nvidia drivers and other bootcamp drivers neither worked.

Thanks,

Daniel

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Answer 9

tlonian

Level 1

0 points

May 6, 2009 1:58 PM in response to vistabook

I'm having the same problem. When I try to connect to the switch in our conference room (connecting both a flat panel display and/or a projector, both with much higher native resolutions), all I get is 640x480. This is a huge problem to using bootcamp, and I really need to get this to work. I was able to get a higher resolution 1280x800 on a separate, portable display, so I'm wondering if people have the problem with standalone projectors or only with projectors connected to some sort of switch, in my case an Extron MPX423A. I have also tried this in both Windows Vista (32-bit) and Windows 7 RC1 (32-bit), with the bootcamp drivers and the latest NVidia drivers, and the behavior is the same all around.

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Answer 10

May 6, 2009 2:08 PM in response to tlonian

Hi there, still no solution and still investigating.

Most worrying thing is that I do not have any direct confirmation someone succeeded in connecting external projector using our configuration, and I do want to point out that Apple DOES NOT mention external display in any way on their BootCamp tech specs.

Moreover there's this old KB http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24297 talking about "VGA adapters being incompatible with Boot Camp beta 1.1", which is old news but frightening, meaning there should be something difficult our there.

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Answer 11

tlonian

Level 1

0 points

May 6, 2009 2:27 PM in response to thelazydesigner

Ugh. I hope it's not still the case. That would really be annoying. But even if it isn't, my guess is that a fix is a long way off, sort of like the errant trackpad problems.

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Answer 12

tlonian

Level 1

0 points

May 6, 2009 2:28 PM in response to tlonian

Just curious, but has anyone tried contacting Apple support for the issue?

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Answer 13

May 7, 2009 1:49 AM in response to tlonian

Hey,

I now tried several options like installing the new nvidia drivers (185.81) but still no better resolution.

I even installed parallels 4.0 to access the bootcamp partition and then to be able to have a better screen resolution. this obviously works, but the problem with parallels is the performance of vista. It ***** big time. My perfomance index under Bootcamp is around 5,3. In Parallels its 1,0 because of the sh** video performance.

So there is no solution here in germany so far, but a trade off.

cheers
Daniel

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Answer 14

May 8, 2009 1:45 AM in response to tlonian

Hi,

of course I did, Apple officially does not provide any kind of support about configuring Windows, but gives you only information about how to install Boot Camp drivers. Which is pretty straightforward.

It's funny that on Boot Camp web page they don't mention VGA output in any way, they talk about all the rest of hardware but not this one ( http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html).

I'm now in contact with people in Apple Italy and we'll try to sort out the issue. We'll keep you posted.

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Answer 15

May 8, 2009 1:51 AM in response to vistabook

Hello Daniel,

I agree with you, running a virtual machine is a rather partial solution because of big performance loss, and moreover you also have big problems with your software licenses that usually you need to re-activate (when possible) each time you switch from Boot Camp to the virtual image. That's not why I bought a MacBookPro.

I made another test yesterday, and was 100% successful under Vista with an Epson projector which was connected by a SINGLE, SHORT VGA cable. This might suggests something to do with connections and signals. In many occasions projectors are connected via long cables and distribution systems / switches that could create some mess in signals.

Obviously even this way it's still a windows driver problem because under MacOS it's working almost everywhere.

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