Windows and desktop photo too small after reboot

On the desktop of the new user, that user does not have access to photos of other users. You could COPY (not MOVE) some of those photos when logged in as your original user into the Shared folder (which is inside the Users folder) and then retrieve them when logged in as the new user and make them your desktop background as the new user to see how they look. You can populate some icons on your new user desktop by moving those photos to the new user desktop where their icons should show up. And/or make some aliases to a number of Applications and place those aliases on your desktop as well.

jmj20 wrote:

I think I figured how to do it and trashed what is on your list and restarted––no change. Except I don't know how to deal with Q - Corrupt hosts file - Hosts file is corrupt.

Q - Configuration Files:  /etc/hosts - Count: 0 - Corrupt!

Thanks

I don't think the /etc/hosts corrupt file is causing your screen display problems -- that file is used for resolving network locations (domain name service DNS, and also sometimes local network locations). So if your browsing is going ok, you maybe can let that hosts file sit and deal with it later.

Did you ever verify whether a different user experienced the same display problems? If a different user was ok, then the original user preference files probably should be deleted (I gave instructions for that). If a new user has the same problem, there is a system wide problem which could be harder to track down.

You can place a COPY of images into the Shared folder by drag and drop with the option key held down. For instance, if the images are in your Pictures folder, you can drag/drop a copy by holding the option key and copying to the Shared folder. Or if your desktop image is in your Photos Library, open Photos, select the image, and Export it to the Shared folder.

Then log out and log in as the new user. You can then copy the image from the Shared folder into your new user's Pictures folder. Then you can make it the Desktop picture through the System Preferences. Then you can check to see if the image is too small as happened with your original user. The purpose of doing this is to see if the image sizing problem is specific to just one user or to all users.

jmj20 wrote:

I created a folder on the new user desktop and dragged the photos into it from the shared folder, then displayed them from desktop preferences––no change.

When I go through the photos in the Photos app. they all display full size when I open them from the app. but when I display them through the desktop preference it's inconsistent––some are displayed on the desktop full size, most are not. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or season as to where they came from.

I'm having trouble relating to what is described above to what you originally posted about:

"After a shutdown or restart the desktop photo displays as half size and all the windows are smaller as well as the desktop icons."

Are the desktop icons normal sized with the new user? You mentioned "all the windows are smaller as well" in addition.

The last thing I can suggest, then, is what I suggested earlier:

... open your user Library (hold down the option key and look under the "Go" menu for "Library"). Open the "ByHost" folder. Look for all files with a name like

com.apple.preference.displays.xxxxxx and com.apple.preference.displays2.xxxxx etc. and move them to a designated folder on your desktop with a folder name like "Copy of Display Preference Files"

Then reboot normally. See if the problem is still there. You can always restore those moved files back to the ByHost folder if this did not help.

I suggest you do a full backup before doing this in case you touch something unintentionally.

I don't expect that this will resolve it because these are user-specific preference files and you indicated that even a new user shares the problem.

I apologize, I left out a folder (Preferences):

.. open your user Library (hold down the option key and look under the "Go" menu for "Library"). Then open the "Preferences" folder and then the "ByHost" folder. Look for all files with a name like

com.apple.preference.displays.xxxxxx and com.apple.preference.displays2.xxxxx etc. and move them to a designated folder on your desktop with a folder name like "Copy of Display Preference Files"

Then reboot normally. See if the problem is still there. You can always restore those moved files back to the ByHost folder if this did not help.

I would follow Apple’s guidance. For both, NVRAM and SMC. Apple has different instructions for Intel Macs and M1 Macs.

The NVRAM actually stores some display settings, it is worth a try. SMC is lower likelihood of helping, but it might. Resetting them is harmless in any case.

jmj20 wrote:

The way I read instructions is that the SMC restart is just restarting the computer. I do not see any instructions for restarting NVR AM on a silicon Mac.

I think you are correct, for M1 Macs I do not see a way to clear the NVRAM.

Earlier, P. Philips had suggestions for UNINSTALLING certain unnecessary (and possibly harmful) software, including anti-virus and third part disk utilities. His suggestions were based on the Etrecheck report. These need to UNINSTALLED completely (I think you indicated that they had been "trashed?"). The vendors typically have uninstallers that must be run to completely uninstall them.

Since the issues you report have to do with your Display settings, I was trying to find out where those are for Monterey so they can be removed and fresh files recreated (by the MacOS) but do not know yet where they are located.

Hey jmj20!

Sorry for the troubles!

First, can you confirm if you are using an external display or not?

I’m also wondering if it’s a Finder issue as you say the Desktop icons also shrink.....

It you hit the Apple logo > Force Quit > Finder > Relaunch, any change?

I have a few more ideas, but would you mind posting a screen shot of what you are seeing?

Thanks! Happy to help out if I can, as anyone here.

What you showed indicates the settings for the built in retina display of the iMac, which is selected. What happens when you click on the one labeled SAMSUNG just below it on the left, what does it show?

Does the iMac display look correct, just the SAMSUNG TV screen looks wrong?

Hey again! I’m not sure if you’ve already answered this, but if you disconnect all connections to your Mac, (TV, hubs, hard drives, etc.), restart are you able to reproduce the issue with nothing connected? Especially the TV, whether connected via cable or network?