External Monitor Wrong Resolution

I have an external monitor connected to my MacBook via mini display to VGA adapter. I can use my monitor but my Mac does not correctly detect the available resolutions of my external monitor . I does e.g. not detect the native 1440x900 resolution, but the Mac a lot of resolution not supported by the monitor. I\ve clicked 'detect monitors' in the system preferences with no avail. Is there a way the manually change the list of available resolutions?

Hi, which external monitor do you have?
Best Regards,
Ryan Turner
Volunteer Lenovo Advocate
ThinkPads R51: 1836HAU, T41: 23737FU, 600: 264551U, T60: 2008VRQ
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Correcting external monitor screen resolution

I have a 27" iMac and have connected a Philips 160e as a pallette monitor via a Mini Display Port to VGA adaptor.
The iMac sees it but auto picks the wrong resolution 1280 x 1024 (stretched) instead of the Philips' 1366 x 768 @ 60Hz.
If I try to change the resolution the screen goes black which is symptomatic of using the wrong refresh rate, and of course I can make no further adjustments.
esc does not get me out of the black screen.
What is worse the iMac seems to remember the wrong resolution/refresh rate after restarts.
I have tried Safe Mode (it stayed black) and booting off an external hard drive into another system (back into black if I change the display settings).
Any way out of this loop?
I have gone into System Preferences > Display > Color >unchecked 'Show profiles for this display only' > selected > Philips 160E in the list
It only contains .icc profile information, which I suppose is to be expected but is the only access I can find to any specific model data.
The same display works fine with an older 24" iMac, using a different adaptor because of the different display port.
Somewhere OSX is storing the settings for the external monitor, I'd love to be able to trash it or change it back.

Yes but that doesn't seem to be the problem.
OSX is aware of the display, even its size.
It is available in Display > Arrangement and if I double click on the arrangement of the 2nd display I see the red highlight on the edge of my main screen.
I have managed to make the Philips display visible again by checking Show displays in menu bar and then changing its resolution back on the menu bar menu to 1024 x 768 @ 72 Hz, which is a wacky set and looks really stretched.
I have been considering getting a 24" Asus as a 2nd display but this is putting me off the idea.
Thunderbolt is just a non-conformist very expensive format that does nothing for the regular user a year after it came out. It costs extra for yet more adaptors which just add another complication to connecting peripherals.
Some days I just wished Apple would not find more sticks to poke between my legs when I am trying to get somewhere.

External Monitor changing resolutions on Macbook

I have seen several people ask this question, but I haven't found a suitable answer. I have a MacBook running 10.6.8 at school. I teach and move from room to room hooking up to different projectors and monitors. The set up is just very unstable. Despite its supposed ability to remember settings, it rarely does and the resolutions are messed up as well as the display callibrations. I have an external monitor on my desk. Yesterday, I set the resolution to the native 1280x1024, when I plugged back in, it was back to 1024x768. For some reason, the higher resolution wasn't even appearing on the list until I fiddled with it.
Why is this so buggy on this MacBook running this OS? Is there a way to force it to remember display settings better? Any tips?
I know that other teachers have more problems than I do because they don't even know how to change resolutions or anything like that.
Thanks for any tips, tricks or helpful comments.

Try doing a Parameter RAM reset - hold down command/option/p/r keys at start up and wait for three chimes before releasing the keys.

Problem: MBP Is not allowing external monitor Widescreen resolutions.

I am using a 27" LCD HD TV (Yes, TV, not monitor) DVI->DVI and the MBP will not allow me to use a widescreen resolution on my external monitor.
Yes, I assure you, it is Widescreen. The native resolution is 1280x720.
Anyone have a clue how I can fix this? Running a stretched 4:3 screen ***** HARD. This was my old windows PC monitor and I never had this issue before.

Hi,
I've got the same problem. Tried SwitchResX with not much success. I'm using as second screen a Benq w100 projector. When I force resolutions like 854x480 at about 60Hz, the projector won't recognise it, which makes sense since the input is not supported as such from a PC.
I think the clue would be sending a HDTV/HDMI signal through the DVI cable. Has anybody managed to do this with the ATI Radeon X1600 that comes with the MBP?
Gabriel

Windows 8 on boot camp on MacBook Pro retina w/external monitors = screen resolution not correct

how do i calibrate external monitors resolutions individually in windows 8 (like can be done in OS X) so that my MacBook Pro retina text isn't teeny tiny and my external monitors look normal? Is there a way to set the resolution and text size for each monitor separate from one another in Windows 8? Thanks for the help.

In Windows 8 use the help menu and search for external display.

Problem with T400 and external monitor (1920x1200 resolution)

Hi there
My laptop:
ThinkPad T400 2767-C99* (graphics is: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 256MB / X4500MHD (Switchable Graphics)), OS is WinXP
I just installed the newest video driver from the lenovo page (which also installs "ATI catalyst")
Externale Monitor:
I just bought a Samsung SyncMaster 2443FW, 24" TFT monitor with maximum resolution 1920x1200
Problem:
Monitor works great with my newer T400s and my old Acer laptop. However, with my T400 (described above), I can't make the monitor use the 1920x1200 resolution. However, all the other resolutions look ugly so I need it to work with 1920x120
- If i change the resolution by rightclicking on the Windows XP desktop (and then properties=>settings) and set the screen resolution there to 1920x1200, then my monitor only used a lower resoltion (1440x900) and I get a scrolling effect as I move my pointer across the screen
- if I use ATI catalyst software to set the resolution, I can only chose smaller resolutions (it does no go up to 1920x1200)
Questions
Is that a hardware (maybe the graphic card does not support 1920x1200) or a software problem (maybe some problem with the driver) or just a matter of setting?
What can I do?
Help would be very much appreaciated!
*Original description: Based 2767-2JG: T9550(2.66GHz), 4GB RAM, 250GB 5400rpm HD, 14.1in 1440x900 LCD, 256MB ATI Radeon 3470HD, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11agn wireless, Bluetooth, Modem, 1GB Ether, UltraNav, Sec Chip, FPR, Camera, 9c Li-Ion, DOS License
Solved!
Go to Solution.

bfrey wrote:
Thank you for your answer.
I have already installed the newsest drivers from Lenovo. I don't really see why I should install a non-official driver. I am convinced that it must work somehow with the official driver.
Kind regards
there are plenty of instances where the official driver have glitches... just look around the forum to find instances of which.... while official drivers maybe better in most instances, there are always the odd case where it doesn't work as well as it should. If they perfectly out of box, then there would never need to be multiple revisions and updates.
Regards,
Jin Li
May this year, be the year of 'DO'!
I am a volunteer, and not a paid staff of Lenovo or Microsoft

With MacBooks Retina 13" can you connect two external monitors with resolution each 2560x1600?

I'm not talking about Thunderbolt displays, but other brands like ASUS, LG, SAMSUNG, etc.
Has anyone tested?

You can connect two displays to the two Thunderbolt ports with appropriate Mini DisplayPort cables or adapters.
<http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs-retina/>
"Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on up to two external displays"
If the display supports HDMI, you could connect one to the computer's HDMI port, but not at 60Hz.
"Support for 3840-by-2160 resolution at 30Hz"

Random external monitor (HDTV) resolutions

Prior to the 10.5.6 update, I had no problems with connecting (VGA) my MacBook to my 27" HDTV at a resolution of 1366x768. No black bars, no distortion, no problems. To assist in my case, let's just say, I had wallpaper "A" for my MB screen and wallpaper "B" for the HDTV.
But ever since getting the update, I sometimes get another wallpaper background which we can call as "C". Another problem. The resolution changed from 1366v768 to 800x600. I couldn't find my default tv resolution anymore other than 1024x768 and a host of others. The closest one was 1280x768 which would leave black bars on the sides. The display prefs window calls it "Display" instead of the TV name.
However sometimes it works like how it used to and you can tell because:
1. The wallpaper is switched to "B" which was how I had originally set it up.
2. The resolution is 1360x768 and covers the full screen.
3. The display window in Sys Prefs shows it with the TV name instead of a generic "Display" tag.
Anyone out there who can help? Seems like Mac OS X uses some kind of a monitor profile but it's driving me nuts.
Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.

Forgot to add this but I also did a PRAM/NVRAM reset holding the CmdOpt+PR. Sound settings defaulted but no change in the TV resolution.
I tried a safemode login but still no luck with the HDTV.

External monitor resolution problem

Hi,
My external monitor's resolution is 1920 x 1080 but the highest I see in resolutions' list is 1600 X 900 or 1344 x 1008. I am connecting my MacBook snow leopard to Asus ML249H with HDMI cable. I've tried some suggestions that were posted for Mac Pro but nothing worked. Can anyone help? Thanks!

I have this same problem but im running Lion OSX 10.7
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3281609
Any ideas out there?

Question About External Monitor Resolution

Can my external monitor's resolution (such as 1920/1200) connected to my macbook be higher then the 1280/800 my computer has?

The problem with running in mirrored mode is that the external display will be limited to a set of resolutions that match the aspect ratios that are supported by the MacBook's internal LCD. This means that you will end up with a limited set of resolutions on your external display and it may even be impossible to select the optimum or native resolution for your external display (when running in the mirrored mode). However, when you disable mirrored mode you should be able to select any resolution that is supported by the external display itself (as reported by the display hardware). However, there have been reports of users having problems with resolution settings when they connect a display using HDMI, since in some cases that appears to default to a maximum resolution of 1920x1080, which is the standard 1080P for HDTV.

Can I connect 2 External monitors simultaneously on Toshiba notebook?

Hi,
I am interested to find out which of toshiba laptop's currently on offer do support 2 external monitors simultaneously (one as normal and second as extended dekstop in windows). I am looking for to replace my old configuration of laptop and docking station connected to two external monitors with resolution of 1280x1024.
I was looking on toshiba websita at
Portg R700-15Q
http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/innovation/product/Portege-R700-15Q/1089286/toshibaShop/false/
together with Port Replicator PA3680U-1PRP then some other laptop that do have port replicator but no where on the website I was able to find if any concrete model does support the dual use of the two port (VGA and HDMI or VGA and DVI)
I was looking on the Port Replicator PA3680U-1PRP user guide at http://www.csd.toshiba.com
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/modelContent.jsp?ct=SB&os=&category=&moid=2756712& rpn=PA3680U&modelFilter=PA3680U-1PRP&selCategory=2756711&selFamily=116319
and in the troubelshouting part I did found this:
Cannot display information to a
DVD-D and RGB Monitor at the
same time
Check that the cables connecting the monitors are firmly attached on
both ends. Some computer models do not support output to DVI and RGB
monitors simultaneously. Check the documentation for your computer
model.
But even if you find on http://www.csd.toshiba.com the pdf's of detailed spec's and user guides, there is no information about if they do support simultant output to monitors or not and what is the maximum resolution supported for this.
Thanks for any help
Ian

Thanks for the reply,
Toshiba Dynadock did not have really good reviews and it is working via USB which would be quite slow for all the traffic needed to show the graphic information for two monitors at 1280x1024.
Rick in here
http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/thread.jspa?messageID=214855&#214855
is talking about about 'm9 ... to display to two external monitors which works well' so I thought must be possible. I know HP, Dell and Lenovo laptop's are able to do it so why not toshiba?

Very frustrated. Macbook Pro to external monitor questions

Hello all,
Long story short, I have a 13" late 2010 Macbook Pro and have been using my Moshi mini display to hdmi adapter to extend my display to either a television or a monitor. No matter the external display they both support 1080p yet when I plug my mbp into it, it can't scale correctly unless I underscan it. If i don't underscan it I lose half of my dock and the tool bar is invisible.
Underscanning it makes the text fuzzier and less sharp. Does anyone have a solution for this? Is it my adapter?

I had a similar experience with my external monitor - the MBP was in mirror mode and the external monitor's resolution was only as high as my MBP laptop monitor resolution.
The trick is you have to close the lid completely. You will see your TV shut off for a bit, but the catch is you then need a wireless keyboard or mouse to "wake" your computer up while the lid is closed. Only then will you get your full resolution on your TV. Give it a few seconds once you close it, then when having a wireless bluetooth mouse, wake it, and in about 3-5 seconds your TV should turn on.
I should note I'm using the same Mini Display port to HDMI out that you are. It works great, but took a while for me to realize that you have to close the lid on your laptop completely.

HMDI Connected External Monitor only works mirrored

I've got a 27-inch iMac with the 2.93 Ghz Intel i7 (running Mac OS X 10.6.5) connected to a Hannspree HF289H 27.5in external monitor (1920x1200 resolution, connect via Mini Display to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable). It has worked fine for a few months, but all of sudden the 2nd monitor will just go black. When I restart the computer, the 2nd monitor will flash on and off and resize, but will not show anything once the computer fully comes up. If I go to the monitor settings and choose to "mirror" the display, it comes on and works. Then, if I take it off mirrored, it will work for a matter of minutes to hours, but eventually go black again.
Any thoughts? I've already tried resetting the SMC and restarting with a PRAM reset as mentioned in other posts.

Are you using the method in this Apple article? If you do, it should work.
Mac notebooks: How to use your computer in closed clamshell (display closed) mode with an external display

T510 dual external monitors without docking station

Hi, didn't find this one in google or at this forum...
can I connect 2 external monitors with resolution 1600X900 to t510 without any docking station? (one to the VGA and the other to the HDMI port). do I need the Nvidia m3100 or some other graphic card to support this? or the internal intel cpu graphic card can handle this?
same question above about 3 external monitors...

I've got a T510 with the Optimus graphics (4313CTO), one monitor connected to VGA, the other connected to the DisplayPort. According to this: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-76617.html,
I should be able to connect two external monitors, but it only allows on active external monitor at-a-time. Is that support site inaccurate? I would assume having to video cards would allow two external monitors, but this seems to be an issue for this laptop.
Best Regards,
Mike

How do you change the size of an external monitor?

If I plug my mac into my Samsung monitor and mirror the image it enlarges the image on the Samsung monitor. How do I make it so it is the same resolution of my mac.

That is how mirrored mode works. Your computer screen, including resolution, is mirrored to your external monitor. So what ever the resolution of your computer screen this is the resolution you will get on your external monitor.
Turn off mirrored mode and use extended display. When using extended display you can set your computer and external monitor screen resolutions independently. So each can be using its native resolution for best results on each.

External Monitor Wrong Resolution

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