Mac Mini - Sony Bravia display issue

All --

I believe I've solved the Mini-to-TV resolution issue, at least for Sony Bravia owners.

As an FYI, I was seeing the same issues. I have three brand-new Mac Minis that I'm using for demos connected to Bravias. The first one I updated to v10.5.7. The other two remained at v10.5.6. Same problem across the board: on my 40-inch Bravia XBR9, I lost about an inch of screen around all four edges, so OS version didn't seem to be the culprit.

Here's the fix: On the TV, go into the main menu (not the "options" menu), then "Settings," then "Picture & Display," then "Screen." For HDMI in, set the following:

* Wide Mode to "Full"
* Auto Wide to "On"
* 4:3 Default to "Off"
* Auto Display Area to "Off"
* Display Area to "Normal" (default is "-1" which seems to be the cause of the one-inch edge problem. Setting to "Normal" was the fix).

Picture coming in on both the 10.5.6 and 10.5.7 Minis is perfect, and all edges are correct.

Hope this info helps.

-- Bill

All --

Here's an update: I was able to adjust the picture settings on a Samsung 32A550 LCD as well by going into the TVs Menu, navigating to Picture --> Picture Options --> Size, and setting the Size value to "Just Scan."

Works like a charm. The issue is with your TV's, folks... not with the Mac Mini.

-- Bill

After updating to 10.5.7 my display settings also changed on my Mini.
Not sure why.

I didn't change anything on the TV but I was finally able to set the resolution on the computer back to to *1920x1080, 60 Hz (NTSC), Millions*
Overscan is turned "On"
The info shows 16:9 1080p HD

I just double checked my 48" Bravia XBR4 and it has these settings.
* Wide Mode to "Full"
* Auto Wide to "Off"
* Display Area to "Normal"

I also changed the Auto Wide to On and the 4:3 Default to Off but the computer didn't show any difference. So, I changed it back to my original settings.

I had a hard time getting my Mini back to the 1920x1080 as the screen kept going black after starting up. I could see the gray screen with the Apple and the spinning wheel, after that, the screen went black. I used screen sharing from another computer and finally got the Mini showing up on the Sony TV...

every time I read about a problem like this I shy away from buying the minimac.

I have a 52 inch Sony XBR6 and a windows PC as a media center pc and the video is great (just the PC is old and slow....and a new Mini Mac would be Shiny and New), but if I upgrade I don't want grief!

Mike

Exactly same problem here (Bravia KDL 32D3000 and Mac mini Core Duo 1.83GHz that were perfect friends before this **** update). Changing the TV config in any way does not change anything.

There are many other threads there and there on this problem (I'm French, I looked first on French forums), this is clearly a problem for MORE than just "few" users...

I returned from a two month trip abroad yesterday and was prompted to install a mountain of updates on my Mac Mini.

Before doing so the picture was fine on my Sony Bravia (KDL-32D3000). After the update I'm missing ~1" around the edge of my desktop.

The fact that this problem arose immediately after the update points to the problem being with Apple.

I have tried many of the 'fixes' suggest in this thread, but none have worked.

Fingers crossed a fix is imminent.

Steve

Just to add to the reports, I am experiencing this problem too. I have a Sony Bravia KDL32D3010, and I connected my Mac Mini via HDMI. It used to work flawlessly but now (I assume after the 1.5.7 update, thought I'm not sure when that happened) whatever resolution I choose I see a low quality picture. I tried to connect my MacBook and it works fine at 1380 x 768, however this resolution is not available when I connect the Mini. 1920 x 1080 would be available, but produces a crappy image.

Currently using the PC input via VGA at 1380 x 768 and it works OK, but I would like to go back to the HDMI input for better picture and the possibility of using the audio input.

I have the exact same problem : suddenly the native (1366x768) resolution of my Samsung 720p LCD was not listed in the Mini "Monitors" control panel anymore...

After reverting to a fresh install of Leopard (from the original DVD, so I think it was 10.5.1) the resolution was back in the list.

But after a combo update to the latest version, it had disappeared again.

I'll revert to 10.5.6, too, but I think Apple should correct this in a future (possibly quick) fix...

Update: like other people in this thread, I was able to fix the problem with SwitchResX. However I wasn't able to export a EDID for the correct resolution (1360 x 768) while connected via HDMI, the file showed only the few resolutions recognized by the Mac. So here are the steps I followed:

- Connected MacMini to TV via PC (VGA) interface. Boots correctly at 1360 x 768
- From SwitchResX, selected on Export DID and saved the file
- Rebooted, and connected via HDMI (Boots at wrong resolution)
- Started SwitchResX and in the Custom tab created a new 1360 x 768 resolution with the parameters copied from the EDID file exported before
- Rebooted, and in preferences->Display selected the 1360 x 768 that is now available
- Success!

Hope this helps (and that Apple fixes this in an update).

I manage my dad's Mac Mini remotely from 600 miles away. I just came up to visit them and to help them out, mom and dad are 89 years old. Of course, the first thing I did was upgrade their OS and it killed the display on their Sharp Aquos LCD TV. I know this thread is all about Sony Bravias but I just wanted to let everyone know that it also affected this TV. I am quite frustrated over this having booted into safe mode and tried various display combinations usinng Screenresx that I loaded when I set their system up for them a couple of years ago. I worked hard to make it seem effortless to get on the internet using a Mac and now they are getting anxious that they have lost their display. I will get it back but after a long night working on it I am giving up. Bottom line I will get a DVI to VGA cable and use that. I have an IT background and it has stumped me tonight. I don't know what mom and dad would do if I were not here to help them. All users are not IT experienced and granted Apple cannot anticipate all hardware combos that are in the field but I disagree that it is the users responsibility to fix it without any assistance from Apple. I have decades of experience on the IT side of things and we never expected our users to solve their problems. I am not being antagonistic or hostile but just saying that all Mac Mini users with 720P TVs and displays are not experienced enough to solve this problem.

Same problem with my mini + Samsung TV since 10.5.7 update. The only way I found to recover optimal resolution is to back to 10.5.6.
I will try 10.5.8 combo update to see if the monitor resolutions fix issue work for this problem.

Well, looks like Apple was listening after all ; the 10.5.8 update was released today, and it corrects (among others) :

+an issue that could cause some monitor resolutions to no longer appear in Displays System Preferences.+

Of course, we'll still have to check if it really corrects the problem...

Go download the combo update here : http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacOS_X_10_5_8_ComboUpdate

I checked my dad's Mini and it is running 10.58. If he upgraded via the normal update process would that be different from the combo update? I still cannot get a display in anything but safe mode.

I have tried every possible combination of displays with no success. I have used ScreenresX but can still only get a display in safe mode. I am getting very close to reloading the OS from the DVD that came with their mini. That would have to be an act of desperation for me as I have applied many tweaks and addons to make the machine more usable for my parents who know nothing about computers. Arggghhh! If only I had not upgraded their system and found this thread first.

Bob3rd, when it boots Safe, what resolution does that result in? When you go into Displays Preferences while booted Safe, what other resolutions are presented as choices?

Generally, if you select another resolution other than the one it comes up in when booted Safe, that newly chosen resolution will be the one used during the next, normal restart. Hopefully that will get the mini back on the road to health. Good luck.