I'm stuck, don't know how to get a full screen on my Sony.

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I'm stuck, don't know how to get a full screen on my Sony.

I want to use my Mac mini with my Sony KDF-E50A11E TV.
But I can't the desktop to cover the entire screen without getting other problems.
I have tried 800 x 600 and 1024 x 576 but the desktop is not covering the entire Sony screen, it's a 2" black border around the desktop.
When I go in the "options" menu in displays and use the "overscan", the desktop cover the entire screen, but then It's too big so I can't see the entire desktop.
Hard to explain in English...

From the Mac Mini I use the DVI output and convert it to a HDMI cable that goes in the Sony TV.

Any suggestions on what I can try to make this work?

Thanks,
Daniel

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.4.10), 1.83 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 1 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Posted on Oct 9, 2007 8:57 AM

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Answer 1

BSteely

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Oct 9, 2007 9:22 PM in response to Mr. Fowler

I notice from the user manual for that model Sony that there are "PC Adjustment" settings. Have you had any luck with those?

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Answer 2

Mr. Fowler Author

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Oct 10, 2007 11:42 PM in response to BSteely

No, I can't even get the desktop up on the screen when I use the "PC" input. I use the HDMI input now and it looks ok, but it's not covering the entire screen.

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Answer 3

BSteely

Level 5

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Oct 11, 2007 9:13 PM in response to Mr. Fowler

Hmm. It should be working from the VGA connection. Do you see a grey screen during startup at all? If not, there may be a problem with the adapter or the video cable. If you do see a screen during startup and then it goes black when if finishes booting, then the mini is booting into an incompatible resolution. In that case, you could try starting in Safe mode (hold down shift key on keyboard until you see a message the mini is starting Safe) and see if you can set a resolution that will persist through a normal restart.

I really think VGA will be your best chance for getting a full screen image with no borders or overscan.

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Answer 4

Mr. Fowler Author

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Oct 12, 2007 5:00 PM in response to BSteely

Is VGA the same as the "PC input"..?
In the manual it says it's only works with 3 different resolutions: 640x480, 800x600 and 1024x768.
I haven't tried this input again, because I don't have the cable here for it now.
I did got the grey screen with the apple logo.

And when I'm using the HDMI input I also get the grey screen with the logo, that is covering the entire Sony screen. But when the desktop shows up there is this black border around it.

The guy I bought the TV from was using it with a PC and the HDMI input. He got a full screen with that and the solution why it didn't work for me was because I had a Mac.. and in his world Mac = problems.. so I didn't get much more feedback from him.

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Answer 5

BSteely

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Oct 14, 2007 10:48 PM in response to Mr. Fowler

Yes, VGA is the same as PC input. In spite of what the manual says about supported resolutions over the PC input, it may be your best shot at running the screen in native mode.

Somehow I doubt the TV was working full screen off a PC over HDMI, unless by "full screen" the previous owner meant including overscan, the same as it is working on the Mac. Either that or he had some custom timing he was running using a program like PowerStrip, which I somehow doubt. Otherwise why wouldn't he share that information with you?

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Answer 6

Mr. Fowler Author

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Oct 15, 2007 9:20 AM in response to BSteely

Thanks for your help here.
I don't know the guy that I bought this TV from and he was not that interested in helping out either.

Now I'm trying the VGA/PC input again.
First I see the grey screen apple logo in 4x3 format, only black borders on the right and left side of it.
But I can't get any further. 😟
I have been following theese tips on how to start up in safe mode:

"
1. Be sure the computer is shut down.
2. Press the power button.
3. Immediately after you hear the startup tone, press and hold the Shift key.
Tip: The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone but not before.
4. Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple and progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear)
"

I can't see the screen in safe mode, when I look closly on the TV I can see the 4x3 screen in the middle, just a little lighter black than the borders - but no desktop coming up.

I didn't write that before, but the very first time i tried the mac mini on this TV it worked (but not great). I got so far that I got a desktop in the 4x3 format, but then I clicked "find.." or "identify.." screen or something similar (not sure here) then it just went black.
Anyway, I already had the DVI to HDMI cable and my PC friends told me that was the one to use because of the fixed resolution this TV have.

Hard to explain in English as usually...

🙂

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Answer 7

BSteely

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Oct 15, 2007 10:15 PM in response to Mr. Fowler

Well, if it did work once before, it could be that the preference file(s) for displays has corrupted. In that case, you can trash the related files and when OS X restarts, it will regenerate new ones. In the Finder, use the File/Find... command and search on the term "windowserver". Finder should find files that look like com.apple.windowserver.plist and com.apple.windowserver.xxxxxxxxx.plist where xxxxxxx is a string of numbers and letters. Throw all such found files into the trash and restart. When OS X finds those files missing from their usual places, it will create fresh versions. Hopefully that will give you a new start with the TV.

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Answer 8

Mr. Fowler Author

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Oct 17, 2007 9:21 AM in response to BSteely

I have tried that now, trashed both theese files. But I can't get the desktop using the VGA input anyway. 😟
I bought the software SwitchRes X and switch back to the HDMI input, I thought it might be a way to use that. But the software is pretty complicated and I'm no expert. Didn't get anywere with that either.

Any more suggestions on what I can try..?
Thanks,

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Answer 9

BSteely

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Oct 19, 2007 6:14 PM in response to Mr. Fowler

At this point your best chance might be to remote the mini's desktop to another computer on the same network by using a VNC client/server arrangement, server on the mini and client on the second computer. In this way, even when you aren't getting a working screen from the Sony, you will see the mini's desktop on the other computer and you can control it from the other computer. With such an arrangement, you can make changes to the mini's Displays preferences and hopefully you can make a resolution selection that will light up the Sony screen again.

I know this is somewhat complicated. And you haven't even said if you have a second computer at your disposal, so I am guessing that part. But I really think VNC may be your best option at this point if you are determined to get the mini and Sony working together.

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Answer 10

Oct 22, 2007 5:31 AM in response to Mr. Fowler

Hallå i Kiruna!
Skriver på svenska det får man kanske inte.
Löste du ditt problem? Jag har nämligen samma problem med min 50" Panasonic och Mac Mini. Kör via VGA i dag men bilden blir klart bättre via HDMI, men bilden får inte plats på skärmen, har testat allt. Tänkte plocka bort min AppleTv nu när "Leopard" kommer för då får man samma fina gränssnitt i macen till Frontrow som i AppleTv. Har pratat med Panasonic dom lovade att försöka hjälpa mig.

roger.svenson@telia.com
Halmstad

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Answer 11

Mr. Fowler Author

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Nov 5, 2007 8:55 AM in response to BSteely

I still haven't got it working. I tried installing VNC, can't get that working either. But I think that is a good idea to be able to find the corret resolution for my TV!
Any good step by step guides how to use VNC over a wireless network?

(I don't think it's a good idea to write in Swedish here 😉

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Answer 12

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Nov 5, 2007 3:31 PM in response to Mr. Fowler

This is the best guide I have seen on-line for setting up VNC:

http://www.macminicolo.net/MacVNCtutor.html

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Answer 13

Mr. Fowler Author

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Nov 12, 2007 1:13 PM in response to BSteely

I'm still battling with the TV here.. I manage to get VNC running, I have to log in several times every time.. before I get the desktop up on my PC, anyway; it works!

I got the desktop up again on the TV, using the "PC input". But I cant get it to cover the entire TV (yet).
It does not matter if I choose 800x600 or 1024x768, it's only showing up in 4x4 format, leaving wind black borders on each side of the desktop..
How do I get further..?

Thanks so far 🙂

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Answer 14

BSteely

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Nov 13, 2007 8:19 PM in response to Mr. Fowler

Now that you have VNC running, you can use SRX from the VNC terminal to configure custom timings. Try 1280 by 768 as a start. Let SRX fill in all the blanks by selecting "Use simplified settings:" and select CVT in the associated pop-up. See if you can get the TV to lock into this timing. Make sure the vertical scan rate is set to 60 (Hz).

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Answer 15

Mr. Fowler Author

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Nov 15, 2007 1:09 PM in response to BSteely

The never ending story here.. but thanks for not giving up hope on me! 🙂

I did try the settings you described.
First of all, did I do it the right way?
1: Put in the data in SRX above. (1280x768, CVT, 60Hz)
2: Restarted
3: Then in "displays" I chose that setting..(?)

What happen is that nothing comes up on the screen, error message is "wrong signal frequency" (in Swedish but the translation must be something like that.

Message was edited by: Mr. Fowler

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