iMac connected to plasma display ...

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nuno1959 Author

Level 1

36 points

iMac connected to plasma display ...

hi everyone

i just bought a Panasonic TX P50V10E HD plasma display & when it arrived, tried to connect my aluminum Intel iMac to it . hooked up the plasma & the iMac with a mini DVI/HDMI adapter->HDMI / HDMI-> plasma's HDMI nº4 input, then went to system preferences, clicked on ''displays'' it's box came up , i clicked on detect windows & the iMac's screen ''blinked'' but the plasma remained black - oh i forgot to mention that obviously i selected on the plasma the relevant HDMI input. then i went back to a mini DVI/VGA adapter->VGA / VGA cable -> plasma's VGA input, repeated the procedure &....NOTHING !? i must add that before this plasma,the iMac was hooked up with another display with exactly the same cables & it worked fine
can anyone tell me what am i doing wrong ? not five days ago i did the exact same procedure at a friend's & in two minutes flat we were done with it : flawless picture w/ no bugs whatsoever.
needless to say that the T.V's user manual while it spends quite some space/effort explaining why we shouldn't spill water over the TV, doesn't mention any ''how to connect a computer'' or anything like it. oooohhh...& i wanted sooo much to take it with me into my bath to play with my rubber duck !!...LOL...
hope it's some obvious/stupid/silly minor oversight from my part otherwise i'll have to call Panasonic's tech support on monday
thanks in advance & take care
N

20'' intel iMac, 2,66Ghz C2D processor, 4Gb Ram, 320GbHD + 2X 1Tb W.Digital, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Jun 21, 2009 1:20 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 22, 2009 4:44 AM in response to nuno1959

Does System Preferences Displays pane have an Arrangement tab on it? If it does, it means Mac OS X recognizes that there is a second display connected. And there should be a +Gather Windows+ button. Click it to show the HDTV's Displays pane on the iMac's screen. Try adjusting settings such as resolution, colors, etc. to see of there is any effect on the HDTV screen.

If there is no Arrangement tab, Mac OS X does not know there is an second display connected; restart using the reset PRAM command as a first step.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

Some display-related settings are stored in PRAM.

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Answer 2

nuno1959 Author

Level 1

36 points

Jun 22, 2009 5:30 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

hi K.W
once again you're throwing me the rope to get me out of trouble ! 🙂
well, the iMac does show an arrangement tab when connected with one of the cables - i just don't remember which if the VGA or the HDMI, i will check later since i'm not at home right now..- but still the plasma remained ''unimpressed'' : black screen , didn't bat an eyelid...the iMac however did that momentary iMac thing of it's screen turning blue for a second->resuming it's desktop. i tried every display setting available.....NOTHING
it's like the Panasonic is lost in an ethernet haze from which it doesn't want to return - very frustrating
Kenichi, considering what i just wrote do you think it's worth ( or if it still applies..) trying the PRAM reseting you suggested ? thanks
N
P.S. : as soon as i get home i will sort which cable entices which response ( VGA or HDMI /re- arrangement tab..) & will tell you O.K. ?

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Answer 3

Jun 22, 2009 5:42 AM in response to nuno1959

I would try to get it to work over HDMI. HDMI is basically the same signal as DVI, except the connector has a different shape, and it's all digital from computer to HDTV. For Mac OS X, it should be like connecting a DVI computer display. VGA is analog, so your the signal is going from digital to analog.

Double-check the HDTV's internal settings menu to make sure the connection being displayed is the one for the HDMI connection.

Resetting PRAM is a basic troubling-shooting procedure that you should try as a first step, in many situations.

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Answer 4

nuno1959 Author

Level 1

36 points

Jun 22, 2009 5:55 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Hi again
i'll do as you say as soon as i get home & then i'll let you know how it went . thanks & later !
N

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Answer 5

nuno1959 Author

Level 1

36 points

Jun 22, 2009 7:54 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

hi K
me again - only a while ago could i take some time to go try that PRAM reseting you suggested. I did it & it didn't work. just to make sure everything is O.K. with the iMac i took it to the other plasma display ( the older 42'' being replaced..) connected it & in three or four clicks it was wroking correctly so it's not a problem with the computer. after this i went to the place i ordered the TV from & the 26th they will send a tech together with a tech from Panasonic....i'm crossing my fingers although my feeling is that this newer model is so much more complex ( loads of functions/menus/sub-menus..) that i'm hoping it's just me missing a ''turning point'' somewhere....
i'll keep you posted on the developments, thanks again
Nuno

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Answer 6

Jun 22, 2009 8:43 PM in response to nuno1959

There is one setting called overscan in System Preferences Displays pane. I don't remember exactly where it is located; it may be in under an Options button on the Displays pane for the TV's screen. So if you have not seen it yet, do the +Gather Windows+ command to get the TV's pane on the iMac's screen and see if you can find that setting. Then enable or disable it (change it from current setting), to see if that has any effect.

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Answer 7

nuno1959 Author

Level 1

36 points

Jun 23, 2009 4:14 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

will do straight away, then will let you know. thanks & later
N

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Answer 8

nuno1959 Author

Level 1

36 points

Jun 27, 2009 10:53 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

hi Kenichi
after trying everything suggested , i called the local Apple rep - a very nice, competent guy.. - he came by &....the problem is the iMac itself. since it's still under warranty he took it & i will have it back by wednesday with a brand new logic board 🙂
oh well we tried ...& thanks again for all your assistance - enjoy your week end
cheers
Nuno

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Answer 9

nuno1959 Author

Level 1

36 points

Jun 27, 2009 10:57 AM in response to nuno1959

thanks to all who chipped in
N

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