MBA TBtoVGA dongle projector display connect fail

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SWFail Author

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MBA TBtoVGA dongle projector display connect fail

latest macbook air 13" (MBA) with thunderbolt (TB) adapter

OSX 10.7.2

official apple TB to VGA adapter

6 foot VGA cable to projector

EPSON projector (older model)

turn on projector

turn on MBA

connect VGA cable to projector

connect VGA other end to VGA adapter

plug in the TB end of adapter into MBA

expected: projector seamlessly connects and resolves the resolution (this happens for windows based laptops where resolution on projector is automatically resized)

actual result: laptop tries to connect, LCD on MBA flickers, projector is recognized by the MBA but projector display still stays in idle mode and shows nothing as if nothing is connected to the projector.

please help, i've seen only one thread about this exactly same issue when running windows7 dualboot on mac. updating drivers resolved this problem but there is nothing available on MBA for display updates and no other solutions have been provided.

Note: i was able to connect to another projector and that worked flowlessly.

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.2), thunderbolt vga EPSON projector

Posted on Dec 14, 2011 8:00 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 14, 2011 9:26 PM in response to SWFail

I am having the same problem with new MBA and MBP running OS X 10.7.2. VGA output works with an old Dell monitor but none of the new mac laptops work with large flat screen TV's in our office (Phillips). I have tried different resolutions, cables and adapters. None of them work with the large TV VGA.

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Answer 2

SWFail Author

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Dec 14, 2011 9:31 PM in response to Scott Berg

There are at least two more people in my company with MBA that are having the same issue. i cannot understand how this item has not been addressed in the past couple of months as more and more macs became available with Intel graphic chips.

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Answer 3

Jan 2, 2012 4:38 PM in response to SWFail

*bump*

I am having the same issue you addressed, with an 11-inch, Mid 2011 Macbook Air. This is frustrating as it makes the Air unreliable as an on-the-road presentation device.

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Answer 4

Jan 2, 2012 7:36 PM in response to rasoplast

No solution found yet. I find it is affecting new Macbook Airs and Pros and some of the last model of white Macbooks that upgraded to Lion from Snow Leopard. The only solution that is reliable is to use HDMI video output adapter. This is not a good solution for business travel because most of my customers will not have an HDMI project connection.

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Answer 5

natesiy

Level 1

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Jun 28, 2012 7:04 AM in response to SWFail

I just wanted to chime in here as well stating that I have the same problem, but on the new 2012 Macbook air. 1/5 displays will connect, so far it's worked on an LG TV, but has failed to display anything on a Skyworth TV, a old 17" monitor, an Epson projector and a Sanyo TV. This is my first mac ever and i'm severely disappointed that they can't get something as simple as connecting to a montior right.

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Answer 6

Jun 28, 2012 7:10 AM in response to natesiy

I did finally manage to resolve this. I ended up purchasing a smattering of connectors from Monoprice, and their standard Mini-DisplayPort-to-VGA connecter has connected without a hitch to every display which was previously causing trouble. Why this should work where the officially supported adapter did not, I cannot say.

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