Mac OS X 10.4.9 (#14): Display does not wake up alongside system (cont.) -- workarounds

[For complete coverage of Mac OS X 10.4.9 troubleshooting issues, see our special report]

Display does not wake up alongside system (cont.) -- workarounds We continue to report on an issue where displays do not wake up automatically when the attached Macs wake up. This issue is not specific to Mac OS X 10.4.9, but has been reported with greater frequency among users who have applied the update.

Dozens of users have since corroborated the problem, with the majority noting at least increased incidence (if not initial occurrence) after the Mac OS X 10.4.9 update.

One reader writes:

"I've had this problem intermittently with Mac OS X starting with Jaguar. However it does seem to happen more often with Mac OS X 10.4.9 -- both on a slot-loading 400mz PPC G3 imac, and a lava lamp 1gz G4, 17" imac."

MacFixIt reader Jeff adds:

"The computer is fully awake (no pulsating power light, is full on), but the monitors will not display although they appear to be awake (they are not on standby as evidenced by the lights). I only get a dark gray screen that is unresponsive to anything but a power cycle. It seems to be happening with increasing frequency. "

Rhon Fitzwater adds:

"I too experience this problem sporadically. I have a BenQ 22" display attached to an 17" Intel Core Duo iMac. Every now and then when I wake my sleeping mac the 2nd (BenQ) display does not wake up. I am able to get it to wake by pressing the power button on the BenQ display several times, or by unplugging it and plugging it back in. This is something I am not able to reproduce every time."

Workarounds

Restart using the keyboard Since, in most cases, this problem manifests during only some system startups, one method for dealing with it is to simply restart -- by pressing the control and eject keys simultaneously on desktops or the power button on laptops (which will bring up the restart/sleep/shutdown dialog box) then pressing the R key. This allows a safe restart of the system when the user is unable to see the display.

Use Remote Desktop If you happen to have another Mac connected to the problematic Mac via Remote Desktop, you can remotely switch screen resolutions, which will sometimes cause the display to resurrect.

Set the computer to never sleep Though less than ideal, you can set your Mac to never sleep in the Energy Saver pane of System Preferences, obviating this issue.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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