Connect Mac Mini (new 2014) to TV/Monitor

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Connect Mac Mini (new 2014) to TV/Monitor

Yesterday I received my new 2.6GHz Mac Mini that is replacing a 2010 Mac Mini. The old Mac Mini was connected to a Philips 32" smart TV that I use as a monitor, via a Mini Display port--VGA adaptor. It worked fine. I tried to connect the new Mac Mini using the same adaptor and cable using one of the Thunderbolt ports. When I start the new Mac Mini, the Apple Icon shows up and the bar shows that the OS is loading. However, when the bar is about one third completed, the monitor screen starts to blink and the Mac Mini restarts. This process then repeats itself. The Mac Mini never finishes booting up. It doesn't matter which of the two Thunderbolt ports is used to connect to the TV/monitor. The same thing keeps happening. When I reconnect to the old Mac Mini, everything is fine. I am not concerned about using the TV speakers as I have external computer speakers for sound. I am stumped as to what I can do. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

iMac 2GHz Intel, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Feb 5, 2015 2:10 PM

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Answer 1

lllaass

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Feb 5, 2015 2:20 PM in response to Mulmex

What happens when you bot to Safe Mode?

How old is the monitor and what is its resolution?

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Answer 2

Mulmex Author

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Feb 5, 2015 2:53 PM in response to lllaass

I haven't tried booting in Safe Mode. This computer is brand new. Since I can't connect to the monitor I haven't even been able to Set up the computer with the set up assistant.

The monitor/TV is one year old. The resolution using the older Mac Mini is 1360 x 768, which is fine for me.

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Answer 3

lllaass

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Feb 5, 2015 3:06 PM in response to Mulmex

That is a strange resolution.That is not available for my display in Yosemite's Display Properties but is with an app named Display Menu

What OSX version was on your old Mac?

What is native resolution of the TV?

If yo do not know what is make and model of the TV

Does the TV have other video inputs? Being only one-year old I would expect HDMI input.

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Answer 4

Mulmex Author

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Feb 5, 2015 3:48 PM in response to lllaass

The TV is a Philips32PLF2908/F8. The specs say panel resolution 1366 x 768, supported Computer resolutions:

640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 768, 1360 x 768, 1280 x 1024, 1400 x 1050, 1440 x 900, 1680 x 1050 & 1920 x 1080

That strange resolution is automatically picked in System Preferences: Displays: Detect Displays: Philips FTV

The TV has: PC-in VGA, Ethernet Cable, HDMI

My old Mac Mini 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo OSX 10.9.5

I also have a mini display port adaptor to HDMI cable if you think this would be useful.

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Answer 5

lllaass

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210,589 points

Feb 5, 2015 3:55 PM in response to Mulmex

The new Mini has an HDMI output in addition to two Thunderbolt ports that support video out using a mini display port cable/adopter.. Try using that.

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Answer 6

Mulmex Author

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Feb 6, 2015 6:29 AM in response to lllaass

Thank you very much for taking the time to help me. Interestingly, the HDMI connection wouldn't work by itself. I needed to connect the HDMI ports AND the mini display port to VGA to make things work.

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