Problems connecting my 2012 MBA to VGA using the Mini DisplayPort-VGA adapter

I'm having the same problem too, with my new MBA 2012 "13.

I've borrowed all the VGA connector from everyone in office (Apple original & Generic) and tried out all the projectors in my office meeting rooms. (EPSON, SONY, NEC) Must be at least 6 different meeting rooms I've tried with same results.

Same results as yours with the Apple original VGA mini port, the screens are divided into 3 parts if not just 3 lines with blue or black screens. However the generic mini port does better with the 1440 x 900 display at 75Hz. I manage to display the screen on my MBA but it's flickering.

Such a disappointment and I'll need to present for presales in a couple of days time. Now I've to switch back to my MBA 2011 "11.

I've logged a call with the local Apple support too, pending for their investigation. Please share if you have further findings. TQ.

It seems like someone else have the same issue too.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1389855

I've manage to solve the problem by setting it to mirroring instead of split screen setting.

Seems to me the problem exist by default to split screen on a new Macbook air. So I've got it on an LCD monitor first and toggle it between split and mirror mode. Left it a mirror mode in the end and went straight to a meeting room and hook it up. The projector's resolution and output is detected and auto from there without any issue.

I've tried out all projectors with my Macbook Air 2012 "13 without any problem now.

Tried on 3 LCD monitors(viewsonic, Philips, BenQ) both mirror and split screen mode without issue too.

Hope this helps.

I'm also having the exact same problem with my brand-new MBA 13". I find that the problem is resolved if the laptop is booted with the VGA adapter plugged in. This is true even if I unplug and replug the adapter later, or put the machine to sleep, or use an ethernet adapter on the Thunderbolt port, etc.

However, the original problem re-occurs whenever the machine is booted without the adapter and a display plugged in. I tried booting with ONLY the adapter plugged in (no actual display or projector attached), but the results were the same as booting without anything plugged in.

To me, this is unacceptable. I frequently give reports and lectures using my laptop, and I shouldn't have to make sure my machine was BOOTED with a display plugged in to ensure that displays will work thereafter.

I have just had the exact same issue when I turned up to give a lecture with my newly purchased MBA 11".

I am doubly peeved because I only bought the MBA for the express purpose of giving lectures and it is currently unreliable for that purpose.

I hope Arrow014's fix works for the meantime, but it would be nice to see Apple resolve this issue very rapidly.

This morning is the first time I have been badly let down by an Apple product, but it was pretty bad: lecture delayed by thirty minutes while alternative computer was found and then the resultant issues with moving powerpoint presentations between computers. Not pretty.

Guys, I've found a workaround that works for both VGA and HDMI issues, to enable you to use the MBA at clients/concerts/universities/other offices etc. It's not elegant, but it works:

- Turn off MBA completely

- Plug into an HDMI or VGA (perhaps ANY) screen

- Boot up and it'll be perfect; as others have already reported. Thus far these steps are OK for anyone who doesn't need to pre-load content. But for those of us that do...

- Now, here's the trick, u can suspend/sleep the MBA now, THEN unplug the screen, move to your new venue, THEN plug in the ANOTHER screen/projector, and turn back on again and it'll work! Yes, even tho it's a different screen, it'll flash a bit and work things out exactly like we're used to with our older macs.

- ie this enables you to set up an external display at work/home, pre-load all your presentation/content/web pages, close the MBA and go to client/lecture hall, then plug into a projector there without having lost your content.

So, in short, provided the MBA is fooled into thinking it was powered up with a screen connected, it'll work thereafter. PROVIDED it is not given the chance to think otherwise 🙂 ie don;t unplug screen whilst it is awake.

This SO speaks to a perfectly solvable firmware/driver issue. Probably around power management.

I generally find that I don't have to worry about not unpluging the screen while it's awake; as long as it's booted with ANY display attached, it works with all displays thereafter until it is reset or shut down again.

Honestly, I cannot believe Apple hasn't addressed this with a patch yet. As you said, it sounds like a simple driver issue, but it's a fairly major usability flaw.

i have the same problem and apple still dont have any solutions on this 😠

...and while re-booting with the external monitor connected will allow you to project, I am now finding it impossible to record presentations due to some resolution conflict. Deeply vexing. Still not fixed, Apple!

I noticed that 10.7.5 fixes lists "Resolve a video issue with some VGA projectors when connected to certain Mac notebooks". Anyone have any luck with this after installing 10.7.5?

Tentatively, I am saying yes. Latest update seems to have done the trick. Have now tried it on two different systems and everything works as it should.

Just checked, and it seems to be fixed on my laptop as well. I rebooted and was still able to plug into an external monitor via VGA.

Can't believe it took Apple this long to fix it.

Thanks everyone for the helpful tips! Just had a really important presentation, and the split screens sent me through 5 minutes of horror before I did the rational thing and looked up this thread.