sbuzby

Q: Mountain Lion keeps forgetting display arrangement

Hello,

 

I have a brand new 12-core Mac Pro using two ViewSonic VA2026W displays. Every time I shut down and start up my Mac after installing OSX 10.8, my display arrangement is reversed from how I had it set before shutting down. This happened once with the original install of 10.7, so I switched the cables around thinking I had put them in the wrong order, and it never happened again. It doesn't seem like I should have to switch the cables again just because it's a new OS. This problem never occurred on my older 6-core Mac Pro on 10.6.8 using the same exact displays.

 

I understand that I can go into the system preferences and change the arrangement back, but that becomes pretty annoying having to then drag windows back where they are supposed to be and resetting wallpaper. I saw something about how the OS might not be able to tell the difference between the two displays, but why would this just become a problem with 10.8? And please don't say I should purchase Apple displays, they are absurdly high-priced.

 

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

 

Sam

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Jul 30, 2012 8:36 AM

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Q: Mountain Lion keeps forgetting display arrangement

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  • by RVHernandez,

    RVHernandez RVHernandez Mar 18, 2013 10:31 AM in response to sshanky
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 18, 2013 10:31 AM in response to sshanky

    It is already registered with them as a known issue. I reported the "bug" with full system logs a while back and it came back as a duplicate bug, meaning they had already logged it as a bug from a different developer.

  • by ArctiX-Arts,

    ArctiX-Arts ArctiX-Arts Mar 27, 2013 2:45 PM in response to sbuzby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 27, 2013 2:45 PM in response to sbuzby

    I've had all sorts of issues after upgrading to a SSD.

     

    If your Mac is too quick, the operating system tends to load preference files faster than the actual stack or protocol, which leads to not loading the preference files at all!

     

    I've had this same issue with networking preferences, bluetooth, and my monitor set up.

     

    I've used MrTweety's original solution (from here: https://discussions.apple.com/message/21607378#21607378) to create a group of launchdaemons to reload the preferences at a delayed rate.

     

    I've set each launchdaemon to different intervals (within seconds) to 'fan' out the loading, so the system doesn't get confused!

     

    1. Get your display prefs how you want them, and then copy/backup "/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist"

     

    2. Create launchdaemon script called "com.me.restart_mon.plist" for the specified issue (as below):


    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
    <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
    <plist version="1.0">
    <dict>
              <key>Label</key>
                   <string>com.me.restart_mon</string>
              <key>ProgramArguments</key>
                   <array> <string>/bin/bash</string>
                        <string>-c</string>
                        <string>sleep 2;touch "
    /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist"

    </string>
                   </array>
              <key>RunAtLoad</key>
                        <true/>
    </dict>
    </plist>

     

    *** Remember to error check this script with Plist Edit Pro or Xcode, or whatever you use. You can't just copy this into a text file ***

     

    3. copy script to /library/launchdaemons/

    4. goto terminal and set permissions

    - sudo chown root:wheel /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.me.restart_mon.plist

    <enter password>

    - sudo chmod 644 /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.me.restart_mon.plist

    5. Reboot & check your settings!

     

    Sleep 2 in the script may be too quick for you, feel free to change it - the original file was at 60 seconds for SMB support, then altered down to 15 seconds.

     

    If for some reason it works for you, then down the track the timings don't work and you need to reinstate your original, just copy it from the backup you have created.

     

    So far this has worked for me for 24 hours, I'm hoping it doesn't reset!

     

    Let me know if this works for you, and spread the word!

     

    ArctiX-Arts

  • by RVHernandez,

    RVHernandez RVHernandez Mar 27, 2013 3:43 PM in response to ArctiX-Arts
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 27, 2013 3:43 PM in response to ArctiX-Arts

    Ok, so I thought you might be on to something because I have an SSD. However, I also have a bootable copy of my 10.8.3 OS on a traditional HD. So I thought I'd try an experiment - not to say your script can't correct the issue - but to truly see if it is SSD related.

     

    Boot 1) I booted off the HD and the displays were switched, so I switched them.

     

    Boot 2) So the displays were in the right place.

     

    Boot 3) Displays were in the right place.

     

    Boot 4) Switched again.

     

    I had originally used my SSD on a text system with 10.7.x and the same dual displays and never had this issue. Going back to the days of OS7 through OS9 I had dual displays - never an issue. Only after the 10.8 relaese has it been an issue. I wish it was only because of the SSD, but I'm guessing there's been posts on this thread from others without an SSD.

     

    Thanks for posting this script. If I feel adventurous someday, I may try it. Until then, I sleep my system and restart maybe once a week...

  • by ArctiX-Arts,

    ArctiX-Arts ArctiX-Arts Mar 28, 2013 1:43 AM in response to RVHernandez
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 28, 2013 1:43 AM in response to RVHernandez

    It's definitely an issue with Mountain Lion, it may have been an issue with Lion too - I had heaps of issues with Lion even before having my SSD.

     

    Do you think yours became more unstable with the SSD?

     

    I'm working on a theory, as I had 'some' issues before installing the solid state, but when switching over, I had issues with SMB networking, my bluetooth, and my monitors. Which now seem to be all working fine now. I don't think it's completely an SSD thing. Especially as the touch command only updates the access time of the .plist or preference file, it doesn't actually reload the preferences. I just think perhaps the issue becomes more frequent as an SSD loads everything faster, and the access times of the files become more distant from each other. So a standard hard drive may load the file in the timeframe the operating system requires to use the preferences, or then again sometimes it may not.

     

    I'm not sure exactly why the loading of preference files relies on access times. Maybe it has something to do with the preference files MUST be loaded or accessed after the initial stacks/protocols have been loaded, and it's systematically checked by the operating system as a fail-safe. So it's almost like a misfiring spark-plug?

     

    I have also noticed if some monitors (and actually my TV does this) lose power or have their mains switched off, and then they are put into powered standby, they don't wake/udetect the hdmi or dvi ports even in standby mode. This means they aren't detected until they are actually powered on.

     

    I'll keep you all updated if I have any misfires and resets of the screens. So far it hasn't reset. I switched off my mains to the study while at work - and it has booted fine a few times.

     

    If anyone wants to try the plists and can't build them - let me know and I'll email it!

  • by cryptomagic,

    cryptomagic cryptomagic Apr 6, 2013 5:45 AM in response to ArctiX-Arts
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2013 5:45 AM in response to ArctiX-Arts

    I had the arrangement problem on an Early 2009 MacPro with 3 GeForce 120 cards that I had upgraded from Leopard to ML.  It happened as soon as I upgraded from Lion to ML.  I also started getting KPs like these folks:

     

     

    Yesterday, my hard drive went south, so I decided to do a fresh install of ML on an SSD and on the first boot I got

     

    • The arrangement forgetting problem.
    • The wallpaper forgetting on one monitor.
    • The monitor standby problem on one monitor which I cured by unplugging and replugging the monitor into the vid card while computer is turned on

     

    IAE I ran the Disk Utility | Fix Permissions on my SSD volume and it added write permissions for group 'wheel' and 'anonymous' to 3 graphics related folders:

     

    Repairing permissions for “SSD”

    Group differs on “Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist”; should be 80; group is 0.

    Repaired “Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist”

    Permissions differ on “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/CoreGraphics”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .

    Repaired “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/CoreGraphics”

    Permissions differ on “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Resources”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .

    Repaired “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Resources”

    Permissions differ on “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/Current”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .

    Repaired “System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/Current”

     

    Permissions repair complete

     

    For 3 successive reboots, it has remembered my monitor positions and wallpaper settings after never remembering them even once before.

  • by cryptomagic,

    cryptomagic cryptomagic Apr 10, 2013 4:38 AM in response to cryptomagic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2013 4:38 AM in response to cryptomagic

    Alas, the problem eventually returned.  Tried the PVRAM reset but that made no difference.

  • by cryptomagic,

    cryptomagic cryptomagic Apr 12, 2013 8:20 AM in response to cryptomagic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2013 8:20 AM in response to cryptomagic

    FWIW, some of us are solving this (and other more severe video problem) buy upgrading our video cards from multiple nVidia GeForce 120 to a single ATI 5770 (~$250)

     

    http://discussions.apple.com/message/21767099

    http://www.amazon.com/Apple-ATI-Radeon-5770-MC742ZM/dp/B003Z6QH6M

  • by Tay2001,

    Tay2001 Tay2001 Apr 12, 2013 11:04 AM in response to cryptomagic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2013 11:04 AM in response to cryptomagic

    Alas, the issue is that $250 card is $365 over here, I wish I had the luxury of just throwing money at the problem. There is no guarantee that will fix the issue.

     

    I'll give it a bit longer before I throw a small fortune at the issue.

  • by Scott Finlayson,

    Scott Finlayson Scott Finlayson Apr 13, 2013 2:27 AM in response to cryptomagic
    Level 1 (22 points)
    Apr 13, 2013 2:27 AM in response to cryptomagic

    Not to split hairs, but you're not "solving" it by upgrading your video cards - you're circumventing the issue, but the issue still remains. My MacPro has 3 (three) NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 cards *INTENTIONALLY* so that each of them could drive a 30" display plus others. It was an Apple-offered, Apple-supported and Apple-installed configuration and it shouldn't need to be circumvented because of a software update.

     

    At **THIS** point, I am not holding any more hope that it'll get fixed. [shrug]
    It's annoying as ****, but I've gotten pretty fast at reconfiguring and reassigning the displays and ICC profiles upon reboot.

     

     

  • by patrick.choi.23,

    patrick.choi.23 patrick.choi.23 May 13, 2013 10:53 PM in response to sbuzby
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    May 13, 2013 10:53 PM in response to sbuzby

    I didn't have this problem until 2 weeks ago. I had a single GTX 680 in my Mac Pro, but decided to add a 5th monitor so I installed the factory GT 120 in as well. Now every time I reboot, I have to fix my display arrangements all over again.

     

    Removed the GT 120 and OSX remembers the arrangements.This isn't really a solution as I do want the extra monitors. The funny thing is, the GX 680 is just a normal PC video card that isn't really "Apple certified"! Trying to find another single slot video card now so I can get rid of the GT 120.

  • by mict23,

    mict23 mict23 May 20, 2013 12:28 PM in response to sbuzby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 20, 2013 12:28 PM in response to sbuzby

    bump!

    same problem here. resetted everything. new install. still the same problem.

  • by donovanfromca,

    donovanfromca donovanfromca May 20, 2013 12:36 PM in response to sbuzby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 20, 2013 12:36 PM in response to sbuzby

    Excuse me for dumping here, but I feel regret that Apple has not fixed this yet.  They told me straight up that it is a Mountain Lion bug.  Pro users who need multiple screens to do their jobs don't really have the resources to twiddle twaddle with System Preferences on a daily basis.  I have more various Macs, iPhones, Apple TV's, iPads, iCloud, the full catastrophe, and have had their products from the git go.  Having a bug is one thing.  Not fixing it is another.  APPLE, FIX TH"I"S BUG!!  Sorry, thank you.

  • by Tay2001,

    Tay2001 Tay2001 May 20, 2013 12:54 PM in response to donovanfromca
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 20, 2013 12:54 PM in response to donovanfromca

    I've spent thousands on apple kit, iPads, iPhones, Mac Book Pro's, Air's, mini's, Mac Pro's, TV's.  I "could" fix it for a few hundred pounds, but you know what?, I won't be.

     

    I'm a stubborn old man and principles mean something. My love affair with Apple products dwindles the longer it takes to fix this, if they dont, I simply vote with my feet..it really is that easy.    I feel sorry for those that have to work with the kit at a professional level that have issues.

     

    I feel like I'm being held over a barrel, frankly, thats not a nice feeling.

     

    In my case Safari makes the situation MUCH worse, chrome is now my browser of choice with firefox a close second. I can partially manage the KP's by purging the memory and steering clear of various media in browsers. It'll come to a head at some point and I'll go postal on it and throw it out.  

  • by Scott Finlayson,

    Scott Finlayson Scott Finlayson May 20, 2013 1:42 PM in response to Tay2001
    Level 1 (22 points)
    May 20, 2013 1:42 PM in response to Tay2001

    I'm thinking the "fix" will be in 10.9 but it's still LONG overdue. Again, I get it... Apple is no longer just a "Computer" company and pro users are a small fraction of a percent of their customer base since the focus on consumer products... but there has to be SOME level of response when things break.

  • by ArctiX-Arts,

    ArctiX-Arts ArctiX-Arts May 20, 2013 3:08 PM in response to sbuzby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 20, 2013 3:08 PM in response to sbuzby

    I did forget to update here!

     

    My issue (of course) came back after plugging my 4th display back in. Which is the only display on a second card.

     

    I hope apple fixes this multiple display issue soon, as it makes work extremely difficult, having to reconfigure 4 displays every morning!

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