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Blacking out

K

KezN

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 24, 2014
25
0
I purchased a mac mini and an Asus screen just before Christmas and I am having problems: the screen suddenly goes black as though the computer has been switched off. If I move the mouse it comes back on. This is happening even when I am busy on the computer so it isn't that it is being left too long and going onto standby. Could anyone tell me what this is likely to be caused by?

Many thanks
Kez
 
Is Your Cursor In The Corner?

Are you familiar with the OS X display setting that allows a user to force screensaver mode? If this mode is enabled and you place your cursor in any of the designated perimeter zones the screen will blank out.

With any luck, this could be your problem.
 
Celerondon said:
Are you familiar with the OS X display setting that allows a user to force screensaver mode? If this mode is enabled and you place your cursor in any of the designated perimeter zones the screen will blank out.

With any luck, this could be your problem.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your response. I checked this out (googled it) as I wasn't familiar with it. Unfortunately, that isn't the issue.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks you.
 
KezN said:
I purchased a mac mini and an Asus screen just before Christmas and I am having problems: the screen suddenly goes black as though the computer has been switched off. If I move the mouse it comes back on. This is happening even when I am busy on the computer so it isn't that it is being left too long and going onto standby. Could anyone tell me what this is likely to be caused by?

Many thanks
Kez
Click to expand...


Cable? Monitor? Mini? Could be any of those.... If you can borrow a monitor from someone else or at least a cable, you might try that. Unfortunately since everything was bought at the same time, we have no idea what the culprit is....
 
paulrbeers said:
Cable? Monitor? Mini? Could be any of those.... If you can borrow a monitor from someone else or at least a cable, you might try that. Unfortunately since everything was bought at the same time, we have no idea what the culprit is....
Click to expand...


Thank you for your input. I have checked that everything is plugged in. I have been doing some research on the net and it seems that it is a well known issue on mini macs with no known cure so far. :-(
 
KezN said:
Thank you for your input. I have checked that everything is plugged in. I have been doing some research on the net and it seems that it is a well known issue on mini macs with no known cure so far. :-(
Click to expand...
Could you maybe supply a Link to this "well known issue", even though I've had mini's since they first appeared and have yet to experience this issue, a little advance knowledge is always good.
 
KezN said:
Here is the google search: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=g...gOAL#newwindow=1&q=mini+mac+screen+goes+black
Click to expand...

Whoa wayback machine! This was fixed a lonnnggg time ago. Everything you linked to is from 2012!

----------
KezN said:
Thank you for your input. I have checked that everything is plugged in. I have been doing some research on the net and it seems that it is a well known issue on mini macs with no known cure so far. :-(
Click to expand...

So again, have you tried another cable or another monitor? How can you even be sure it is the Mini? The monitor could be bad! The cable could be bad! Maybe it is the Mini! Other than checking the connections, what else have you tried?

What connection are you using to the monitor? HDMI? What other connections are at your disposal? Displayport? DVI?
 
paulrbeers said:
Whoa wayback machine! This was fixed a lonnnggg time ago. Everything you linked to is from 2012!


If you date limit the search to the past year you will see that it is still happening and that there are still people like me searching for the answer in January 2015. :-(
Click to expand...
 
KezN said:
paulrbeers said:
Whoa wayback machine! This was fixed a lonnnggg time ago. Everything you linked to is from 2012!


If you date limit the search to the past year you will see that it is still happening and that there are still people like me searching for the answer in January 2015. :-(
Click to expand...


Please point us to these issues? Putting in 2014 or 2015 into your search is giving me no results with flickering screens. As someone who has two 2012 minis with monitors hooked to MDP and HDMI ports, I can tell you I am not experiencing these nor can I find any issues with this post 2012 (and yes my first 2012 had the issue until a firmware upgrade fixed it).

So again.... What have you done other than google a 2 year old non-issue?
Click to expand...
 
Questions for OP:

What port are you using to connect the MIni to the display?
Is it the HDMI port?

If so, have you considered trying a DIFFERENT type of connection, using the MiniDisplayPort?
 
Okay I see...

vertisync said:
KezN, I am having the same exact issue, but it's with my MacBook Air....
...Mini displayport to displayport is the only cable I could use for the 2560x1440 resolution I am using.
Click to expand...

This trend creates confusion in the threads. We have different ideas about what constitutes "the exact same issue". The OP left out most of the critical factors in their post.
1. Model of Mac mini
2. Operating system version
3. Video Interface method
4. Graphic card option
5. Resolution & other settings
6. Software running when problem occurs

This is quite a list and I probably missed a few. When you stop and consider, we know very little about the OPs problem.

I think that I understand what you meant vertisync. The OP has symptoms that are quite similar to yours. For me that means very little until you know the other missing facts. We know a lot more about your computer and the circumstances when you have this issue and you are not even the originator of this thread.
 
Last edited:
Celerondon said:
We have different ideas about what constitutes "the exact same issue".
Click to expand...
The OP and I have the exact same issue. Our display blanks out while we are working on our computer, and comes right back on.

All of the other crap you posted about what computer and software we have doesn't change the fact that our problem is the same.

This trend creates confusion in the threads.
Click to expand...
You're the only one who is confused. You are clearly not here to help, you only posted to lambast the OP.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Dissing Nerds on Macrumors?

vertisync said:
...You are clearly not here to help, you only posted to lambast the OP...
Click to expand...

Lambast?

I simply pointed out that the OP asked for advice without providing much information and listed some factors that could help others to help him or her.

I looked at your link. Do you wiggle your mouse to clear your problem or does the display come back spontaneously?
 
vertisync said:
The OP and I have the exact same issue. Our display blanks out while we are working on our computer, and comes right back on.

All of the other crap you posted about what computer and software we have doesn't change the fact that our problem is the same.

You're the only one who is confused. You are clearly not here to help, you only posted to lambast the OP.
Click to expand...

Sooo.... you create an account to get help on a forum. One that you have never been a part of before and you have the audacity to question someone who has been apart of these forums for quite some time and has made some very valid points in his previous post.

Just because YOU do not understand the need for information Celerondon stated we needed, doesn't mean it ISN'T needed.

"Ignorance of the law excuses no man" - John Seldon
 
Last edited by a moderator:
As Celerondon pointed out, we need details. There have been several problems with blanking screens on the Mac Mini that have all been fixed by firmware, software, or graphics chipset changes.

We need to know which model of machine you have, where you bought it from, and which version of OS X you're running on it.

The where you bought it from is particularly important, because if it didn't come directly from Apple as new or a certified refurb, it may be an old model that never got fixed. A lot of the 2012 models had problems when they were first released and many were returned or exchanged. Now, I've heard about none of those problems with the refurb 2012s that people have been scooping up from the Apple store lately.
 
Negritude said:
As Celerondon pointed out, we need details. There have been several problems with blanking screens on the Mac Mini that have all been fixed by firmware, software, or graphics chipset changes.

We need to know which model of machine you have, where you bought it from, and which version of OS X you're running on it.

The where you bought it from is particularly important, because if it didn't come directly from Apple as new or a certified refurb, it may be an old model that never got fixed. A lot of the 2012 models had problems when they were first released and many were returned or exchanged. Now, I've heard about none of those problems with the refurb 2012s that people have been scooping up from the Apple store lately.
Click to expand...

The chap wouldn't be replying anytime soon. He's been banned.
 
Negritude said:
The OP of this thread hasn't been banned. Some other person, who was never relevant to this conversation, has been banned.
Click to expand...

The OP hasn't been back since the 11th. My guess is that it was the cable or the monitor as we all initially guessed and won't come back to admit it. It's fine, it's just that these kinds of threads are the reason people jump to conclusions like "it has to be Apple's fault because of X thread" when in reality the issue had nothing to do with it....

I wish we could have this thread closed, since clearly the OP wants nothing to do with it. But alas we have no idea what the solution is/was....
 
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