Screens keep switching position!

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Level 1

9 points

Screens keep switching position!

I just got a new Mac mini. It has apple branded DVI converters connecting HDMI and Thunderbolt to two identical Samsung screens.

On occasions when the mini decides to go to sleep, and I wake it up a couple seconds later, when the screens come back on they have switched position.

It's happened twice now. The first time I thought perhaps it perfered HDMI as the main screen or something, so I physically switched the screen connectors rather than changing the window positions in System Settings, but it does not seem to be related. This time it switched over to Thunderbolt as the main screen. They just flip at random. Is there like a race condition or something? What gives? Do I need an exorcist?

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1), i7 16GB SMS23A550H

Posted on Jan 11, 2014 6:55 PM

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Answer 1

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den.thed

Level 9

77,254 points

Jan 11, 2014 8:53 PM in response to greenland0

Once you isolate which adapter it is that keeps going out, return it for a replacement.

I have pretty much the same dual Samsung monitor set up on my 2010 Mac Mini, using the supplied Apple HDMI to DVI adapter and a Kanex Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter.

I tried several different Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapters including a couple of Apple's and all either failed to work or only worked intermittently.

To be honest, I was about to totally give up on the whole dual screen idea. Then about a year or so ago I walked into the Sacramento Fry's Electronic's Store and talked to one of there Mac experts. He said that, he has replaced tons of Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapters including a number of Apple branded one's. Then he grinned, walked over to the rack and grabbed a Kanex Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter off the rack. Still grinning he handed it to me and said, I never had one of these babies come back.

see > FRYS.com | APOGEE

or > KANEX Mini DisplayPort Thunderbolt to DVI-D Adapter for the best price.

I've never had a single glitch or blink out in over a year, using the supplied HDMI to DVI and the Kanex Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapters.

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Answer 2

greenland0 Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 22, 2014 5:31 AM in response to den.thed

I'm not sure what you mean. Both displays instantly spring to life; they just can't decide who was on the left and who was on the right.

Every time I turn on the machine or wake it from sleep, there's a 50/50 chance of display orientation. It's literally just random. It winds up so that the cursor just rubs up against the middle of the screens blocked and the only way to get to the other screen is by running around the world the other direction... and it's driving me absolutely insane. Naturally, I can fix it from System Preferences > Displays > Arangement, but that's slightly annoying to have to do literally half the time I return to the computer.

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 9

77,254 points

Mar 22, 2014 7:57 AM in response to greenland0

To me it still sounds like an intermittent adapter or cable connection, that is causing the system to either forget or change the arrangement.

Have you tried a replacement or different brand Thunderbolt/MiniDisplay Port to DVI adapter, because I still suspect that one is causing your problem.

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