Wrong resolution after 10.2.6 combined update

[devino]

Before last night, I had OS 10.2.2 installed on my G4 Dual 867.  I use a Dell 2000FP LCD monitor, with 1600x1200 resolution.

After the update, I notced some oddities on my screen.  The image was stretched out a bit vertically to fill the screen, but there was black space on the left and right margins.  When I started Eudora (a Classic app) I noticed bluriness and distortion.  Turned off font smoothing and that helped some w/ the blurriness.  Then it hit me - the resolution was off.  Only now, the only choice for resolution I have in System Preferences - Monitors or in OS9 the Monitors Control Panel is 1280x1024.  

I reset the PRAM, and now the image is no longer stretched vertically.  I have a wider border on the left/right than on the top/bottom, but my screen is no longer filled with the image and I'm not sure what to do.

I have it connected via a digital video cable - no adapters on either end of the wire.

Also updated in yesterday's system software stuff were these: iCal, Java, QuickTime, iTunes (just in case).

Ideas please???  The goal is to get back up to 1600x1200.  This computer has the factory installed video card - NVIDIA GeForce4.

[pendragon]

While I don't know this tip/work around (from a contributor at MFI) will work in your situation, it may be worth a try:

"A simple solution for this is to prepare to hit the "Detect Display" button in the System Preferences->Displays PrefPane my moving your mouse directly over the button. Then turn your monitor off, click the button, and wait about 15 seconds. Then turn your monitor back on. Works like a charm.

The "Detect Display" feature tries to reset the video connection and to take a fresh look at your monitor and any DDC (Display Data Channel) information that it can offer your Mac. By shutting the monitor off, your Mac gets no DDC data (or any information for that matter) about the monitor. OS X then has to be much more liberal in the choices it offers. I literally have everything from 640 x 480 @ 60 Hz to 2048 x 1536 @ 60 Hz and about 60 choices in-between."

Good luck and please let us know if this works.

Harv

[kelly]

I think this first showed up in 10.2.5  

http://docs.info.apple.com/article2.html?artnum=25434

What Harv said.

[devino]

Thanks for the ideas!  I tried the monitor off trick with any/all combination of the other options in the Display area on/off - even fully unplugging the monitor, then clicking my pre-positioned mouse, and restoring power.  Nothing but the unwanted lower resolution - and ONLY that one - no other choice, appears  

I did find that the vertical stretching I described in my original post was reproducible by changing colors from Millions to Thousands.  And zapping the PRAM seems to be the way to get the border back around all edges of the screen rather than just having a left/right border.

I also located the monitor prefs, display prefs files and put them in the trash while exploring my various combinations.  I still have them in the trash, and have noticed that they haven't been recreated.  The Display Prefs wasn't changed since January 3 2003, but the Monitors Prefs was last altered around the time of the software update.  HMMMMM.  How can I make it recreate, or does someone want to send me their prefs file, maybe?  I'm out of ideas.

Thank you once more.  PLEASE keep them coming.  I'd sooner go back to an earlier OS than deal with my pretty display looking awful like this

-David

EDIT: forgot to say I tried this firmware updater but it told me the software was already in place when I tried.  Mind you I don't think I have the right sort of monitor for it anyway.

[pendragon]

I too am rapidly running out of ideas. But for sure I would Repair Permissions, run fsck -y, and just to ensure you do not have directory problems, and presuming you can lay your hands on a copy, run DisKWarrior.

Harv

[devino]

I haven't ever done the steps you mentioned... but am first going to try logging in as the admin user and attempting the fixes suggested before.  Until you said "permissions" I hadn't thought of that!  BRB

[devino]

No luck from admin either.  I tried a lesser set of variations, but it's doing nothing any differently.  I think I have the same permissions in the acct I was using vs. admin as far as that sort of setting goes, anyway.

I don't have a copy of DisKWarrior - but can go and look into it.  Could you point me to a primer on repairing permissions an running fsck -y?  In the meantime i'll be snooping around in Help.

thanks again - David

[kelly]

David.

There's a few solutions mentioned about half way down this page.

http://www.macintouch.com/mosxreader10.2pt48.html

I'm sure there's others in other Reports.

Launch Disk Utility from your Applications > Utilities.

Select your Drive/partition and Click Repair Permissions.

Randy B. Singer's Jaguar Troubleshooting Site.

http://www.macattorney.com/tutorial.html#A...chor-Slow-29754

http://www.macattorney.com/tutorial.html

[pendragon]

To run Repair Disk or Rebuild Premissions:
1. Insert your Mac OS X CD-ROM disc or Restore DVD disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. Once started up from CD or DVD, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu.
Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from disc to access Disk Utility.
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
5. Select your Mac OS X volume, if necessary.
6. Click Repair.

Disk Utility checks the disk and when it's done re-choose your main drive and reboots.
As Kelly mentioned, you do not need to use the OS CD to Repair Permissions as that can be done via Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.

To perform the fsck -y routine:

The fsck utility is run from the command line. This means that you must type a text command at a prompt (#), rather than using the mouse pointer to open an application. Examples of a CLI are the Terminal application and single-user mode. You should start up in single-user mode to use fsck.

How to start up in single-user mode:
1. Restart the computer.
2. Immediately after the startup sound, press and hold both the Command (Apple) and "S" keys on your keyboard. The computer will display a series of text messages, at which time you may release these keys.

When the computer has started up, it will display a command line prompt (#). The computer is now in single-user mode.

How to Use fsck -y From the Command Line:

Once you have reached a command line, follow these steps to use fsck:
1. At the prompt, type: fsck -y (NOTE: there is a space between the k and the -y)
2. Press Return.

The fsck utility will go through five "phases" and then return information about the disk's utilization and fragmentation. Once the check is finished, if no issue is found, you should see "** The volume <name of volume> appears to be OK."

If fsck alters, repairs, or fixes anything, it will display the message:
***** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED *****

Important: If this message appears, repeat the "fsck -y " command until this message no longer appears. It is normal for your computer to require several "passes" of fsck, because first-pass repairs may uncover additional errors.

3. When fsck reports that no problems were found, type: reboot
4. Press Return.

The computer should now start up normally and allow you to log in.

HTH

Harv

[devino]

Well, I repaired permissions.  And how lame is this - but how do I know (for next time) what my Mac OS X CD-ROM disc is?  I have Install Discs 1&2 and Restore Discs 1-4.  I could boot from Install Disc 1 - and guess what, the resolution LOOKED okay - but I was unsuccessful @ booting from the Restore Disc 1  - and Install Disc 1 wouldn't actually let me do anything.

I also ran fsck -y.

And the Hardware Test CD

And tried SwitchRes X (it only had the one resolution as well)

And looked @ the com.apple.windowserver.plist file.  It has the undesired resolution listed first in the XML.... and the desired one listed 2nd.  I do have some programming exeperience but well... it's a foreign sort of thing, this one, and I'm not sure if my messing with it would be successful.

I have looked @ the site Kelly pointed out from macintouch and found a report of someone having the same problem as me w/ my same monitor... but no solutions as yet.

Am I entitled to have a headache yet? I do!  Nothing's any better w/ the display.

But how about booting to the Install CD gave a nice full screen, no borders, and seemingly fine resolution image?  10.2.1 is the version on my CDs

Thanks everybody......

Sad David

[kelly]

David. Boot from Install 1 CD.

Read Harv's post carefully.

Maybe something here?

http://discussions.info.apple.com/WebX?50@...lkv.2@.3bc17a97

http://discussions.info.apple.com/WebX?13@...KdPO.0@.ef998ef

[devino]

Ooops, yes - I see very well how I could have continued from the install CD - didn't have that finer point of the instructions committed to memory!

I tried using an adapter and a VGA cable to connect that to the VGA port on the monitor.  Then got the 1600x1200 resolution set, then w/o restarting I switched back to the DV directly.

Resolution stuck.  I'm afraid to ever reboot now.  But it's lovely seeing a full screen again @ the right resolution!!

Thank you oh so very.  I shall post again once a reboot becomes necessary to let you know if this is a permanent change.

David

[pendragon]

Glad it all worked out

Harv

[devino]

Here is the rediculous reality:

reboot
resolution reverts
have to pull out DV cable, put in DV-VGA adapter which is hooked to  VGA cable and on the other end to the VGA input of my monitor
switch monitor input to VGA, assure resolution auto-sets to 1600x1200
swap the DV cable back in
switch monitor input back to DV, and the resolution is 1600x1200 with other choices.

But if I reboot again - well there's the cycle.  Seems perty rediculous 2 me.

However, I don't reboot often and my eyes are pleased even if my head is not.

I don't think I've ever have tried this idea on my own.

EDIT: (added this)

Makes me a bit nervous hot swapping video cables..........

[krissel]

Not my business but unless X.2.6 solved some problem or gave you a needed feature, I'd revert until they find a fix. That constant cable switching can't be good in the long run.

BTW, from Apple Doc 861944

QUOTE

Unlike prior versions of the Mac OS, Mac OS X does not store display or network settings in PRAM. If you experience a video or network issue, resetting PRAM will not help.