Q: VGA Screen not adjusting

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fabarzuza

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Q: VGA Screen not adjusting

Hello all,

Some days ago I bought a new MacBook Pro. Previously, I had the 2012 generation, and I used a MiniDisplay to VGA to use an external display at 1920x1080.

Now, I am using exactly the same adaptor with my new Mac but it doesn't recognize the size of the screen. Moreover, I force the resolution to be 1920x1080 (which is the natural resolution of the screen) and I get a strange result: the image is more or less clear (not perfect though) but the size of the output image is not adjusted to the display. I have been exploring the options of the display but I can't find the appropriate parameter.

I am using Windows in a Bootcamp partition and Windows does recognize the screen apropriately. I am attaching you a photograph so that you can see what I mean.

Thank you!

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Feb 23, 2016 10:39 AM

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Q: VGA Screen not adjusting

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by sterling r,

sterling r Feb 24, 2016 12:04 PM in response to fabarzuza
Community Specialists

Feb 24, 2016 12:04 PM in response to fabarzuza
Hi there fabarzuza,

It sounds like your computer is not displaying correctly on your external monitor using the same adapter that you had been before. I would start by booting to safe mode. This will clear some system level caches and perform a disk verification and repair if needed:

Follow these steps to start up into safe mode.

Start or restart your Mac.

Immediately after you hear the startup sound, press and hold the Shift key.

Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
After the Apple logo appears, it might take longer than usual to reach the login screen or your desktop. This is because your Mac performs a directory check of your startup disk as part of safe mode.
To leave safe mode, restart your computer without pressing any keys during startup.

From: Try safe mode if your Mac doesn‘t finish starting up
After you boot to safe mode the job has been done, and you can leave safe mode and test the issue again. If it persists then I would next reset the PRAM on the computer:

How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac

Once that is done, you guessed it, test the issue again. If it still persists then I would next reset the SMC on your computer:

Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
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by fabarzuza,

fabarzuza Feb 24, 2016 3:15 PM in response to sterling r
Level 1 (0 points)

Feb 24, 2016 3:15 PM in response to sterling r
Hello Sterling,

Thanks for answering. I tried your ideas but unfortunately the problem was not solved.

I have performed two tests:
Using my laptop with a different screen, it happens the same.
Using a friend's retina 13'' MacBook Pro with my screen, it happens the same.
So it seems that it is not a concrete thing of my laptop. I am not using an official Apple adaptor, but it was working on my previous MacBook Pro (mid 2012).

Thanks again,

Fernando.
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by Grant Bennet-Alder,

Grant Bennet-Alder Feb 24, 2016 3:19 PM in response to fabarzuza
Level 9 (60,719 points)

Desktops

Feb 24, 2016 3:19 PM in response to fabarzuza

Make sure the screens are not using Mirroring. Mirroring forces the external and the built-in to both use a "compromise" resolution that is often not very good for either of them.

System Preferences > Displays:

.
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by K Shaffer,

K Shaffer Feb 24, 2016 3:31 PM in response to fabarzuza
Level 6 (14,279 points)

Desktops

Feb 24, 2016 3:31 PM in response to fabarzuza

You may need to invest in a new Thunderbolt to VGA or other adapter to use one
of the two Thunderbolt ports as a display port. Not sure if your older MiniDisplay
Port-to-VGA adapter is part of the problem or not. There also is an HDMI port and
an adapter should work to run a display adequately.

And as mentioned, the setting for Mirror can make displays render poorly.

The newer MacBook Pro has some different specs than the older 2012 model,
especially if the older one was non-Retina and had slightly older design specs.

Good luck!
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by fabarzuza,

fabarzuza Feb 24, 2016 3:35 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
Level 1 (0 points)

Feb 24, 2016 3:35 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hello Grant Bennet-Alder,

Thanks for your answer, that was not the problem though. I never use both screens with mirroring.

Fernando.
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by fabarzuza,

fabarzuza Feb 24, 2016 3:46 PM in response to K Shaffer
Level 1 (0 points)

Feb 24, 2016 3:46 PM in response to K Shaffer

Hello K Shaffer,

Yes, I am starting to think that this will be the only possibility. I am scared by the possibility of investing 30€ in something that might not work.

Thank you,

Fernando.
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by K Shaffer,

K Shaffer Feb 24, 2016 4:02 PM in response to fabarzuza
Level 6 (14,279 points)

Desktops

Feb 24, 2016 4:02 PM in response to fabarzuza

Yes, any upgrade or extra adapters should be purchased from a reputable source
who also has a good return policy and over the counter guaranty if you need to take
something back for another, if first one was defective.

• Apple Thunderbolt cables and adapters - Apple Support

• Thunderbolt ports and displays: Frequently asked questions (FAQ) - Apple Support
• Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ) - Apple Support

• About Apple video adapters and cables - Apple Support
• About Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters - Apple Support

These pages ^ do have many items and much reading; I've just located & read them.

Good luck & happy computing!
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Q: VGA Screen not adjusting

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by sterling r,

by fabarzuza,

by Grant Bennet-Alder,

by K Shaffer,

by fabarzuza,

by fabarzuza,

by K Shaffer,

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