Mac Mini Unsupported LCD Monitor?

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Level 1

8 points

Mac Mini Unsupported LCD Monitor?

Hi - Could anyone out there help? I've spent the last 2 hours trying to sort this and I'm now at the point of throwing it all out of the window!!!

I have an older Intel Mac Mini and have an LCD TV plugged into it which DID work fine! However the screen resolution in the monitor preferences was changed and it no longer works? All I get now is a blue screen with "UNSUPPORTED" bouncing from corner to corner!!! When booting up it briefly says "VGA 1360 x 768 60HZ"? I have installed a third party bit of software to try and get the Mac to support that resolution but to no avail. I have also trashed the monitor preferences but still no luck - can anyone help before I have no hair left???

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 1, 2012 2:41 PM

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Answer 1

Ziatron

Level 5

4,220 points

Jan 1, 2012 10:59 PM in response to philipwalker

Welcome to the wonderful world of copy protection.

Your display may not be on the "approved" list, or was removed from it.

Apple's Mac lines includes a form of digital copy protection that will prevent protected media, such as DRM-infused iTunes movies, from playing back on devices that aren't compliant with the new priority protection measures.

The Intel-developed technology is called High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) and aims to prevent copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across a variety of display connectors, even if such copying is not in violation of fair use laws.

Among the connectors supported by the technology are the Mini DisplayPort found on Apple's latest MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air, in addition to others such as Digital Visual Interface (DVI), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Gigabit Video Interface (GVIF), and Unified Display Interface (UDI).

Apple has apparently acquired a license for the technology and is now using it across its lines to to prevent transmission of purchased iTunes content (and some DVDs) to devices that don't include support for HDCP.

The problem can often be solved by using an HDMI to Component Video adapter. Many believe that Component Video will give you a better HD picture than HDMI without any of the hassles of HDCP.

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Answer 2

philipwalker Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 2, 2012 4:24 AM in response to philipwalker

OK, I understand where you are coming from but this monitor was set-up and working about a week ago and only stopped working yesterday when what was obviously an unsupported resolution was selected in the monitor set up preferences? I don't think that Apple has deemed this LCD unsupportable at exactly the same time? Surely it's a prefernce/setting thing that is wrong? Although for the life of me I can't work out how to reset it so it works??

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Answer 3

Jan 2, 2012 4:53 AM in response to philipwalker

Someone mentioned to boot into Safe Mode (Hold Shift key while booting) in order to change the display settings to a resolution your monitor can handle. Might be worth a try.

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

93,670 points

Jan 2, 2012 8:45 AM in response to philipwalker

Reset the PRAM > Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM

1. Shut down the computer.

2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.

3. Turn on the computer.

4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.

5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.

6. Release the keys.

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Answer 5

philipwalker Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 2, 2012 1:57 PM in response to den.thed

OK! Forgot about zapping the PRAM, anyway gave it a go and had some success (albeit temporary!). The machine fired-up and the monitor came to life (interestingly no second chime though?). The monitor resolution was something like 800 x 640 (very low anyway) so I went into monitor prefernces and clicked on "Detect Monitors" and then it all went to crap again!!! Tried again but it just gives me the log in window and as soon as I put in the details and click "Log in" it gives me the "Unsupported" on a blue screen again! Wondering if booting-up from the snow leopard disc would work??? Anyone any more ideas? Like I say it has been working a treat for the last couple of weeks!

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Answer 6

den.thed

Level 10

93,670 points

Jan 2, 2012 3:23 PM in response to philipwalker

Personally I'd throw anything that was VGA (or analog) out the window and start over.

No, no, no, don't do that.. However at this point, I'm not sure what else to suggest without a better picture of your current setup.

You know, exactly

Which year model the Mac Mini is?

What adapter and cable arrangment your using?

What video input choices or options the LCD TV provides?

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Answer 7

philipwalker Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 3, 2012 2:47 AM in response to den.thed

Hi -

Mac mini model is the A1176, Intel core Duo 1.66ghz. The VGA cable from the monitor is plugged into the adaptor block that comes with the Mac (then into the machine itself). The LCD TV/Monitor is a 21" Bauer flat screen LCD which has a HDMI connection (Mac doesn't though). As I'v said it was working fine but I seem to have screwed-up the resolution settings and it all gone pear shaped since then? When booting up I get the white screen with the Apple logo and the catherine wheel of bars then once it's booted it flashes-up the blue screen with "Unsupported". I have borrowed another LCD TV which I can get to work fine, but I have'nt messed around with any settings when that is plugged in adn it looks dreadful and low res?

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