Raspberry pi sd card issues

You have an HDMI cable that connects the Raspberry pi and the Macbook?

This is a "problem" with the HDMI cables: They fit both ways around. This means that when you're connecting your raspberry pi to a TV you can plug the cable into your TV with either end and fit the other end in the raspberry pi. You never have to turn the cable around like with mains plugs or USB cables that have different ends.

But it also means that you can fit the cable from one TV (image-showing-device) to another TV. Nothing will happen. And you can fit the cable between two image-producing-devices, for example a raspberry pi and a macbook.

Your macbook cannot display an incoming HDMI signal on its internal display. You need a TV or monitor with an HDMI input.

I have an HDMI to mini displayport adapter that I am using to connect the pi to the HDMI cables to the mac. All of the cables work fine, as I have used them to connect my mac to my tv.

As Roger mentioned: try to connect the pi to your TV using an HDMI cable, without connecting to the Mac.

The Mac displayport is functioning as an output (for a second monitor), I'm not sure it works as an input.

And I'm pretty sure it DOES NOT work as an input.

Let's put it this way: You've connected a bunch of cables to your mac, and then put the part you normally shove into the TV into the raspberry pi. Do you see the screen of your MAC suddenly appear on the raspberry pi? No? Thought so!

If you are using a straight male HDMI to male HDMI from your Raspberry Pi to your TV it should work.  This should at least show your Pi is working.

I'd be cautious of using an HDMI to VGA or HDMI to DVI converter when you connect your Pi to a PC monitor.  In this case you really need to purchase an 'active' adapter that has power connected to the converter.  The economical HDMI converters are not 'active' and can draw more current from the Pi HDMI interface then the specification allows.  Doing this can cause your HDMI out interface to burn out in the Pi.  Always look for an 'active' converter that is self powered and then you can use any PC monitor for your Pi.

I purchased a self powered active HDMI to VGA converter and connected my Pi to my PC monitor  This works great!  I find this an easier approach as a TV for a monitor just doesn't work well for me when you're dealing with such tiny fonts.

I will try to connect my pi to my tv, though.

Well, it does seem to be possible to use an iMac as an external display: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3924

But as we're talking about a MacBook Pro in this case, the feature is not supported.

Hi Liam

this sounds like something I ran into with an XBMC SD card. I would try a couple of things:

First take a look at the symptoms of the boot failure (ie any lights flashing, screen displayed, etc??) and compare that to this debug page
R-Pi Troubleshooting - eLinux.org 

Or, create another, new NOOBs SD card and try to use that one....this is what worked for me

Good Luck, let us know how it goes

Sometimes the issue is the SD Card using a newer faster model with sufficient free space does the trick. Try a virgin new card that has been fresly formatted and not have been used before as formatting normally leaves traces of previous projects. Good luck however...

What I thought was an sd card is actually a micro-sd adapter, but it is specifically made for the pi, and I ordered it from element 14 / newark so it should be compatible with the pi. It is also brand new. When I plug it into the pi the green led on the pi glows softly, but not very brightly. Thanks for all of the help so far!