HT2998: Mac mini (Early 2006) and later: Connecting to a television

Learn about Mac mini (Early 2006) and later: Connecting to a television
iainmeldrum
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Q: Help! Mac Mini (early 2006) to TV connection problem!

Help! Mac Mini (early 2006) connection to Digital TV problem. I am using a DVI to VGA converter and using the PC channel on my Toshiba Regza TV. The Apple Logo startup screen appears, followed by the login screen but after logging in the screen disappears and fluctuates as if smeone is turning it on and off very quickly - though only the channel indicator in the top left appears and disappears - there is no sign of the desktop.

 

I'm guessing this is a resolution problem since the login screen appeared with no issues. The easiest answer would be what is the default resolution of the login screen so then i can adjust the display to the same. I also have a different desktop image to the default image - would this affect the ability of the TV to display it?

 

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated as I have no time to sit and work my way through all the display settings in different combinations.

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jul 16, 2013 11:07 PM

by John Lockwood,Solvedanswer
John Lockwood John Lockwood
Level 6 (9,349 points)
Servers Enterprise
A:

If the iMac and Mac mini can talk to each other when the iMac is on WiFi then yes.

 

Initially you will need to see what the Mac mini is doing so you can turn on Screen Sharing on it, you might therefore need to connect it to a computer monitor first. To turn on Screen Sharing you will need to open System Preferences, then click on Sharing, then turn on Screen Sharing.

 

If the Mac mini and iMac are on the same network the iMac should see the Mac mini when it browses the network or in the Finder it might also be listed in the left side of a Finder window.

 

See http://mac.tutsplus.com/tutorials/productivity/screen-sharing-on-the-mac/

Posted on Jul 18, 2013 11:59 AM

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iainmeldrum

Q: Help! Mac Mini (early 2006) to TV connection problem!

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  • Helpful answers

  • by John Lockwood,Helpful

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Jul 17, 2013 1:12 AM in response to iainmeldrum
    Level 6 (9,349 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Jul 17, 2013 1:12 AM in response to iainmeldrum

    There is no default resolution on the Mac. It is supposed to learn via EDID signalling what resolutions the display can do and pick the default from that list. Some displays especially TVs are very poor at providing the correct details via this signalling system.

     

    The best solution is to turn on screen sharing on the Mac and remote control it from another Mac while you are trying to get it working with the TV. Then you can open the Display settings and try alternative resolutions and refresh rates even if at that point nothing is visible on the TV. Of course this requires you to have at least two computers.

     

    No the desktop image/wallpaper would not be the cause.

     

    It sounds like the Mac is using a refresh rate the TV does not support, TVs might only support 50Hz and/or 60Hz but your Mac might be set to 75, 80 or other.

  • by iainmeldrum,

    iainmeldrum iainmeldrum Jul 18, 2013 10:11 AM in response to John Lockwood
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 18, 2013 10:11 AM in response to John Lockwood

    Thanks John

     

    My next noob-ish question is how do I set up remote control? Is it possible over wifi from my wife's iMac?

  • by John Lockwood,Solvedanswer

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Jul 18, 2013 11:59 AM in response to iainmeldrum
    Level 6 (9,349 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Jul 18, 2013 11:59 AM in response to iainmeldrum

    If the iMac and Mac mini can talk to each other when the iMac is on WiFi then yes.

     

    Initially you will need to see what the Mac mini is doing so you can turn on Screen Sharing on it, you might therefore need to connect it to a computer monitor first. To turn on Screen Sharing you will need to open System Preferences, then click on Sharing, then turn on Screen Sharing.

     

    If the Mac mini and iMac are on the same network the iMac should see the Mac mini when it browses the network or in the Finder it might also be listed in the left side of a Finder window.

     

    See http://mac.tutsplus.com/tutorials/productivity/screen-sharing-on-the-mac/