Mac Showing Multiple Squashed Screens

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Level 1

30 points

Mac Showing Multiple Squashed Screens

I have a Mac Mini and a MacBook Pro. I leave the Mac Mini turned on so I can remote into it using Teamviewer. I also often use the "Share Screen" feature on my MacBook Pro to remote into my Mac Mini when I am on the same network.

Sometimes, not always, when I remote in from either system my local monitor shows 4 squashed screens of the computer I'm remoting into (My Mac Mini). All 4 screens are the same. Another symptom is that when I move the cursor around, the portion of the screen that had the cursor move over it turns black, and then when I removed the cursor from the screen of the remote computer, the entire screen of the remote computer goes black.

I don't believe it is a Teamviewer issue because this happened when I used LogMeIn before they jacked up the price and I switched to Teamviewer. I have attached some pictures to show you what I'm talking about.

When I control the computer locally, it only shows 1 monitor attached.

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11), September 2015 Model

Posted on Sep 15, 2016 10:02 AM

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Answer 1

chris_g1

Community Specialist

Sep 16, 2016 8:10 AM in response to phkc070408

Hi phkc070408,

I understand that when you are remoting into your Macs you have a strange issue with the display showing four duplicate screens. In your screen shots, I noticed that you have both the TeamViewer and Mac screen share apps running simultaneously. I would try using only one of the remote applications at a time to see if this is causing the duplicate screen issue. You may also want to reset your NVRAM that may help with the display issue as well.

A small amount of your computer’s memory, called “non-volatile random-access memory” or NVRAM, stores certain settings in a location that OS X can access quickly. The settings that are stored in NVRAM depend on the type of Mac you're using, and the types of devices connected to it.

How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac

If neither of these procedures resolve your issue, try starting up in Safe mode then remote into the Mac using either application. Starting up in safe mode may help you diagnose problems you’re having with your Mac.

OS X El Capitan: Start up in safe mode

I am confident that these procedures will resolve the issue that you are having. Thanks for using Apple Support Communities to post your question.

Have a great day.

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Answer 2

phkc070408 Author

Level 1

30 points

Sep 20, 2016 2:03 AM in response to chris_g1

OK, I reset the PRam as you suggested and that did not correct the problem. I forgot to try the "safe mode" thing, but I'm remote now so I can't get into it. Once I am able to get into Safe Mode, what should I look for in there?

A few other symptoms are going on, and I don't know if these are related to the root problem or not, but tonight I tried to remote in through teamviewer and when I connected, I had the lock screen where I had to enter my password, I entered it, and the screen looked like it was trying to connect me but then it froze. I'm still able to move my mouse in it and I see my picture and my name with the blue background but nothing happens.

So I closed that window and tried to open a new session and the same thing happens - I enter my password and am back to this screen with my picture, my name, and a blue background that won't go away. My only option is to close that window, open an new session, and then restart the computer using the restart button at the bottom of the page.

So I restart the machine and after my Mac Mini fires up, I am able to remote in, but I get the squashed screen.

If I go into System Preferences / Display and change the resolution from "Default for Display" to "Scaled" and I double click on select a new resolution,

After I do this, the session will close. I then open a new session and this time the log-on screen has a black background rather than a blue background. I enter my password and only then am I good to go.

I don't know if these problems are all related, but they might be. I'm really struggling with this. If you have any ideas, I would live to hear them.

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Answer 3

phkc070408 Author

Level 1

30 points

Sep 20, 2016 4:19 AM in response to phkc070408

UPDATE:

I just got home and I started my Mac Mini in Safe Mode. I'm not sure what to do, so I tried to open Teamviewer (It did not open automatically at start up which is what I expected). When I opened Temviewer, I got a prompt telling me that "Teamviewer is trying to install a new helper tool. [Please enter my password]." I entered my paswor and Teamviewer closes.

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Answer 4

i_rina

Community Specialist

Sep 21, 2016 7:01 AM in response to phkc070408

Hey there!
Thanks for trying those steps that were suggested. And great way of trying to adjust your display resolution! Safe mode is for diagnosing purposes only. It also disables start up items where you would need to launch your apps manually and clear caches on your Mac. After booting up into safe mode successfully, try to see if the issue continues. If it does not, restart your Mac normally and test. The helper tool may have been an installation that needed authentication before it installed. Team viewer must close for this to be installed successfully. Have you tried quitting Teamviewer completely and using the built in Screen share app in OS X? I would also try reinstalling TeamViewer if this issue is persistent there.

You can use this link for TeamViewer support. TeamViewer Support

This should sort out that strange display issue.

Take care.

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