weird screen issue on my Macbook 12

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mxmln23 Author

Level 1

9 points

weird screen issue on my Macbook 12

Hello,

I've got an MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) with on-board Intel HD Graphics 5300 1536 MB.

Two days after Update to 10.15.4 (maybe unrelated) I got a weird display error.

When booting up, everything looks fine logging in, but instead of the desktop, I get a random coloured screen.

When I boot in safe mode, everything works fine.

Even weirder: when I boot up and get the pixelated screen, but THEN connect an external monitor (via HDMI-dongle) the Macbook Screen and the external monitor work just fine.

When I unplug, the Macbook screen freezes, black dots appear and the screen gets darker over the next minutes (next picture). When I connect the external monitor again - everything switches back to normal.

what I tried:

- reinstalled Catalina 10.15.4 on blanc partitioned storage

- reset PRAM/NVRAM

- reset SMC

- Apple Diagnstics (no issues - ADP000)

- installed Mojave 10.14.6 on blanc partitioned storage

Nothing changed.

Can't be an software issue, after reinstalling macOS. Kind of can't be an hardware issue either, as it works fine on both screens, when an external monitor is connected.

Anyone got a clue what it is or what I could try?

Thanks,

Max

MacBook, macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 14, 2020 12:21 AM

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Answer 1

mxmln23 Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 22, 2020 5:49 AM in response to BDAqua

thank you for your help, BDAqua!

For everyone else that might experiencing this issue:

I didn't find a solution, but kind of a workaround.

Using the suggested tool from madrau SwitchResX, I was able to set resolution-settings, that work with the display.

It seems, that the settings the Macbook tries to set itself for the panel are broken.

Sadly, everytime the Macbook goes to sleep or reboots, it forgets the SwitchResX, settings, therefore an external monitor has to be connected every time.

I found a workaround for that monitor as well: there are HDMI-Dummies that pose as a monitor, also called "headless ghost". They come as a HDMI- or USB-C-Stick and are easy to find online..

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Answer 2

mxmln23 Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 16, 2020 11:38 AM in response to BDAqua

it should grab more RAM for more displays, but it works with two displays and not with one..

I did full EFI Memtest via USB-boot (memtest86.com) -> there were no problems.

Also I installed Ubuntu 20.4 on the Macbook and it works like a charm withour any errors (without the extra monitor)

https://imgur.com/a/IJQx2S4

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Apr 18, 2020 1:57 PM in response to mxmln23

Maybe this?

https://www.madrau.com/

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Answer 4

mxmln23 Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 16, 2020 10:05 PM in response to BDAqua

what does that mean?

I installed Ubuntu Linux and it works fine.

I installed macOS 10.15.4 and 10.14.6 (both latest of their major release) and got the problem.

Do you think it's in the latest update?

Where can I find install media for 10.15.3 or 10.14.5 (to test that) ?

Thank you for your help again!! :)

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Apr 17, 2020 6:44 AM in response to mxmln23

There have been reports that macOS 10.15.4 has caused assorted problems, haven't heard about 10.14.6

Sadly Apple only offers the latest version of any OS no availability of getting 10.15.3 or 10.14.5, that is why Time Machine or cloning before updates is good.

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