Whoops!

[HMCTech]

The refresh rate was changed on a mac mini to one that the atattched monitor can't support. So now the screen is going a bit mad. I held down shift to get into safe mode which works fine. But any display changes are not saved once I restart. Leaving the mini to boot up normally makes the screen flash black, blue, see a bit of the desktop then flash black, blue & so on.

 

Anyone have handy hints as to fix?

[K.C.Leblanc]

I'm sure there's a better way, but can you VNC onto it from another machine and change the setting?

[xathros]

Can you remove the graphics drivers in safe mode and allow them to be found/reinstalled when the system restarts? Used this a few times with Windows but the same principle should apply. Since it removes the drivers all of the settings should go with them.

[HMCTech]

On another mac I look in network but the mac mini shows up as a windows box so can't share screen.

[SC-UK]

Without sounding silly, can you not change the monitor that you have attached for one that will accept the new refresh rate? If only to change it back?

[HMCTech]

We dont have that many DVI monitors lying around

[HodgeHi]

Disconnect the monitor and start up the mac mini. Go for a coffee whilst waiting for it to get to the login window. IIRC you will also need to login without visual aid. If you have username and password fields then its easy to do. The other way would be to use ARD to log in remotely. Once logged in i think if you re-connect the display it *should* detect the display. Failing that use ARD to remove the plist file. Which one it is i have no idea

[somabc]

start in single user mode

 

1. Start up in Single-User Mode. For instructions, Mac OS X: How to start up in single-user or verbose mode.

2. At the prompt, type: mount -uw /

3. Press Return.

4. Type: rm /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist

5. Press Return.

6. Type: cd /Users/username/Library/Preferences/ByHost

(Replace the text username above with your username, which is also the name of your Home folder.)

7. Press Return.

8. Type: ls

(This command lists all the visible files and folders in the ByHost folder.)

9. Locate the file named "com.apple.windowserver.xxxx.plist" (where "xxxx" is a series of letters and numbers).

10. Type: rm com.apple.windowserver.xxxx.plist

(Be sure to replace the xxxx characters with the exact letters and numbers that appear in your file.)

11. Press Return.

12. Type: reboot

13. Press Return.

14. While the computer starts up, you should reset PRAM to fully clear any stored preferences.

 

Mac mini: Troubleshooting "Out Of Range" alert message