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Mini display port to HDMI problem

I have my aluminum Macbook perfectly wired up to my 32 inch RCA HDTV. Nothing will come up on the screen, I've tried detect display, I've tried restarting the computer, unplugging and plugging back in then detect display, turned the tv of and on, but nothing is working. I am currently running Snow Leopard, but when I was on Leopard this process of attaching the TV to the computer just took about 10 minutes of doing desultory processes that I've already described. Any suggestions on how to make it work the first time?

Early 2009 Aluminum Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Sep 28, 2009 1:36 PM

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1,012 replies

Jul 30, 2017 12:42 AM in response to Ponponhead

I've had the same problem twice. first time was when i updates to sierra. i thought i busted my old moshi so i bought a new one an innerexile 4k adaptor. didn't work either. so i borrowed my friends mbp (we both have the first aluminium MBPs) and we both upgraded our OS to sierra and all the adaptors we had didn't work. we were both puzzled. so we waited for a security update and all the adaptors worked fine for a while. and then recently this vintage of a laptop updated. now none of the adaptors work again. kinda frustrating. can't watch my netflix on my tv. i hate watching on a small screen.

Oct 3, 2009 8:34 PM in response to Ponponhead

Hi ponponhead,

I'm beginning to see a trend here... you're at least the 10th person I've seen in the past few weeks with the Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter that can't get there's to work. Heck, I went through two trying to get my computer to work with my TV and didn't have any success. It wasn't until I went to a Mini DisplayPort to DVI (Apple-branded) and then DVI to HDMI that I got immediate success.

The process, unfortunately, just "works" or it doesn't. It's one of the great features of the process and it's biggest point of failure. There aren't "settings" or tricks to get it to work outside of what you've already done and it should be automatic regardless.

I'm beginning to think it has something to do with these adapters, but I know I've also read success stories too.

Oct 3, 2009 9:53 PM in response to Ponponhead

I see a mini-trend. These 32" sets and smaller are likely not 720 nor 1080 but like 768 and so are not "official" HD although they will work at these sizes. Since the set reports something back on the HDMI cable, there may be confusion and in any case it would be hard to get a desirable 1:1 pixel display. So we should be able to force 720 or 1080 or whatever the TV will accept, but can we?

I've no problem with the mini-DVI to HDMI and my 1920x1080 large screen LED DLP.
-Ken

Oct 9, 2009 9:18 PM in response to Ponponhead

Same problem. I'm using MacBook Pro with a Monoprice Mini-DP to HDMI. No matter which order I plug the cables in, the result is the same, bluescreen on the Mac for 1/2 a second, then the HDTV shuts off (Sylvania), and cycles 3 times (3 bluescreens and 3 TV resets), then stops, and the screen on the Mac returns to normal, and the screen on the TV stays black. It never shows up in the displays preferences.

Oct 20, 2009 6:48 PM in response to JasonFear

I'm having similiar problems with a macbook pro and recognizing a HDMI display connection via a monoprice mini-displayport to HDMI adapter. I have to unplug and reinsert the adapter to get the display to be recognized. It worked correctly under 10.5.6 but when I upgraded to 10.5.8, I started having problems. I may try the official adapter as you stated.

Nov 9, 2009 6:54 AM in response to Ponponhead

I got my mini-display port to HDMI cable from Hong Kong . Luckily I bought a mini-display port to DVI as well for my projector.
My workaround just now just to run the mini-display port to DVi - my old DVi to HDMI cable into projector.
The pure mini-display port to HDMI - HDMI to HDMI new cable link does not work unless I open my notebook and that is not feasible long-term as it under my LCD.

I think Apple will just address this in the next few software updates as they don't officially support mini-display port to HDMI yet do they ? Or maybe they will expand their support to generic cables...hopefully

Message was edited by: Electro 303

Nov 9, 2009 12:13 PM in response to Electro 303

I have a mini display to DVI connection bought from the apple store and a DVI to HDMI connecting to my TV. I cant get the TV to connect. The blue screen comes twice and nothing happens.
My friend has a DVI connection on his older Macbook Pro. He can connect to the TV with no problems with the DVI to HDMI wire.

I am going to the Apple store today to see if they can help.

Nov 12, 2009 2:33 PM in response to Ponponhead

I use the Monoprice miniDisplayPort+USB Audio>HDMI adapter plugged into a standard HDMI cable connected to an old Sanyo 30" widescreen CRT (yes it has an HDMI input!). Nothing displays on the TV's HDMI input UNTIL I plug in a second monitor. Mirroring seems to get turned on automatically at that point. Using the exteral monitor i set the Mac Mini's Display settings to 720P, 60Hz is default as is Overscan (yes, it cuts off about a third of the Menu and Dock). FYI, if I turn off Overscan, the Display Resolutiom resets to 420P. 1080i displays a chopped up and flickering desktop (unusable), and 1080P display's No Signal. Anyone know why a second monitor is required to get the TV to display an image?

Mini display port to HDMI problem

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