Macbook Pro recognizes ViewSonic VT2300LED but screen is still black

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Macbook Pro recognizes ViewSonic VT2300LED but screen is still black

I just bought a ViewSonic VT2300LED monitor to be my second monitor. I have a mini display to VGA adapter plugged in and my macbook recognizes the second monitor but the ViewSonic screen says no signal and nothing shows up. I've run through all the settings on the TV monitor (PC, TV, AV, etc.) and can't get a signal. I tested the monitor on another computer and it works fine on the PC setting.
Any ideas? do I need a different connector? Are there drivers I'm missing?

Thanks in advance for you help!

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jan 25, 2011 12:57 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 25, 2011 1:50 PM in response to lollypop10

Its gotta be a bad monitor.

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Answer 2

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 25, 2011 6:57 PM in response to lollypop10

Where did you get the Mini DIsplayPort to VGA adapter? Is it Apple branded or ? Either way, unless you have seen that it works with another monitor or projector, it could be a bad adapter.

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Answer 3

lollypop10 Author

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Jan 26, 2011 7:57 AM in response to BSteely

No, they're not Apple adapters. I guess I get what I pay for. I'll try it with another adapter.

Thanks!!

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Answer 4

Jan 29, 2011 1:49 AM in response to lollypop10

I'm having the same issues with my MacBook Pro and other monitors like my ViewSonic. I recently had to get a new MacBook as my 4 year old version died on me last week. It had it's own DVI output. I was able to output video from that older MacBook (via DVI to VGA) to both of my monitors with no issue.

My new MacBook as a Mini Display Port and not a DVI output. So I bought an "Apple" MiniDisplay Port Adapter to DVI (thinking it would be the same output signal that I had with my older MacBook). Well... come to find out... both my ViewSonic and Dell external monitors are recognized by my new MacBook - but they both do not receive any signals. So I went out and bought another adapter - to check if that was the issue. But I've got the same problem. I'm at a loss on this one. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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Answer 5

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 29, 2011 9:28 PM in response to Eric Dapkewicz

Eric, if you are hooking up to your monitors by VGA, you should have bought the Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter. You can't go from DVI to VGA using the Apple Mini DIsplayPort to DVI Adapter because that adapter does not pass analog signals, which VGA signals are.

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Answer 6

Lizhaod

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Feb 6, 2011 1:53 PM in response to lollypop10

Sounds like Viewsonic has a generic problem with Mac. saw many others reported different viewsonic models do not work with macbook. Mine vx2233wm even can not be recognized by Macbook pro.

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Answer 7

Maldon

Level 1

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Jan 19, 2012 7:39 AM in response to Lizhaod

This isn't limited to MacBooks, the problem exists with my Mid 2010 Mac Pro as well.

Under Windows in BootCamp without changing *any* hardware or cables, it works perfectly.

It seems like Apple has written or authorized bad drivers for the video cards or ViewSonic monitors and doesn't care to update them.

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Answer 8

HBerko

Level 1

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Jan 21, 2012 9:52 AM in response to lollypop10

My issue is similar and I would love some help. I am trying to use my new Viewsonic display with my mid 2010 Macbook Pro 13". When the lid is open, all is well. With the lid closed, the monitor says that there is no input. The furstrating thing is that at the Apple store with an Apple monitor, it worked! Suggestions?

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Answer 9

mlckfip

Level 1

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Feb 26, 2012 6:20 AM in response to BSteely

BSteely: I have the same problem, and have an authentic Apple adaptor cable. The signal to the Viewsonic monitor is intermittant (and deteriorating by the day). Since last week, it has completely stopped working.

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Answer 10

pennbank

Level 4

1,688 points

Feb 26, 2012 7:19 AM in response to mlckfip

Have you done the bit in system preferences that some people forget

Plug it in first switch on Monitor, so Macbook will reconise it. In System Preferences,Display etc

then select Arrangement, then tick mirror display. then go back and go into Sound, select Output and tick HDMI cable.? This will get your icons onto yourMonitor and Sound

The sound bit is for later models, I believe you may need an extra lead for the sound for your earlier model

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