joseph efromfl
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: 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

by joseph efromfl,Solvedanswer
joseph efromfl joseph efromfl
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

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

Posted on Apr 28, 2012 3:23 PM

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joseph efromfl

Q: screen goes black

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  • by Morgan R,Helpful

    Morgan R Morgan R Apr 28, 2012 2:40 PM in response to joseph efromfl
    Level 2 (220 points)
    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

  • by joseph efromfl,Solvedanswer

    joseph efromfl joseph efromfl Apr 28, 2012 3:23 PM in response to Morgan R
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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

  • by woodmeister50,

    woodmeister50 woodmeister50 Apr 29, 2012 2:29 AM in response to joseph efromfl
    Level 5 (5,616 points)
    Mac OS X
    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. 

  • by Tom Meade1,Helpful

    Tom Meade1 Tom Meade1 Apr 29, 2012 9:13 AM in response to joseph efromfl
    Level 2 (293 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 29, 2012 9:13 AM in response to joseph efromfl

    In Energy Saver Prefs, make sure Put Hard Disk To Sleep When Possible is (Un) checked.

     

    Good luck, Tom

  • by joseph efromfl,

    joseph efromfl joseph efromfl Apr 29, 2012 12:30 PM in response to joseph efromfl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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. 

  • by CaroBL ,

    CaroBL CaroBL Oct 7, 2012 5:26 AM in response to joseph efromfl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 7, 2012 5:26 AM in response to joseph efromfl

    Did you ever get to the bottom of that problem? Just bought a brand new Mac Mini this week and have the same problem - screen randomly goes black (and my screen is an Apple Cinema Display - that has been working just fine so far with my MBP). Thanks!

  • by J3Jev,

    J3Jev J3Jev Nov 1, 2012 10:31 AM in response to CaroBL
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2012 10:31 AM in response to CaroBL

    This happens to me too with my brand new Mac Mini.  Screen goes black for a second, then what looks like interference, then back to whatever I've been doing. 

    Perplexing.

    Annoying.

  • by joseph efromfl,

    joseph efromfl joseph efromfl Nov 1, 2012 12:05 PM in response to J3Jev
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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.

  • by TravisMJ,

    TravisMJ TravisMJ Nov 11, 2012 1:02 PM in response to J3Jev
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 11, 2012 1:02 PM in response to J3Jev

    I have this same problem with my brand newmini.  Any conclusion whether this a hardware issue, or will a software patch resolve this?

  • by J3Jev,

    J3Jev J3Jev Nov 13, 2012 12:21 AM in response to TravisMJ
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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.

  • by iHerm,

    iHerm iHerm Nov 13, 2012 12:40 AM in response to J3Jev
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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.

  • by J3Jev,

    J3Jev J3Jev Nov 13, 2012 12:42 AM in response to iHerm
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 13, 2012 12:42 AM in response to iHerm

    correct iHerm.  Agree with your points.

  • by Pick3,

    Pick3 Pick3 Nov 19, 2012 4:37 AM in response to joseph efromfl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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.

  • by Tomster88,

    Tomster88 Tomster88 Nov 21, 2012 10:33 AM in response to CaroBL
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 21, 2012 10:33 AM in response to CaroBL

    I have the same issue.. I have a new mac mini 2012.. the screen goes blank for a few seconds.. Then this morning the screen went to white noise, and wouldn't come back. I had to disconnect the monitor from the mac mini and re-connect it. Any one have ideas on what's causing this?

    Tom

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