# MacBook/VGA hookup Q.  Need answer fast!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-vga-hookup-q-need-answer-fast/625910>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 22, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-vga-hookup-q-need-answer-fast/625910 "2012-06-22T02:21:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-vga-hookup-q-need-answer-fast/625910/1 "2012-06-22T02:21:21Z")

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Tech question for Mac people: My MacBook Pro just stopped synching with the VGA hookup for my school projector. I have the cable adapter and it normally works. Is there a quick fix for this? Like pushing COMMAND and one of the F buttons together or something? Have tried rebooting, reconnecting, resizing in VGA mode, repeatedly. What am I missing? I get the screen saver on the projector, a skewed view of the icons, and none of the PowerPoint I am trying to show my students.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-vga-hookup-q-need-answer-fast/625910/2 "2012-06-22T02:25:19Z")

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Go to System Preferences-\>Displays and play around with the available resolutions until you find one that works.

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**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-vga-hookup-q-need-answer-fast/625910/3 "2012-06-22T02:29:05Z")

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I tried every one they offer, none works. This worked fine until yesterday.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-vga-hookup-q-need-answer-fast/625910/4 "2012-06-22T02:32:02Z")

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Your adapter is probably broken (the H or V sync wire is broken) - try moving the cord around and see if it starts to work.

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**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-vga-hookup-q-need-answer-fast/625910/5 "2012-06-22T02:44:35Z")

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> [@beowulff](#):
>
> Your adapter is probably broken (the H or V sync wire is broken) - try moving the cord around and see if it starts to work.

Sounds about right. Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-vga-hookup-q-need-answer-fast/625910/6 "2012-06-22T23:32:03Z")

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Probably not this, but make sure that in System Preferences–\> Displays you have Mirroring turned on if you want your laptop screen to be what is on the display.

Sounds like it is probably a wonky dongle, though.