Mini Display port has stopped connecting to second monitor
I have used the Mini Display port to connect to a second screen for some time now on my 2014 Mac mini, using a Mini Display to DVI adapter and then DVI input into the second screen. At first it stopped connecting intermittently, and now has stopped connecting altogether.
I've tested the adapter/cable with a different screen, and have tried connecting with a different DVI cable and adapter, neither of which work... which leads me to think that it's a problem with the ports themselves (though this doesn't make much sense as neither of them work).
Is it possible that something can go wrong with the ports? or has there maybe been a firmware upgrade that means I need to update my DVI cable/adapter?
Any help much appreciated...
Mac mini, macOS 10.14