Unable to use projector on OS X Mountain Lion

I will get back to you... i just dont have my extra monitor next to me. Sorry.

Oh, by the way. I have a 2011 MacBook Air 11 with Display port so I use a mini display port to VGA adaptor. I have also used the same adapter successfully on a brand new Retina MBP that has a Thunderbolt port.

it sounds that way from that article.

I appreciate the collaborative problem solving going on here🙂!

The article does say:

This means that while you can physically connect a Thunderbolt device to a Mac with DisplayPort, the device will not work, but if you connect a DisplayPort device to a Mac with Thunderbolt, then the device will work.

But, as you say, Carlo, the article is older. I am going to try Apple again tomorrow armed with my case number and the discussion here. Thanks to you all. I tried three different projectors tonight besides the Sanyo. My MBP can't detect any of them.

Carlo TD wrote:

it sounds that way from that article.

My bad...

My eyes are playing tricks on me... time for my bed time.

Message was edited by: Carlo TD

tjbaggins wrote:

I appreciate the collaborative problem solving going on here🙂!

The article does say:

This means that while you can physically connect a Thunderbolt device to a Mac with DisplayPort, the device will not work, but if you connect a DisplayPort device to a Mac with Thunderbolt, then the device will work.

But, as you say, Carlo, the article is older. I am going to try Apple again tomorrow armed with my case number and the discussion here. Thanks to you all. I tried three different projectors tonight besides the Sanyo. My MBP can't detect any of them.

I think you said that backwards...

I quoted the article, and it actually says the same as the diagram but with slightly different language. I found another thread with folks having the same trouble. There are a couple that are as stuck as I am whereas the majority have found some workaround. I will see what tomorrow brings and post what I find out from Apple after my conversation with them. Thanks again, Carlo.

And so it continues... The update to 10.8.2 has not solved my MBP and projector problem, and so far everything that I've done with Apple support has been time consuming and unproductive. One more call tomorrow. If it nets nothing, then they're getting my MPB back. How can such a basic function be so elusive?

I was able to solve my problem.

My issues connecting to a projector were actually pretty severe. It started with just my VGA/DisplayPort connector not working, so I switched to HDMI; then HDMI would not work; then I started to get a black screen with the cursor only, and discovered that if I blindly clicked on a menu, stuff would appear, but only in a very disturbing way.

Eventually, any time I plugged in either connector, my Retina MBP's resolution would seem to switch, but then the screen would go blue, and nothing would work--the machine froze and had to be force-shut down and restarted.

My solution:

I installed Display Menu, a free utility on the App Store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id549083868

Before plugging in my HDMI, I set the display resolution to a non-HiDPI setting (e.g., 1680 x 1050. For some reason, doing that with this utility made it work for me. My resolution went to Full HD (1920 x 1080, IIRC) and everything worked OK, the projector was recognized and displayed my screen. I have not tried the VGA adaptor or tried to turn off mirroring, though. Didn't need to and didn't want to deal with any other hassles...

did everyone get this fixed. I was never able to check my second monitor. hope you all got it sort out.

Unfortunately, no. After spending many hours on the phone with Apple support, I was given the recommendation to take my computer in for service-- the best case new thunderbolt port, the worst new logic board. The great irony is that if I had done that instead of working with support on the phone I would have been in the 30 day replacement window. As it stands my brand new defective machine will be fixed, which is still better than nothing.

I dont know if my solution will help anyone but this is what has worked for me.

First off I had the same issue as most other people. Computer and adapter worked fine with Lion but now don't. I was sometimes able to make the thing work by restarting but it was not consistent.

What I learned is that if I connected to my projectors directly with an adapter and VGA straight into the back of the projector it would work. If I used the cabling that has been run through the wall to the porjector it doesn't work. I noticed that Mountain Lion is able to detect the exact model and resolutions available from the projector when it is plugged in directly. When I plug in through the cables in the wall it shows a list of all resolutions and refresh rates.

My suspicion is that Mountain Lion does not handle displays and projectors well when it doesnt have good information from the display.

I also had to use Apple brand Mini-Display to VGA adapters as the third-party ones didn't work well no matther how I plugged it in.

I have a 2012 MBA, switched over from using a PC for the last few decades.

Tried to use the MBA on a projector for the first time. Didn't work.

Realized that the projector has to be ON, MBA has to be ON, and THEN plug the TB/VGA adapter into the TB port.

I have not had to try the Detect Displays option yet, but this was the first time I have had to use a projector. Will keep it in mind though. The info posted in this thread by AnnEarl, Aug 24, 2012 2:19 PM seems to be an excellent guide.

I won't back to the Genius Bar yesterday with this and the issue of seriously reduced battery life, my system had been running red hot with the fans permanently working since the ML installation. I found out that installed WD smart ware for my external hard drive wasn't comparable with ML and was using 96% CPU, by getting rid of the software my system returned to normal and freed up sufficient Hardware to allow connection to an external monitor; I'm now just waiting to get access to a projector to try the same.

So, the solution for me was to have the logic board replaced. The service depot determined that the port was defective. Now I can connect to an external projector without a single issue. The projector is detected, and I don't have to adjust any setting or plug something in before I turn something else on. Things are the way that they should be. I'm not thrilled that my MBP was defective out of the box, but I am pleased with the swiftness and effectiveness of the repair.