Macbook Pro - Mini Display port to TV - Argggh

[simonp]

Do any of you mac whizz kids know the answer - I've been trawling for ages and can't find.

I'm trying to connect my macbook pro (15") to an external TV (for a demo I'm doing at SEDA next Sunday) - I'm using a mini display port to RGB lead.

When I connect to the TV the display on the mac goes doolally and displays about a quarter of whatevers on the screen - It's hard to explain so I have TP2 on the screen and when I plug the mini display port in it goes like this (pic below) and that is the full screen!!!

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af105/floorfillerz/sampleshot.jpg

My desktop has disappeared and all the progam icons in the bar have increased size - This is the same image being put on the external TV.

When I take out the mini display port lead everything reverts to normal!

What am i doing wrong or missing? anyone?

[WWDJ]

Its probably cloning the screen and defaulting to the lowest resolution of both the TV and the screen on the laptop.

Not at the machine at the moment, but in displays you can choose the resolution and whether to use the external monitor as an extended display rather than clone

[simonp]

Its probably cloning the screen and defaulting to the lowest resolution of both the TV and the screen on the laptop.

Not at the machine at the moment, but in displays you can choose the resolution and whether to use the external monitor as an extended display rather than clone

OOOo Ok - will have a look around and let you know when I can't find what I'm looking for :(

[simonp]

Don't know what's happened but I opened up display in preferences and the whole macbook has gone foooooked - display has gone completely bonkers, desktops disappeared everythings weird and I can't even find how to restore it to default!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP

edit - managed to mend that by finding the 1440 x 900 - so back to normal phew

Can't find where you would have the option of using an external monitor :o

[WWDJ]

I think you have to plug the monitor in, then go system prefs, display?

[simonp]

I think you have to plug the monitor in, then go system prefs, display?

And from there?

[Cowlinn]

I don't know what you mean by mini display to "RGB" But..

With a Mini Display to VGA lead (or DVI)

- Plug it in

- Ensure your Magsafe is plugged in

- System preferences > Display > Select Appropriate Resolution

- Arrangement tab > Select your arrangement

(If your closing the lid you'll need to wake the mack up with the keyboard)

Sounds like your using the wrong resolution to me, or you've got your arrangement set wrong. :)

[simonp]

I don't know what you mean by mini display to "RGB" But..

With a Mini Display to VGA lead (or DVI)

- Plug it in

- Ensure your Magsafe is plugged in

- System preferences > Display > Select Appropriate Resolution

- Arrangement tab > Select your arrangement

(If your closing the lid you'll need to wake the mack up with the keyboard)

Sounds like your using the wrong resolution to me, or you've got your arrangement set wrong. :)

Yup, sorry it is mini display port to VGA (on the TV remote the channel to select is called RGB)

Quick question, What the hell is magsafe???????? :confused:

[Cowlinn]

Yup, sorry it is mini display port to VGA (on the TV remote the channel to select is called RGB)

Quick question, What the hell is magsafe???????? :confused:

MagSafe = Charger

Charger needs to be plugged in.

[simonp]

MagSafe = Charger

Charger needs to be plugged in.

e.g. In plain English do you mean the power supply for the mac? :o

[Jiggles]

MagSafe is the connector that connects to the MacBook it's self. The square power plug that's magnetic.

[WWDJ]

The square power plug that's magnetic.

... and Safe :D

[simonp]

MagSafe is the connector that connects to the MacBook it's self. The square power plug that's magnetic.


... and Safe :D

Sorry for being a complete thicko, but is this what you mean by magsafe - the thing I call a power lead

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af105/floorfillerz/Misc/01magsafe.jpg

[Vectis]

Strictly speaking, the "MagSafe" is the bit on the end, coupled with the power receptacle on the laptop.

It's marketingese for a Magnetically attached power cord that Safely disconnects when the cord is pulled or tripped over, saving the laptop from possible damage such as hurtling towards the floor.

It's an Apple patented device and trademark.

[simonp]

Thanks for the detailed description Vectis - maybe you can shed some light on why it's not working :lol:

How can something so simple in concept be so bloody hard??????? :confused:

Following Cowlins instructions.

* Macbook sitting there with its magsafe plugged in/attached.
* LG TV Sitting next to it
* 15 pin VGA Lead going into correct place on LG TV
* attached other end of lead (mini display port) to macbook pro
* screen on macbook goes blue as does TV
* Desksave now shows on macbook but totally the wrong resolution (highly magnified) and the TV shows the same image.
* go into display and try to take it back to the macbook default (1440 x 900)
* the macbook goes back to normal, the TV now says 'no signal'
* I go to 'arrangement' and de-tick the 'mirror' image
* TV now shows the same magnified image as before
* in the arrangement screen there are now two blue boxes, one central and a smaller one. click on the smaller one and the image on the TV 'outlines red' - but thats it.
* it says drag smaller image to arrange or something, but all you can do is drag the smaller blue box around the central box and it makes not a jot of difference to the TV display.
* This is so frustrating - why is it nit straightforward?
* I've now ordered a mini display port to HDMI to see if that works better.

Vectis - font of all cyber stuff knowledge - what's going on? :(

[simonp]

Edit - Think I've kind of cracked it - I managed to set the VGA display at 1920 x 1080 and it brought up a workable display on the LG TV and it remained correct on the macbook - I played around with the alaignment in the TV menu so have the full macbook display on the TV with around an inch and a half black strip to the right hand side of the TV display, which I can live with.

[WWDJ]

Edit - Think I've kind of cracked it - I managed to set the VGA display at 1920 x 1080 and it brought up a workable display on the LG TV and it remained correct on the macbook - I played around with the alaignment in the TV menu so have the full macbook display on the TV with around an inch and a half black strip to the right hand side of the TV display, which I can live with.

Glad you got it working. From Post 15, I could see what was going on ... wrong resolution to telly. It sounds like when you had in Mirror the TV was forcing 1024x768 back to the macbook which is why you were getting the partial screen visible.

[simonp]

Glad you got it working. From Post 15, I could see what was going on ... wrong resolution to telly. It sounds like when you had in Mirror the TV was forcing 1024x768 back to the macbook which is why you were getting the partial screen visible.

Cheers - I'll probably have the same dramas when the mini display port to HDMI arrives :mad:

[WWDJ]

Cheers - I'll probably have the same dramas when the mini display port to HDMI arrives :mad:

If it's anything like my experience with HDMI with Windows PC's, HDMI is even more flaky. :(

[simonp]

If it's anything like my experience with HDMI with Windows PC's, HDMI is even more flaky. :(

Yup, you're right It doesn't work at all - nothing - plug it in to the mini display port and into the TV and not a flicker - TV says no signal and the macbook hasn't even detected anything plugged in :mad: - Well at least the VGA lead is now working :)