Why am I getting a Not Supported Mode on Samsung LNS4095D?

I'm having a problem very similar to this but none of the solutions mentioned here work for me. I'm using a Samsung HP-S4253 (plasma, 720p) monitor, using the VGA connection. I keep getting the "Not Supported Mode" when I power up my Mac Mini and I can't even start in Safe Mode!

I tried it twice. Once holding down the shift just until I saw the grey apple and "turning gear". It took much longer to get through that screen than ususal but eventually went to the NSM once it got through it. The second time I tried it, I did what the poster above suggested and held it throughout that screen, waiting for a "booting in safe mode" message but never got it, it went to the NSM screen.

There's a long history for this problem. The TV used to work. I'll start from the beginning.

1. I assumed that since the Mac Mini doesn't have built-in support for 768x1360, and since it automatically picked 768x1024 (and stretched out the screen) that I wouldn't be able to use the full resolution for display. So I purchased and installed DisplayConfigX with settings that I thought would work with my TV. When I did, and restarted the Mac, it got through the grey apple screen and then went to NSM (for the first time ever).

2. I followed DisplayConfigX instructions to remove the DisplayConfigX settings by accessing them in Single User Mode (aka Unix Mode) on the Mac. I restarted the Mac and was able to get the original/default 768x1024 resolution.

3. I re-installed DisplayConfigX, this time with settings I thought would work, as well as the default 768x1024 (@60Hz) resolution.

4. I restarted and it looked OK but then I navigated to system settings and clicked on Displays. I think I clicked too many times and accidentally selected a resolution that doesn't work, at which time it immediately went to the NSM.

5. I went back to Single User Mode and deleted the DisplayConfigX settings again, but this time it didn't work.

6. I took my Mac Mini to work to connect it to my LCD at work and set the display settings to 768x1024 @60hz. I brought it home, booted up the Mac then powered up my TV but still got NSM.

7. I reset the PRAM ( http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238).

8. I found a thread ( http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=8235) about how to edit the com.apple.windowserver.plist file (again under Single User Mode) but when I opened it in Pico, I couldn't find any of the display settings. It had the parameters included but no numbers (plus lots of garbage characters).

9. I deleted the com.apple.windowserver.plist file and restarted the Mac but it went right back to NSM and it didn't re-create the com.apple.windowserver.plist file as I expected. Instead, when I navigated there again in Single User Mode, it had a file named #com.apple.windowserver.plist#, which I couldn't delete or edit.

PLEASE HELP!!!

I sound like you selected an unsupported resolution when you were playing around with resolutions. Generally the first thing to try in cases like this is to boot into Safe mode. To do this, hold down the Shift key on the mini's keyboard during a restart until you see a message saying that the mini is starting in Safe mode. At that point you can release the Shift key. Hopefully when the mini completes booting it will still have a useable screen. If it does, go into display preferences and select a resolution you know works with the TV. Once you have done this, restart the mini normally (don't hold the shift key) and hopefully the setting you made in Safe mode will persist through the restart and the mini will be good to go. If not, write back. There are other things to try.

Glad to hear you solved your problem. By the way, you stated "I'm connecting it to a Samsung 40" LCD TV via VGA port (since Samsung states that it does not support DVI/HDMI connection)."

I have the EXACT same TV as you, and am using the HDMI connection. Yes, in the manual it says it is not supported, but it does work fine (and on my Samsung the picture is far superior via the DVI to HDMI connection than with VGA.

The only downside to the HDMI connection is the highest resolution is not supported (1900x1080) unless in overscan mode. 1600x900 is the highest in "normal" mode.

I have used overscan since the days of my CRT set, so it mattered not to me. Most times I leave it on 1600x900 and as I said the image is far superior to the VGA connection.

need help....URGENT!!!!!!!!!!

OK.... I GOT A MAC MINI ... AND I USED ON A SAMSUNG LNS 4095DX
, BUT NOW I GET A NEW SAMSUN LNT 4071F ... BUT I TRIED THE SAME STEPS TO MAKE A "SAFE MODE"... BUT I SEE ONLY A GRAY SCREEN AFTER THAT... NOTHING....."VIDEO NOT SUPPORTED".... BAD SIGNAL????CAN YOU GUYS HELP??????????

IS THE 120hz HDTV SIGNAL MEAN SOMETHING????????


thank you so much

BSteely, Thank you so much; I was experiencing same problem with 1.83 intel mini and Syntax Olevia 26". Your safe-boot/reset solution worked instantly! Probably saved me hours of headache. Thank you again!

Great forum here this thread solved our issue, we had the exact thing happen. We played with the resolution for photo displays and went to high.

Thanks for the post it was a life saver.