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    Still having external monitor problems.

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by coyoteunknown, Sep 9, 2007.

  1. coyoteunknown

    coyoteunknown Notebook Consultant

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    Apple MacBook Pro 15.4" LED Back-Lit Display
    Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 Processor
    2GB Dual-Channel PC-5300 Memory
    160GB 5400RPM Hard Disk Drive
    NVidia GeForce 8600m GT 256MB GDDR3

    Westinghouse TX 47" LCD TV

    Alright, I've formatted the laptop. Did a full installation of OS X and the external monitor still wasn't receiving a signal. I did a minimal installation, installed Boot Camp, and installed Windows XP SP2 and the external monitor still doesn't receive a signal either from OS X or XP SP2.

    Both OS X and XP are acknowledging the TV's presence and are allowing me to edit settings for it. However, no matter what I do, the TV just isn't receiving a signal.

    Could it be the cable? If the cable went bad, it seems odd that the laptop is still capable of receiving model information from the TV unit, right?

    What other options do I have? Surely the DVI connector on the laptop didn't die?

    Edit: The monitor used to work fine with both OS X and XP SP2. Than it suddenly stopped receiving a signal. Perhaps a recent Apple update has caused problems?
     
    coyoteunknown, Sep 9, 2007
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  2. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

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    Go into System Preferences>Display, click on Gather Windows, and then change the resolution and resolution and refresh rate of your external display to its native settings.
     
    Budding, Sep 9, 2007
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  3. Wooky

    Wooky Notebook Evangelist

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    If it doesn't work both with OS X and XP it isn't a software problem. The signal lead of the cable might be damaged, or the connector... first try the TV with another computer, then try the MBP and the cable with another monitor to isolate the problem.
     
    Wooky, Sep 9, 2007
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  4. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

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    Considering it's a Westinghouse, you will have to seriously entertain the possibility it is the TV. But try another cable. Try another PC.

    If it still has a problem, then voila, your TV is bad. Westinghouse is at least half way decent on replacing/fixing TVs. They have a 4-6 week turn around. Not great, but for a budget tv, it's not too shabby.
     
    hollownail, Sep 9, 2007
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  5. chant

    chant Notebook Evangelist

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    i have the equivalent to a westinghouse, a Vizio 37" LCD and all i did was set mirroring on once plugged in via HDMI and it works beautifully....
     
    chant, Sep 9, 2007
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  6. coyoteunknown

    coyoteunknown Notebook Consultant

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    Well, I've performed some more tests.

    I used a different cable to connect the laptop to the external monitor, but still the monitor receives no signal. I used the DVI-to-VGA adapter that came with my laptop and connected the laptop to the external monitor's VGA port, still no signal.

    Just for the hell of it, I tried connecting the laptop to the LCD TV in the living room. It too is detected by the laptop, but still even that monitor is receiving no signal.

    So, I don't know. I think I'll call Apple tomorrow. For me, it's extremely important that my external monitor port function properly since that was one of the reasons I went with an MBP was for it's DVI. :(

    Edit: I reset the PRAM. I also performed a hardware test that passed. So I guess I'm at the end of the road. Hopefully I won't have to drive back to Memphis's Apple Store to get this thing repaired...
     
    coyoteunknown, Sep 9, 2007
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  7. coyoteunknown

    coyoteunknown Notebook Consultant

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    Yay, I got it fixed. After testing the laptop on another TV, it turns out the DVI port is still functional.

    I called Westinghouse support and it turns out I had to unplug the TV for 15 seconds than plug it back in so it'd reboot. After doing so, the HDMI ports were all functional again. :)
     
    coyoteunknown, Sep 10, 2007
    #7