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Q: Change OS9 G4 resolution without extensions

I have an old working G4 but the monitor died.  MacMall recommended the View Sonic VA1917a VGA monitor but after it loads the extensions the monitor turns black and displays a box saying "OUT OF RANGE".  An internet search says this is a resolution issue.  I restarted in safe mode and everything is fine but I can't change the resolution because the monitor control panel won't open in safe mode.  Any ideas on a way around this problem would be appreciated.  Thanks!

Posted on Apr 21, 2016 3:03 PM

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Q: Change OS9 G4 resolution without extensions

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  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 21, 2016 4:41 PM in response to fdghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfg
    Level 8 (38,720 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 21, 2016 4:41 PM in response to fdghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfg

    Do you have more recent Mac (perhaps the one you use to post here)?  If you do, start up the old iMac G4 in Safe Mode.  Go to System Preferences Sharing pane and turn ON Apple Remote Desktop.  This iMac also needs to have a connection to your local network.  Then restart the iMac normally. 

     

    NOTE:  My description is for a Mac running Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4).  If it's running Leopard (10.5), the thing to turn ON may be called Screen Sharing.  If it's running an earlier Mac OS, I don't remember and this may not be possible.

     

    On the other Mac that's on the same local network, open a Finder window.  If the old iMac appears in the Finder window sidebar under Shared, select it.  Then click the Share Screen button to the right; enter your user name and password for the user account on the old iMac.  Even though the external display on the old iMac is blank, you should see its screen appear in a window (at its current resolution settings), and allow you to "remote control" the iMac.  Go into System Preferences and adjust the resolution setting until you find one that is usable with external display.  Once you get it working, you can go to the iMac and make further adjustments directly until you find the resolution that works the best.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Apr 21, 2016 10:11 PM in response to fdghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfg
    Level 10 (123,603 points)
    Apr 21, 2016 10:11 PM in response to fdghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfg

    Try a Safe Boot holding SHIFT key at bootup, then use System Preferences to set a good resolution.

  • by fdghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfg,Solvedanswer

    fdghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfg fdghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfghdfg Apr 22, 2016 2:37 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Old Hardware
    Apr 22, 2016 2:37 PM in response to BDAqua

    Thanks for the suggestions guys.  I found the solution.  I couldn't get the macs to talk to each other.  Not that El Capitan can't talk to OS 9.2, just that I couldn't get them too.  BUT I discovered that the extension manager works in safe mode so I unchecked extensions, leaving everything else checked including control panels and did a normal restart and it let me in.  I then went into monitors, changed the resolution, re-checked extensions in the extension manager and did a normal restart and it came right up.  I love it when a plan comes together!