IMac Plus and External Display

Hi.
I have an iMac Intel Core 2 Duo and I'd like to know if it's possible to attach an external monitor, so I have two displays (spanned screen).
Thanks much.

You CAN hook an external monitor up to your iMac. If your System Prefs Displays panel lets you do more than mirrored screens, it is a recent innovation. If it doesn't let you turn off mirroring, you will need Screen Spanning Doctor. You should be able to find that on Version Tracker or MacUpdate, and it is basically an AppleScript to change something you could do in the terminal if you knew how.
Hope this helps.

Similar Messages

  • How do I use my 2011 27" iMac as an external display for a pc?

    I just bought a 27" imac for my home, and was also planning on using it as an external display for my work Dell Laptop running Windows 7.
    The Dell laptop has a displayport output, so I was planning on getting a displayport <-> minidisplayport cable, and using the iMac in target display mode.
    I would simply plug the minidisplay end of the cable into one of the iMac's 2 Thunderbolt ports. Seemed fairly simple.
    Except now it seems from what I have been reading that 2011 iMacs DO NOT WORK in target display mode unless they are connected to another Thunderbolt source. This leads to me two questions.
    1. Can anyone confirm or deny this? If this is true, does that mean I cannot plug my Dell's displayport into the iMac's Thunderbolt port as I described above?
    2. If #1 is true, is there any other option? Are there any adapters that I can use to turn my Dell into a Thunderbolt source for display purposes?
    If I can't resolve this I will have to return the iMac
    Thanks very much.
    David

    David,
    Sorry you can't use the 2011 iMac as an external display to your PC. The feature you are referring to is called Target Display Mode and works on 2009 & 2010 27" iMacs. The 2011 machines use Thunderbolt as you know however they do support external displays that are not Thunderbolt displays. So for example if you wanted 2 displays on the iMac you can easily do that with either Mini Display port to DVI or MDP to VGA or even HDMI. MDP is the same size as Thunderbolt and this will work fine to drive a display, TV or even a projector.
    I'd recommend reading Apple's explanations at Target Display Mode 2009 & 2010 iMacs & Target Display Mode Mid 2011 iMacs.
    Using a Mac as an external display for a Windows machine to me seems like a horrible waste of a Mac. Why not enjoy the iMac and if anything run Windows on it and get rid of the PC?

  • IMac as an external display, problem with trackpad/mouse pairing

    Hi,
    I am trying to use the imac as an external display for a macbook air, which is well supported/advertised by apple.
    I can toggle the display easily between the imac and the macookair, the problem I’m having is that I only have one wireless keyboard and one wireless trackpad. As I toggle the display, the paring/unpairing of both trackpad and mouse is a real hastle becuase I have to manually go into bluetooth preferences and adjust the settings for both devices.
    Anyone using the imac as external display with an idea/suggestion how to make this process more friendly?
    Thank in advance for any help.

    I don't think you can.  Wish I had better news.  Target display mode for non-thunderbolt 27" Imacs worked OK.  I have done it myself on a late 2009 iMac.  The new iMacs can only go into target display mode when connected thunderbolt to thunderbolt.  So a new macbook or macbook air can do the trick but your dell can't.  What you can do is remote desktop or VNC to the dell.  Now your dell screen will show up but in a smaller window.

  • Using a Mid 2011 iMac as an external display.

    Hello, I was wondering if it would be possible to use my Mid 2011 iMac as a external display for a PC.
    In the interest of gaming I am looking for a new gaming PC and I would really like to use my iMac as the display because I still want to use the iMac.

    Yes, if it's a 27" model.
    Target Display Mode 2011 & Later iMacs
    iMac- How to use your iMac as a Target Display Mode display

  • Using a 27-inch iMac as an external display for my macbook air

    I would like Using a 27-inch iMac as an external display for my mac book air.
    i bought a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable, it's the Belkin Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable on apple store.
    I connect my imac and mac book air with this cable but the screen of my mac book air don't appear on imac screen.
    where is my error ?

    Morning seal, my experience suggests the latter of your two posts is the correct one. I have a 27" iMac with a mini display port (a 2-year old one, not the newer one with thunderbolt); and a brand new Mac book air with thunderbolt. I connected the two with a Belkin male-male mini display port to mini display port cable, and it works fine - press command f2, and the iMac acts as display for the MBA.
    The irony here is that the folks at the apple store in Paris assured me that this would NOT work, and that I needed to buy a €999 thunderbolt display to connect to my MBA. I thought I'd try anyway, since I had the cable to connect a MacBook pro to the iMac anyway... Glad I did.
    Bottom line: yes, despite all the confusion, the new MacBook air will connect to the minidisplay port of an older iMac 27"; and the cable it needs to do that is the older minidisplay port cable, not the thunderbolt one.

  • Can I connect to iMac 27" as external display?

    I'm considering buying 2 iMac 27" to run Windows 7.
    Can I connect these two together so iMac 1 can use iMac 2 as external display and visa versa.
    In other words... is the mini display port both for input and output?
    If yes... does this work under Windows 7 as well?

    tjementum wrote:
    I just love Mac hardware, and an iMac (two in my case) on a desk is just such a nice clean setup, with only one cable. Just counted 16 cables for my current PC mini tower setup with 2 screens - don't ask
    Just so you know, I'm well aware of Apple's "cableless" marketing for this thing. But on my new iMac, I actually only have a single port, the FW800, that doesn't have a cable sticking out of it.
    But Mac OSX is just not a nice operating system IMO
    At least we can use you as an example of a 100% legitimate Mac owner of a Windows OEM install.
    Anyway... I just ordered 2 x 27" iMac's. If i somehow succeeds in getting them connected in Windows, I'll post here... if not feel free to ask me, in 6 months.
    Please do post back, because if someone tries it, then everyone will know if it works. I have seen reports of a PC driving the iMac display and I have done it with my MacBook Pro. I'm still not 100% sure that two iMacs will cooperate in this way. They both have the same cable connected to the same input/output port. Which one is the target? I have never heard of Windows or any PC hardware having the ability to convert a video port to input, so Windows would have to be the broadcaster. You may need MacOS X to detect the input and use it instead of trying to send out its own signal. Hopefully this won't short out the video circuitry on both.
    And in 6 months when you are reinstalling Windows to clean off all the malware, you can still use the Mac machine

  • Mid 2010 Macbook Pro sleep and external display problem

    I recently upgraded to the new 2010 15 inch core i7 Macbook Pro. The problem i have is that it will not detect an external display (23inch Cinema) after waking from sleep. This happens after using the display to extend the desktop and also when using the Macbook in closed mode.
    I've managed to get it to detect the display only after either restarting the Macbook completely or by going into energy saver and switching to dedicated graphics then going back to detect display.
    It seems that when on integrated graphics it doesn't register that an external display is connected. If i leave a program open and running that causes the dedicated graphics to kick in then it works ok. If i close all programs, shut the macbook pros lid, computer sleeps and external display shuts off. If i click the mouse to wake with lid closed, apple logo lights, machine starts up few seconds later macbook returns to sleep. If i open the screen the machine wakes as normal but the external monitor doesn't.
    Any help is much appreciated as its starting to frustrate me now...
    Many thanks
    oh and im running OSX 10.6.3

    I thought it was intermittent to begin with until i started looking into it. By leaving programs open, like aperture, before i put the machine to sleep it appears to wake the external monitor up without a problem. If i shut all programs or leave basic things open like safari and mail which don't require the dedicated graphics, then upon wake it wont register an external screen is connected.
    Manually detecting displays in settings doesn't work.
    Disconnecting and reconnecting mini display port doesn't work.
    Turning off power to cinema display and powering back up doesn't work.
    To get the display going again its either 1) turn off macbook pro and re-boot or 2) re-start the machine then the display is automatically recognised. Or 3) launch a programme that kicks in dedicated graphics then manually go in and detect displays again..... like magic the display then springs to life.
    No ideas anyone??

  • Using imac as an external display. is it possible?

    hi. i just bought an macbook. i would like to use my iMac as an external display for my macbook. is this possible?

    ok, its not posibble but let me know if there is a way i could get around it.
    ex. using some wireless software. a way to virtually connect both displays ... i don't know i have seen many different setups. i just don't know how to do them.

  • Different resolutions for Macbook Pro display and External display

    Is it possible to have different resolutions for a Macbook Pro and an external display. I prefer to see less but larger on my Macbook Pro whilst seeing more but smaller on my external display. I use the DVI output to connect to an Acer 22in display.
    Thanks in advance
    Ian

    in4time wrote:
    I've actually tried that process and it doesn't work; I still get the same display qualities on both. Perhaps that process might work if one is not mirroring. Maybe there is a compatibility issue between my Macbook Pro and the Acer 223W. I'll persevere, but thanks for your help anyway.
    Ian
    Hi Ian,
    allow me to chime in:
    You are absolutely correct!
    In 'Mirroring Mode' both internal and external display have the same resolution.
    Only in 'Extended Mode' you can have different resolutions for both displays.
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  • IMac cannot handle Mavericks and external display?

    I am a long-time apple-user and long-time user of this wonderful forum. This is, however, the first time I have needed to ask a question of my own having been unable to find an answer on here or elsewhere. In fact, I haven't read of anyone experiencing the issues that I am.
    I recently purchased a second hand Apple iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 20-Inch (Al) to replace my old white one. I understand that this is the oldest iMac to be able to handle Mavericks, but I have upgraded the RAM to 4GB just to be safe. I also bought myself a lovely HP W2207H Monitor that is HDMI input and, when on Snow Leopard before my upgrade yesterday, was a beautiful extended desktop with no issues whatsoever.
    Since upgrading to Mavericks, the monitor has not been working properly; but it's not any of the other, well-documented issues that I have read already. The monitor doesn't flicker, it is recognized beautifully and the resolution is spot on the native...
    Right now, for instance, the monitor is working fine. However, if I was to open a new Firefox tab, or open a new application on my iMac, the monitor would go black (not to sleep or shutting down as the light remains on) for two seconds or so. It seems as if the iMac is struggling with doing something and therefore cuts the monitor feed whilst it's doing the process I have just requested. Furthermore, the iMac's fans are running quite hard despite activity monitor showing the decreased usage as Mavericks promised!
    For your information: Apple iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.0GHz 20-Inch (Al) 4GB RAM connected to HP W2207H by Mini-SP to HDMI adaptor and HDMI Cable.
    I wonder if anyone could help me solve this problem on Mavericks, or will I simply need to regrade down to Snow Leopard for optimal performance of the external display?
    Many thanks in advance,
    Mike

    hey.. the display starts up with the imac...
    I'm having trouble adusting the brightness on my cinema display...
    hopefully get a answer today.. I have a 24" imac

  • IMac 20" and external LG L1915S display

    I've got an external 19" LG display attached to my 20" iMac via mini-DIV to VGA adapter from Apple.
    When the iMac is shut down, going to sleep or shuts down the internal display the 19" doesn't go into stand by mode. It did when it was attached to my old G4.
    What might be the problem? The "shutdown" signal seems to be missing through the VGA-adapter.

    No answers, but I have a similar problem w/ a Dell external VGA display. If my computer goes to sleep on its own or shuts down, the external display stays on w/ the last image frozen in place. The only way to get the external monitor off is to manually put my computer to sleep.
    Is it normal for all the controls on the external monitor to stop working?
    Curious to hear if you've learned anything. Thanks,
    Alex

  • Can a mba use an imac as an external display

    I have a PowerPC G5 iMac running Leopard and I'd like to use it as an external display for my new 2011 MacBook Air running Lion. Is this possible? What cable would be used? Any need for additional software?

    It could make a good aquarium.

  • Can I still use 2009 27" iMac as an external display if it could not boot successfully itself?

    My friend has a 2009 27" iMac. For some unkonwn reasons, this iMac now could not boot succesfully recently.
    As I know, this iMac could be used as an external display in "target display mode", right?
    Could it be still used as an external display if it fails to boot (turned on) ?
    Thanks !

    mende1 wrote:
    stanleyoowa wrote:
    And, what do you mean by " 'display only' is repairable, possibly with little effort"?   Thank you very much !!
    LousyFool is saying that the iMac is a computer easy to repair, at least with hard disk problems. However, you can't replace the hard disk yourself or you will avoid the warranty, so if the iMac is in warranty, you should take it to an Apple Store. If it's not in warranty, you can try to do it yourself
    Sorry, hit Add Reply too soon...
    stanleyoowa, your friend should boot the Mac from the original OS X system disk that came with the Mac, then use Disk utility to check the internal HDD. Maybe it's not entirely gone but can be repaired. Eventually, it must be formatted newly and the OS re-installed. Only worst case a new HDD is due.
    With the Mac being from 2009, there will be neither warranty no AppleCare anymore, so DIY might be in order in that worst case. There are instructions on the web. In any case, it being a 27" iMac, I find it sad to 'degrade' it to a 'display only' function...
    Message was edited by: LousyFool

  • Powerbooks and external displays

    Hello there guys.
    I currently have the 20inch iMac and am in my final year as an undergraduate. I have applied for a PhD which involves a lot of travel and I was thinking about a laptop/monitor combination... to use the laptop as a HD and to power ta screen from which I did most of my work and allowed myself to have correct posture etc etc and a larger workspace, but I obviously do not want to have a piece of equipment which will overheat.
    Are the powerbooks ok in doing this? I would have a keyboard and mouse set up too. I'll probably have an external HD to store large amounts of data on such as music etc...
    thanks in advance, martin

    Sorry Irwin, needa divert abit from your topic =p
    I'm currently looking into buying a 12" pb for my 1st mac.
    Had handson on the OS with my friend's mac mini and is very impress with the OS overall. Its so simple to use and its so cute..^_^
    Basically, I will be using for school work (Ms Words, excel, ppt) which mac has the ms version and some home video and photo editings and I will be upgrading the ram to 1GB. Thus I think the powerbook will be sufficient for me. and looking at the posts, I guessed my choice is more or less pb to the new macbk pro as Ii think I will not want to run into non-UB applications =p. (do advice me otherwise ^_^)
    Two questions I have about the external display and the heat - I am looking into connecting the 12" pb to a TV set instead of LCD monitor. I had tried with my friend's mac mini and it works. and my friend keep his mac mini on 24/7, no problem so far.
    I am lking into working long hrs for reports on the pb (not 24/7 though)and I don't want my screen and motherboard to 'blow up' as my previous NEC laptop (an event of 1 wk 24/7 usage when rushing reports on a 3-4 yr old nec laptop) =p
    Will the pb be too heated up and spoil the screen and motherboard on events of long usage hrs without external screens?
    Another concern is when I connect the laptop to the TV set, will it work with the lid close (as in the screen on pb itself will be off & I view directly from the tv)? This is coz I came across this article on web saying
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    http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/editors/2006/02/macbooknotes/index.php
    Can someone help me clerify these questions before I make a purchase? =p
    Thanks a million. =)
        Currently owning 2 desktop PCs. Looking at switching to Mac
        Currently owning 2 desktop PCs. Looking at switching to Mac
        Currently owning 2 desktop PCs. Looking at switching to Mac

  • Problem with T400 and External Display....

    I have a new T400 (less than 1 month old) with the shared memory Intel Graphics setup and I cannot get it to work with an external display of any kind.
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    Any ideas?
    Thanks,

    go into bios, check your video output option and whether you selected Internal + VGA, i think... i will check for you on my X60s....
    Regards,
    Jin Li
    May this year, be the year of 'DO'!
    I am a volunteer, and not a paid staff of Lenovo or Microsoft

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