MBP CD2 DVI to VGA not working with projector

I am having issues getting the MBP to recognize a DELL 2300 projector through a DVI to VGA apple cable.

A few months ago there were posts about this, but no solutions. The problem seems to be with the 'INTEL' side of things, as the same projector with the same DVI to VGA apple cable works on an older G4 tower running 10.4.9. The projector also works on an old G4 iBook with it's version of a VGA adapter. To make things more confusing, a DVI to Video apple cable works with the DELL 2300 on my new MBP C2D-but produces a terrible quality picture. Mysteriously, my previous 1st generation MBP CD worked with the DELL 2300 via a DVI to VGA apple cable (but I'm not sure which OS was out at the time 10.4.8?)

My new MBP CD2 definately recognizes the projector through the DVI to VGA adapter, but the projector doesn't recognize the video signal from the computer. It is DEFINATELY the MBP (or universal drivers), as I have checked the DVI to VGA dongle (works), have checked the projector (works with an ibook running 10.4.8 OSX with VGA dongle), have changed resolution settings before and after connecting, have restarted computer, have tested various orders of connecting the projector and cables. STINK! (I also have TWO DVI to VGA adapters, so it is not a bad adapter). I have also played with exchanging various plist files from older universal versions of 10.4.8 that worked with the projector-no help.

As I stated, the projector will work (in horrible quality) with a DVI to Video dongle. Why it will not work with the DVI to VGA dongle is a mystery and annoying 🙂 I would hope that a newer MBP CD2 would be plug and play (like my previous MBP CD and an old G4 tower and an old iBook G4...but no).

Any ideas, any help, any answers?

MBPC2D 2.16, 2GB, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on May 6, 2007 12:58 PM

53 replies

lx73

Level 1

0 points

Jan 23, 2008 10:58 AM in response to magyarmerce

"Me too"

When I connect a HP xb31 projector to my MBPro via the DVI-VGA cable, it is recognized correctly, but the projector keeps looking for the source signal.

Rohan G

Level 1

0 points

Feb 2, 2008 10:55 PM in response to lx73

I've tried all the steps listed above to connect my MacBook to a Dell 3200MP projector, and nothing works. It's connected through the mini DVI-VGA adapter, and the computer recognizes the projector every time, but the projector cannot get a signal. It's very, very frustrating.

Olsenjb

Level 1

0 points

Feb 14, 2008 10:41 PM in response to magyarmerce

As advised at other postings - Dr Bott GHead II adapter has rescued us - our two MBP's - a 2,2 & a 2,4 now communicating with the projector - in our case an Infocus model - and we are in business.

(The adapter was not in stock at US - but was taken in via Europe - and we got them here in SE Asia after 10 days.)

Feb 26, 2008 7:34 AM in response to magyarmerce

I've been using my IbookG4 with two different projectors for over a year now. I upgraded to Leopard and now can't use either projector. I found a projector that had both a DVI and a VGA input. With the VGA input the signal was not received. But when I connected my ibookG4 to the DVI input it worked fine. So to clarify I went from my ibookG4 to VGA to DVI and then it worked. I still connect to a Dell monitor(VGA) to extend my desktop. That has worked fine with upgrading to leopard, but I've lost complete use of projectors. I think this is Leopard issue.

AlphDoug

Level 1

75 points

Feb 27, 2008 5:28 PM in response to GmasterMcCloud

I have just encountered this problem. I have been using my MBP C2C 2.4 ghz with the projector at my church (a Panasonic LCD Projector) and also with a Hitachi DLP projector at the College I teach at. It has worked flawlessly. The last time it worked was just over a week ago. This last Sunday, I had the problem you have described. The MBP could see that it was connected to an external monitor (generic) and it showed the available resolutions. If you changed resolutions it would be reflected on the MBP display, but nothing would show up on the projector. The Panasonic has an automatic mode where it constantly queries each input in succession with a display on the screen. It would always come up with "no input" on the input the computer was plugged into. I tried everything I could think of. To no avail. Then, two days later I went to teach at the College, and found it did the same thing with the Hitachi. No input, but it would perform in Display Preferences as if it was connected. I may try the Dr. Bott connector. Someone else said they used a "dual DVI" connector. Could you elaborate. I'm not sure I know what that is. At least I know I'm not going crazy!

Radata

Level 1

0 points

Mar 1, 2008 10:36 PM in response to magyarmerce

A few weeks back my MacBook Pro 17" was working fine with my Sony Projector. The last week I could get no output on a number of projectors despite many times trying "detect displays". Today I did the latest software updates and despite none mentioning displays the problem has been fixed. So, I suggest if you have the problem then do an update and it may be fixed like mine. Good Luck

Mar 16, 2008 9:02 PM in response to Radata

No, it is not fixed.
I bought last week (Mar 11) a MBP (2.4, multitouch, no BTO), all updates done (10.5.2) , and it failed precisely in the way described with TWO distinct projectors (it detects the projector but no signal gets through). Checked the obvious (cable, projector) and of course it is not the source of trouble (I was at a conference and the projector was working for others, e.g. PC laptops, powerbooks, you name it).

The system log has this to say.

Mar 14 16:57:01 BoutrouxMBP [0x0-0x1a21a2].com.apple.systempreferences[3225]: objc[3225]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Con trast.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Contrast and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Geo metry.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Geometry. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Geo metry.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Geometry.
Mar 14 16:57:01 BoutrouxMBP [0x0-0x1a21a2].com.apple.systempreferences[3225]: objc[3225]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Geo metry.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Geometry and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/VPT .monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/VPT. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/VPT .monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/VPT.
Mar 14 16:57:01 BoutrouxMBP [0x0-0x1a21a2].com.apple.systempreferences[3225]: objc[3225]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/VPT .monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/VPT and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Bez el.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Bezel. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Bez el.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Bezel.
Mar 14 16:57:01 BoutrouxMBP [0x0-0x1a21a2].com.apple.systempreferences[3225]: objc[3225]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Bez el.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Bezel and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Ext endedTouchSwitch.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/ExtendedTouchSwitch. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Ext endedTouchSwitch.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/ExtendedTouchSwitch.
Mar 14 16:57:01 BoutrouxMBP [0x0-0x1a21a2].com.apple.systempreferences[3225]: objc[3225]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Ext endedTouchSwitch.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/ExtendedTouchSwitch and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Pow erMode.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/PowerMode. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Pow erMode.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/PowerMode.
Mar 14 16:57:01 BoutrouxMBP [0x0-0x1a21a2].com.apple.systempreferences[3225]: objc[3225]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Pow erMode.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/PowerMode and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Aut horization.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Authorization. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Aut horization.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Authorization.
Mar 14 16:57:01 BoutrouxMBP [0x0-0x1a21a2].com.apple.systempreferences[3225]: objc[3225]: Class O3Panel is implemented in both /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/Aut horization.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/Authorization and /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/TVO ptions.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/TVOptions. Using implementation from /System/Library/MonitorPanels/AppleDisplay.monitorPanels/Contents/Resources/TVO ptions.monitorPanel/Contents/MacOS/TVOptions.

Mar 22, 2008 2:53 PM in response to magyarmerce

Like many others here, my MBP refused to connect to projectors after applying the 10.5.2 update and Graphics Update 1.0. Multiple threads are tracking this type of problem, and it seems like the MBP recognizes that there is a projector attached but is sending a resolution that the projector does not recognize. So far, using the Dr. Bott GHead II adapter or rolling the system back to an earlier state are the only reliable solutions.

At the same time, other threads (e.g. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6736419) report problems with connecting to external monitors after applying the Graphics Update 1.0. There is a useful workaround reported for monitors that also works for projectors! The procedure is:

1. Connect the projector as usual (this works for a VGA connection via the DVI-VGA adapter and for a straight DVI connection). The projector should be on and the MBP should be off.

2. Boot in "closed-lid" mode (press the power button then immediately close the lid) to force the MBP to use the external display as the primary monitor. Note: If I am slow when closing the lid (e.g. during or just after the startup chime) I get a kernel panic. Closing the lid before the chime sounds has always worked.

3. Once the desktop comes up on the projector screen, open the MBP (the screen will remain off for the moment).

4. Go to the Displays window in System Preferences, and press the Detect Displays button. At this point the primary display will revert to the MBP, the projector will become the secondary display, and everything should be running in its proper resolution. Now you can choose mirroring or spanning; they both should work.

After following this procedure, I found I could successfully connect to projectors in the normal "plug and play" manner, even after shutting down and booting up with no external display connected. I have used this procedure successfully on two MBPs with multiple projectors: Epson Powerlite 83c, Epson 8300i, Sharp XG-F315x, Sharp XG-P25x. They have all come up in 1024 x 768.

One caveat: if I connect to my external monitor (an Acer AL2216W at a resolution of 1680 x 1050), I can no longer connect to projectors using the "plug and play" method and have to do the closed-lid workaround again.

Cheers,
Mike

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MBP CD2 DVI to VGA not working with projector