Secondary monitor issue

[Jolly-boo]

I have a 5k iMac, the most recent one, which I've been using since December along with a BenQ external monitor, and both have been working fine.

Then yesterday I go away for a little while. And then when I wake up my iMac, put in the password, the second screen doesn't wake up alongside it. I've tried NVRAM reset, tried the other power cord reset.

The monitor isn't dead either. It's in sleep mode, with the yellow light flashing. I have it plugged in via a DVI to Mini D port adapter. If I remove the cable from the iMac and then insert it back into the computer, no response whatsoever. If I detach the dvi side of the adapter from the dvi cable, then the light goes green for a while. I'll assume that means the adapter works fine - unless its the mini displayport side of it that's broken. I have nothing else to test it on to know for sure.

The "find screens" doesn't do a thing when I click on it. From the monitors menu -> colors, theres a profile for a BenQ monitor, but I assume its just a history profile, not the iMac telling me it recognize the presence of a second monitor.

The suddenness of this has got me stumped.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I have a 5k iMac, the most recent one, which I've been using since December along with a BenQ external monitor, and both have been working fine.

Then yesterday I go away for a little while. And then when I wake up my iMac, put in the password, the second screen doesn't wake up alongside it. I've tried NVRAM reset, tried the other power cord reset.

The monitor isn't dead either. It's in sleep mode, with the yellow light flashing. I have it plugged in via a DVI to Mini D port adapter. If I remove the cable from the iMac and then insert it back into the computer, no response whatsoever. If I detach the dvi side of the adapter from the dvi cable, then the light goes green for a while. I'll assume that means the adapter works fine - unless its the mini displayport side of it that's broken. I have nothing else to test it on to know for sure.

The "find screens" doesn't do a thing when I click on it. From the monitors menu -> colors, theres a profile for a BenQ monitor, but I assume its just a history profile, not the iMac telling me it recognize the presence of a second monitor.

The suddenness of this has got me stumped.

Any help appreciated.

Do you have another cable? I'd recommend getting a display port to mini display port cable, then you don't have a need for the adaptor.
Also I've noticed with our BenQ monitors sometimes you have to go into the menu and select the right input manually.

As a last test can you borrow another computer to try with it?

 

[Jolly-boo]

Do you have another cable? I'd recommend getting a display port to mini display port cable, then you don't have a need for the adaptor.
Also I've noticed with our BenQ monitors sometimes you have to go into the menu and select the right input manually.

As a last test can you borrow another computer to try with it?

The monitor was bought in 2011/2012, so its without a display port. Its three inputs are dvi, hdmi and VGA. I have a HDMI cable as well, but that one is used for PS4.

I have no other computer at home that uses mini or DVI, so I'll have to find that elsewhere.

This "right input", do I select that from the BenQ monitor itself or from the iMac? Rather odd that after so many months of usage, suddenly these two would be incompatible. I think I'll go find myself another adapter tomorrow and test it out too.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The monitor was bought in 2011/2012, so its without a display port. Its three inputs are dvi, hdmi and VGA. I have a HDMI cable as well, but that one is used for PS4.

I have no other computer at home that uses mini or DVI, so I'll have to find that elsewhere.

This "right input", do I select that from the BenQ monitor itself or from the iMac? Rather odd that after so many months of usage, suddenly these two would be incompatible. I think I'll go find myself another adapter tomorrow and test it out too.

You select the the input on the monitor. from memory you press the menu key and then use the up and down buttons to select source (this is pictorial on the one at work). Make sure the correct input type is selected.
Why not connect your PS4 to it using the HDMI? Then if it works you have narrowed down the issue to the cable or adaptor.

 

[Jolly-boo]

You select the the input on the monitor. from memory you press the menu key and then use the up and down buttons to select source (this is pictorial on the one at work). Make sure the correct input type is selected.
Why not connect your PS4 to it using the HDMI? Then if it works you have narrowed down the issue to the cable or adaptor.

The PS4 cable works fine. So the monitor works. And the input is set to DVI. And the reason the HDMI cable works with that setting is because I've been using a DVI adapter with it, for reasons that are stupid and not really relevant. Should've mentioned that. I didn't fiddle with any settings yesterday either. Just took a shower.

Well, okay then. Tomorrow I'll find a store with a good refund policy and buy myself a new adapter. And if that doesn't work, a new DVI cable.

thanks.