Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Additional desktops and wallpapers replaced on every boot up - w/Dual Monitor

I'm running a Mac Mini (mid 2011) with a dual monitor setup : primary display is a HDTV connected via HDMI and a secondary monitor connected via display port to VGA cable (as this monitor only has a VGA input). Since updating to Yosemite I have noticed some peculiar behaviour with the desktops (or spaces). It seems that, upon each boot up, however many desktops that were on the VGA monitor get added to the HDTV, increasing the amount of desktops I have on it every time I boot, and the VGA monitor is left with just one desktop.

Also, the wallpapers for each desktop keep getting replaced. This is starting to drive me a little crazy having to delete these desktops and re-apply each wallpaper every time I boot up/restart.


My theory is that, from a hardware perspective, the monitor is considered the primary display because the display port is capable of higher resolution than the HDMI port. Even though I've specified in System Preferences that the HDTV is the primary display (by dragging the menu bar over), the monitor is still truly the primary monitor from a hardware perspective (evident by displaying the apple logo on boot up). Then after boot up, Yosemite must be transferring the desktops over.


This was never a problem before. Does anyone have any solutions to make the mac see the HDVT as the true primary display or have any other possible workarounds for this wallpaper/desktops glitch?

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Oct 21, 2014 9:14 PM

Reply
4 replies

Nov 15, 2014 12:13 PM in response to Carl Harrison

My problem is similar. I've been running Yosemite for about 2 weeks on a late 2013 27" iMac with a second monitor. Today I did a fast user switch to a second account for the first time. When I switched back, my desktop wallpapers reset to plain blue. I reset them to two of the Yosemite pictures, and tried again - same result. The picture wallpaper appears for a moment after switching, then goes to the plain blue (it is the first choice in the solid colors picker). It's not a big deal, but it is a nuisance.

Nov 21, 2014 8:37 AM in response to Paul Anderson

I have a similar problem with 2 (dissimilar) screens attached to my Mac Pro (early 2008) - a DELL 1920 x 1200 my normal main screen and a smaller Panasonic TV VGA normally acting as a slave display (1280 x 768). Everything was fine under Mavericks but the upgrade to Yosemite has produced some weird problems:


(1) At Logon the smaller Panasonic Screen now presents the logon identities (I have several so I'm invited to scroll right to view them!!)

(2) Once logged in, the Panasonic Screen refuses to work in anything other than 1024 x 768 and defaults to the Yosemite "Mountain" desktop image rather than the photo I've tried setting it to several times???

(3) I can no longer access the Dock when working in the Panasonic Screen, and the Program Options header is only on the DELL even though the program is running in the Panasonic screen???


At this point I was going to insert 2 .tiff files of the display settings from "About this Mac" for Mavericks & Yosemite (they are different!) but for some reason the "insert image" button on this screen only allows me to select the image (187KB less than 2MB maximum) but not insert it!!!!


(4) As you have discovered I seem to be gathering an extra Desktop each time I log in too!!


I'm rather less than impressed at the moment...


Mac Pro (3,1) early 2008 OS X Yosemite 10.10.1

Dec 19, 2014 5:03 AM in response to Scubaman31

Just been told by Apple Technical Guy (19 December 14) that my ATi Radeon HD 5770 graphics card (bought from Apple!) is no longer supported in Yosemite!! I can try replacing with an ATi HD 2600XT, return to Mavericks or put up with the inconvenience that my primary screen seems to be the VGA source and each time I log in I get another Desktop Space! The odd thing is that the HD 2600XT seems to be an older graphics card than my HD 5770? Not sure what;'s going on here...

Additional desktops and wallpapers replaced on every boot up - w/Dual Monitor

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.