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screen goes black

Newest Mac Mini, My screen will randomly go black for several seconds and return without my doing anything to get it back. It happens while workin in various programs, browsing, etc. The computer is set to require a password on return from sleep but when these events occur the display returns to whatever I was doing, no login required. Everything is up to date. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Apr 28, 2012 12:28 PM

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Posted on Apr 28, 2012 2:40 PM

Hi Joseph,


Maybe the VGA/DVI cable isn't plugged in properly. Try unplugging both ends and blowing in the ports to remove any dust and then plug them back in securely. It could also be the adapter you're using, if you've got a spare one, try that one.


In the worse case, it might be an issue with the Mac-Mini itself - maybe the port it was shipped with is damaged somehow. If this is the case, I'd go to my nearest Apple Store to get it fixed.


Hope this helps,

Morgan

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Apr 28, 2012 2:40 PM in response to joseph efromfl

Hi Joseph,


Maybe the VGA/DVI cable isn't plugged in properly. Try unplugging both ends and blowing in the ports to remove any dust and then plug them back in securely. It could also be the adapter you're using, if you've got a spare one, try that one.


In the worse case, it might be an issue with the Mac-Mini itself - maybe the port it was shipped with is damaged somehow. If this is the case, I'd go to my nearest Apple Store to get it fixed.


Hope this helps,

Morgan

Apr 28, 2012 3:23 PM in response to Morgan R

Morgan,


I am going to try your suggestion however all this stuff is less than a month old not likely that dust has gotten into things. I am running an HDMI connection to an HD TV as a monitor. This is not likely a bad connection it is either a software issue or there is a component problem with the unit itself. By the way there are no active hot corners.


Thanks,


J

Apr 29, 2012 2:29 AM in response to joseph efromfl

Take the Mini back to where you got it and have it checked there

and rather quickly. Most places have a 30 day repacement

policy after which you will need to go through warranty repair.


If the HD TV has multiple HDMI inputs, try different ones.


Also, it could still be a bad cable. If the connection is marginal,

the digital signal between the two devices can lose sync periodically

and do just what you see.

Apr 29, 2012 12:30 PM in response to joseph efromfl

Before talking to Apple I am going to try unselecting "put HDD to sleep when possible". I have no alternative HDMI inputs on the TV it is always possible the cable or connectors are bad however when the signal is lost in that manner or when the unit sleeps a blue box appears on the screen for a while with the text HDMI shown within. This problem is a commanded screen blanking since the screen goes black without seeing the HDMI disconnect warning.

Nov 1, 2012 12:05 PM in response to J3Jev

Hello,


As noted when this issue first arose my HDMI screen, if disconnected, would show a blue box with"HDMI" in it. This never happened, the screen went black as if it went to sleep or had a black screen saver. This has convinced me that the problem was software not hardware. The computer has had a number of OS updates and other changes since first purchased and for now the problem has aparently abated. I turned off every type of power saver screen saver, etc. none seemed to help just time seems to have cured it.

Nov 13, 2012 12:21 AM in response to TravisMJ

I fixed up a genius bar appointment at my local Apple store. They wheeled out a version of my LCD monitor and... unbelievably... the problem replicated itself. After running tons of diagnostic tests they decided the best thing was to switch over the HDMI to DVI connector that came with the mac mini. But they didn't have one as this part is manufactured solely for the mac mini. So I took a DVI to mini thunderbolt connector (as I'd run my macbook air through the monitor via this type of connector with no issues).


So far, the problem is solved. So, until you hear from me otherwise, I take it to be a faulty HDMI to DVI connector - or maybe a faulty batch of them.


Swap the connector for a DVI/mini thunderbolt connector and hopefully things will be okay.


I'll report back if the problem recurs.

Nov 13, 2012 12:40 AM in response to J3Jev

Your testing shows that the problem does not occur on the Mini Display Port (Thunderbolt port). This is a finding that I share also. It does not completely isolate the HDMI to DVI adapter as the culprit, because it could also be the HDMI port itself, or it could also be the graphics chip, etc.


Others have shown that the problem occurs on the HDMI port when a HDMI cable is used to connect directly to the HDMI input on a monitor or TV. While this test does not prove the HDMI to DVI adapter is working (since its not used), it does show that the problem is independant of the HDMI to DVI adapter.

Nov 19, 2012 4:37 AM in response to joseph efromfl

I too am experiencing this problem. MacMini Late 2012, less than a month old. 2 identical displays, both DVI. One display using DVI-Display port adapter, no problems. Other display using HDMI connection with DVHDMI adapter cable. This display, connected to HDMI port, sometimes goes black for a few seconds, then returns, but sometimes goes black followed by snow. I must disconnect from HDMI port & reconnect to get the display back. I've swicthed the monitors to no avail. Problem seems to be in the HDMI port or software for same.

Nov 22, 2012 5:33 AM in response to joseph efromfl

I've got the same issue. The mini is connected via HDMI cable to an HP monitor. The black screen problem (BSP) so sporatic and short-lived that it's not something I'd return the computer over, but hopefully there is a simple software fix coming that can remedy this.


I really like the mini as my first Mac in over a decade. But already I've had to return one: I initially bought the one with the fusion drive, but there were serious issues with the proper storage space not being available. If you care to, the thread is on the forums here. And now the BSP; still, it's better than my Windows 7 PC.


Happy Thanksgiving to all the mini owners out there.

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