Q: Mini display port to HDMI problem

Hey I was having this same issue and was able to fix it. What i did was 1st make sure i was connected to power, 2nd, reset the PRAM and 3rd I started in Safe Boot. As soon as it booted in Safe Boot after PRAM reset it started working like magic. Not sure which step was the actual fix but i'll link both Apple kbase articles here to reset PRAM and Safe Boot. Let me know if this helps.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455

I have struggled with this for months now but I found a method that works for me everytime..

1. Make adapter is unplugged from Macbook
2. Open  System Preferences
3. Select Displays
4. UNCHECK "Show mirrioring options
5. Plug adapter in
6. Check show "Show mirrioring displays"
7. Display should mirror.

Hope that works for you too.

Good job johnbello05!! Great, my girlfriend and I can now watch our movie! Thanks a mill

Hi, I have plugged in my hdmi cord through the white cord and then in the mac, it has worked before on TV, then I used the cord of my brother's TV and now that I will be testing at home again it will not work. Do you know what setting i need to change or whats the problem? Thanks in advance!

Good grief!  I couldn't get this to work at all and tried the order method you described... IT WORKED!  I'm not sure why this had to be so difficult, but in any case, thanks for the tip!

Spoke too soon - worked once and that was it.  The macbook sees it, but nothing is displayed on the Samsung.  Very frustrating!

I should mention that it worked great until I purposefully disconnected to make sure the process worked.

I did see someone was unplugging their dell monitor and seemed to have good results, so I resorted to unplugging the adapter, power cycling the samsung display (using the switch at the plug - not just powering it off).  Once the display powered up, I plugged the adapter back in and switched to the hdmi source - and it worked!  I have now duplicated this twice... not sure I want to try any further, but this is progress???

Okay, so as I have mentioned before: I have been going through the same problem as everyone here. I tried out a number of methods, and a few of them worked (turning on the TV, and then plugging the HDMI cable from the TV into the HDMI > Thunderbold converter). This all worked for about a week, after my converter began gving trouble.

Now, however, it doesn't work AT ALL. Similar to many responses on this thread, when I turn on my TV, a blue screen blonks twice on my MacBook, but nothing happens.

I have been reading a number of other threads & complaints about this exact issue, and basically, it comes down to the fact that there is no specific way to get it to work. Basically, the Apple product (the converter) is a joke, and most of them die out anywhere between 3 to 6 months. If yours has worked for longer, you are one of the few lucky.

Time to go out and buy a cheaper, non-apple made converter.

I don't want to disappoint you, but I bought two non-Apple converters and if the first died after 4 months, the second did not even work at all.

I have 40 something inch Sony bravia TV with bunch of HDMI slots and a macbook pro with mini DVI adapter and hdmi cable plugged into TV from my laptop but sometimes it works sometimes it does not. It started recently and I am really bummed about all this.

What can I do to make this POS equipment work so I can enjoy my movies?

thanks!

The short (and unhelpful) answer is to buy something other than an apple laptop.  There are 52 pages (4 years worth) and counting of those of us with issues relating to the simple act of connecting a laptop to a non-apple external display.  I can't say I've read every page but I don't recall ever seeing an offical apple response that addresses this issue.  Do 'they' not read or respond here? 

Hi everyone, from time to time I check back here and find people having this problem. I had this issue a year ago and tried everything, and i mean everything. What worked for me was throwing the bloody adapters away and getting a hdmi to minidisplay port cable from Neet. I have had no **** issues since then. Connecting from mac to samsung monitors/TVs, optoma projectors, and dell monitors. To all of you, please try this.

Guys... Just go to an apple store and buy an apple Hdmi cable.. If you can give 1000 bucks to buy a mac, it wont be a problem to spend 30 more. I spent much more to other cables and combination, until i got one a year ago and everything works fine.

I can't agree with Vic-zx more! I was having the exact same problem--bought a mini display port adapter with an HDMI converter with a separate hdmi cable and it did not work. As soon as I took the converter out of the equation and bought a minidisplay port to hdmi CABLE it worked immediately after I plugged it in. All I had to do was change my sound settings and this cable does both video and audio. It has been working great since I got it. I purchased a simple off-brand product off of Amazon for about $7. Can't beat that.

Any time. I was there and after finding out the solution all I wanted to do is share it since I searched for an answer to the problem, but couldn't really found one.

dear vic, gio and hg

Please read part 4 of my post on page 41 (probably the last post on that page). I have reiterated the point in page 46 and page 50.

So the solution is there in the forum but you need to read through the stuff patiently.

Welcome to the long list of people who could get it to work by ditching the adaptor and embracing the cable.