Flashing blue screen when monitor is plugged in

Question

Level 1

4 points

Flashing blue screen when monitor is plugged in

Hi everyone,

I'm attempting to use my MacBook (white, December 2008) at work, and my monitor here is a ViewSonic WG1930wm. The cable that was previously connecting it to my work-issue Dell is a VGA cable (though the monitor does have a DVI input as well), so I purchased a mini-DVI to VGA adapter from Apple. I realize that DVI is superior to VGA, but I didn't want to have to buy another cable.

When I first plugged the monitor into the computer, nothing happened, so I went to my System Preferences -> Display and clicked "Detect Displays." The screen of my MacBook went blue and started flashing like a strobe light. My music continued to play, so I don't think the computer was frozen, just the display. When I unplugged the monitor, the MacBook screen went back to normal.

Now, when I plug in the monitor, the screen instantly starts flashing blue. I can't even get to "Detect Display" because I'm unable to see anything on the screen. The monitor generally says "No signal," but occasionally it looks like it's trying to connect. I've tried shutting down the computer, plugging in the monitor, and restarting with the monitor plugged in. This gives me the same blue flashing result. The screen always goes back to normal if I unplug the monitor.

What's the deal?? I saw one other person post about this ( http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1962925&tstart=15), and a responder said the poster needed to purchase a VGA to S-Video or Composite Video adapter. Why would this be? My monitor does not have video inputs. It has a VGA input -- why can't I just plug the thing in with a VGA cable? I'm very frustrated.

Anyone have any clue why this is happening or what I can do to fix it??

White MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.7), Purchased in December 2008

Posted on May 20, 2009 10:28 AM

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Answer 1

May 21, 2009 1:03 PM in response to stephshore

I have my Macbook hooked up the same way I think that s-video thing sounds wrong... I can tell you whenever i pug my mini-dvi to vga into my computer it goes blue for a second or two and then it broadcasts on both screens.... Id say go to ssystem prefernces- display, with your thing plugged in you will get two displays to mess with just hit "gather windows" to get both the windows on the screen you can see, and u can change the screen resoultions.......you might need to try a diffrent resoultion because only certain resoultions are supported for whatever reason........ good luck

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Answer 2

R Head

Level 1

5 points

Jun 12, 2009 7:57 AM in response to stephshore

I have a similar problem when I plug in a Sony SDM-HS93 to my Macbook (4,1), OS X 10.5.7 updated. The Macbook's screen turns blue and blinks madly; the monitor's screen mostly stays black but blinks blue occasionally.

The monitor works fine with another, older Macbook running OS X 10.4, so it's isn't the cable or the monitor, but rather some kind of sync problem. I tried changing the monitors resolution with the other Mac, but of course, that's local to the Mac, so no difference.

Suggestions about synching welcome!

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Answer 3

Jun 20, 2009 3:49 PM in response to R Head

I am also stuck in this same boat... used to be able to run a mini DVI- VGA connection before 10.5.7... now I get the flashing blue screen. 😟 Feel free, Apple, to fix this sync problem for all of your disappointed users!

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Answer 4

Aug 1, 2009 11:10 PM in response to tmosunich

Weirdest thing...My adapter(mini-dvi -> VGA) was working just fine until today! I have been using the macbook with a Samsung 52" for watching movies for almost 6 months...and today, everything just happened as described by you guys...

Now, every external monitor I plug, the screen keeps blinking in both displays, internal and external... =/

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Answer 5

Aug 29, 2009 11:13 AM in response to stephshore

I have the same model MacBook and the same problem. At first when I began having this problem it was shortly after I'd connected my computer to a projector and assumed it was somehow stale display settings. Now, looking at the date of the other posts here, I'm wondering if it was timed with the recent Mac OS upgrade. I'm sure that the problem is in software as I have my Macbook set up to dual-boot with Mac OS and Linux and it works just fine under Linux.

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Answer 6

Aug 29, 2009 8:52 PM in response to pinwheels

This is similar to a problem I'm having with my early '09 Mac Mini. When using the version of OS X that shipped with it (10.5.6?), my external monitor (NEC LCD2490WUXi) and Mac Mini work together perfectly. After 'upgrading' to 10.5.8 (and also after a Snow Leopard upgrade yesterday), the monitor flashes a blue screen twice after powering the monitor up: I'll turn on the monitor (or wake the Mac), and the desktop will appear. After about 2 seconds, the screen will turn blue for about 1/2 a second; it will return to the desktop for about a second, then turn blue again, and then revert to the desktop. At the same time, the monitor will show its resolution indicator onscreen, suggesting that the Mac is having some trouble 'locking onto' the monitor. Oh, and this is via the mini DisplayPort to single-link DVI connection. Since this still isn't addressed in Snow Leopard, I'm debating the merits of just living with 10.5.6. Any thoughts?

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Answer 7

Aug 30, 2009 6:51 AM in response to the_stranger

I have a correction to my last post. The Mac Mini is connected via the mini DVI to single-link DVI adapter, not a mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter. Thanks.

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Answer 8

Sep 5, 2009 2:20 AM in response to the_stranger

Hi All.
Im having the same problem with my Mac Mini which I brought from Apple a month ago, I also recently upgraded to Snow Leopard and have starting having these issues.

Anybody found any solutions?

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Answer 9

Sep 5, 2009 2:34 AM in response to Community User

Ive currently set the monitor 'Display Power Button' to 'Does nothing' and disabled the brightness buttons also.

You can do this under System Pref > Displays > Options

Im hoping this would make a difference, so far so good.

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Answer 10

Oct 24, 2009 4:04 AM in response to stephshore

Hi there all, I wish I had a solution for you, but unfortunately I have been having the same issues!

I use a white Macbook, late 2007 model. When I began shopping for external monitors, I found that some (but not all) would cause the Macbook screen to go blue and flicker, and nothing to be displayed on the external monitor. It seemed to be dependant on the screen ratio (i.e. 16:9 displays would cause the problem).

Now this happens for every display I connect, whether it is a projector, a CRT or an LCD. My Macbook becomes unusable when I connect a display, using both the VGA and DVI adapters.

Unfortunately this happened about a month after my limited hardware warranty expired (should have got AppleCare!)—I've considered taking the laptop to an Apple store to have it checked out, but unfortunately the nearest one's about 1.5–2hrs away.

Here's to hoping Apple is able to fix this! If anyone's been to an Apple Store already, please let us know what they had to say!

—Sharpy

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Answer 11

pjmama

Level 1

0 points

Dec 1, 2009 8:52 PM in response to Community User

This doesn't appear to be an option anymore in 10.5.8

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Answer 12

pjmama

Level 1

0 points

Dec 10, 2009 7:25 AM in response to pjmama

Got my Macbook back from Apple today, and the problem has been solved. They changed out the logic board, so I have to assume that was the issue.

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