Trying to switch primary displays without being able to see

my roommate has an Intel iMac Duo and the built-in monitor is not working. the image is totally obscured by tiny lines. only faint shades can be made out and it's not usable. he bought a miniDVI > DVI adapter and a DVI > HDMI adapter and connected his iMac to his TV. the TV was automatically set as the secondary monitor. so upon start up, his login screen is still on the broken built-in monitor.
so, my question for y'all is how can we set the TV as the primary monitor without being able to see what we're doing. to do this, we'll have to first log in, (which he said requires typing his user name and password). he tried to log in once by typing his name, hitting tab, typing his password, and hitting enter, but he didn't hear the successful login sound (sound was confirmed to be on by pressing the volume adjust keys). he left for work so i haven't been able to mess around with it. i'm thinking he may need to hit tab first, then type his username, then tab, etc...
can anyone help with logging in and/or changing the primary monitor? be creative!
much appreciated,
eric
oh ps, i don't know the exact version, but i know it's 10.6 also! if anyone can suggest a better place to post this question, that would be great too.
Message was edited by: feardisappear

feardisappear wrote:
how can we set the TV as the primary monitor without being able to see what we're doing.
Welcome to Apple's discussion groups.
Depending on the Mac, the F7 or Command-F1 keys are supposed to toggle in and out of "mirror" mode, which shows the same thing on both displays. I'm not sure if that will help you or whether that will work without your being logged in.

Similar Messages

How do I revert my display settings without being able to see the screen?

I am using an Emerson led tv as a monitor, and when I tried to adjust the display settings to get a better resolution,I chose a resolution that wasn't supported. Now it is telling me to change the settings, but I can't see the screen anymore.

Reset the PRAM, as per > About NVRAM and PRAM
1. Shut down the computer.
2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
6. Release the keys.

Any way to reset system preferences without being able to see the screen?

I did something really stupid -- I'm running 10.5.8 on Mac mini with a 720p television as a monitor. The system rez seemed a bit too low so I wanted to change it. I went to System Prefs, Display and before I even picked a rez, a window popped up and read (paraphrasing) that a low system rez, (it gave a number, I think it was 640x480, could have been 800x600), might not be compatible with the software (OS?) -- so I clicked "Okay" unwittingly, thinking it telling me for my info and not that it was on the verge of applying that rez when I clicked "Okay". I got one brief glimpse of the screen as the rez changed -- then it went to black.
I tried booting from the install disc but without re-installing the OS I couldn't get to the System Prefs.

Yes, the screen was visible when booted from the Install Disc. Safe Boot would have been my next try but I couldn't remember what key to hold. Thanks for the reminder. My impatience, however, led me to take the easy, but sure, way out by re-installing the OS.
Of course, being on a hot streak, I reinstalled from the original discs (Tiger, but there was no designation as such on the actual disc), forgetting that I had upgraded to Leopard, so I moved backwards in the OS category and in doing so found that Tiger takes up about 9 more gb then Leopard which I really need. And the app for the project to which I was dedicating that mini -- VHS to .mov copying -- informed me that it didn't work with "the current OS", despite the mfgr (Roxio) listing 10.4 as a useable OS.
I'm going to re-reinstall the OS -- this time with Snow Leopard with a complete hd wipe (hoping to get back a lot of disc space) and be extra, extra careful the next time I attempt to change the screen rez. I kinda wish I had been patient enough to strive for a solution to my original problem, especially since haven't actually saved any time by reinstalling. I think I'll attempt to recreate the problem if I can since I'm going to reinstall again anyway and try the Safe Boot. If it works it would certainly be worth knowing.

When trying to log in with my primary Apple ID and password, I am continuously asked for my pass word without being able to log in. How can I solve this issue, without creating a new Apple ID?

When trying to log in with my primary Apple ID and password, I am continuously asked for my pass word without being able to log in. How can I solve this issue, without creating a new Apple ID?

Chewning wrote:
I saved some of my music to a Cloud I can't access. Now, they show up as "Purchased" in iTunes, and I'm not given the option of re-downloading OR repurchasing them.
Music purchased from the iTunes store is not stored in your personal iCloud account, and an iCloud account is not required to redownload them. You should be able to redownload them as explained here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519. If you are unable to, contact iTunes store support for assistance by going to https://expresslane.apple.com ; click ‘iTunes', and then 'iTunes Store', then 'Purchases, Billing & Redemption'.

TS3988 How can I verify my icloud account without being able to get mail from the account?

How do I verify my icloud account without being able to get mail from that account?

The verification email will be sent to your primary Apple ID email address.

Can I use my Leopard (OS 10.5.8) to write a downloaded Windows file to a cd without being able to read the file?

Can I use my Leopard (OS 10.5.8) to write a downloaded Windows file to a cd without being able to read the file?

Thanks, Zombaby.
I was trying to drag and drop the file out of the download file instead of where the actual file was stored.
This it doesn't do.
All these little twists between the brain and success.
Thanks again.
ghopper

When I open a pdf file, after a few seconds, it hides the toolbar and I don't know how to get it back. I use multiple monitors and, without being able to grab the toolbar, I am unable to move the pdf file to a different monitor. How do I stop this?

When I open a pdf file, after a few seconds, it hides the toolbar and I don't know how to get it back. I use multiple monitors and, without being able to grab the toolbar, I am unable to move the pdf file to a different monitor. How do I stop this?

Does Firefox switch to full screen if you press F11 ?
You can also try the F10 key to see if that brings up the menu bar.
* If the above steps didn't help then see http://kb.mozillazine.org/Corrupt_localstore.rdf
Note: Do not delete localstore.rdf in the program folder (Windows: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\profile\") (Mac: "/Applications/Firefox.app/defaults/profile/")

How do i find my serial number without being able to turn on my iphone 4?

how do i find my iphone 4s serial number without being able to access my phone?

So, if your trying to locate your serial, or IMEI number in iTunes, assuming that you do have a backup there, click on the half white and half black box in the top left hand corner in iTunes for windows, and iTunes in the top left hand corner on a Mac. After that scroll down to preferences, and then a window will pop up. Select Devices up top in the list of options and then you will see your backups. Hover your mouse over the backups and it will show the serial/IMEI number for your device

How to reset the iphone without being able to use the screen?

how to reset the iphone without being able to use the screen?

What do you mean by reset?
Reset: Hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons and don’t let go until the screen goes dark and the Apple logo appears (no data will be lost)
or wipe and restore?

How to reset the iphone without being able to use the screen or the sleep and awake button?

how to reset the iphone without being able to use the screen or the sleep and awake button?

Hey einsoccerstar,
Thanks for the question. You can restore your iPhone in recovery mode utilizing the home button:
If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1808
Thanks,
Matt M.

Is it possible to access my bookmarks without being able to actually open firefox?

Firefox stopped working suddenly yesterday, no error messages, no response whatsoever, it simply does not open. I don't mind reinstalling, however I would like to get to my bookmarks first. Is there any way to do this without being able to open firefox? Thanks,

What you really need to be doing is backing up all of your user data.
If you are backing up all of your Firefox profile to an external device your Firefox application would be protected. Bookmarks are an important asset, but so are your passwords, your options, your extensions, etc.
You can export your bookmarks to an HTML file on a USB thumb drive and access it almost anywhere on any browser without installing it on a borrowed system. You have to export with Firefox up, and you may be able to use Firefox in Safe mode. You can fix a lot of problems from within Safe Mode, I would see if Firefox works in Safe mode.
If the question is about where to grab your bookmarks so you can reinstall them if need be, your bookmarks are in places.sqlite along with history, but the bookmarks themselves are backed up each day you use Firefox in the bookmarkbackups directory as .json files which can be used to quickly replace all of your bookmarks in Firefox while Firefox is up.
See
* Browser will not start up - MozillaZine Knowledge Base http://kb.mozillazine.org/Browser_will_not_start_up
* Safe Mode - MozillaZine Knowledge Base http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode
* Profile folder - MozillaZine Knowledge Base http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile
* Profile folder - Firefox - MozillaZine Knowledge Base http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
* Bookmarks - MozillaZine Knowledge Base http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks
* Sorting and rearranging bookmarks - Firefox - MozillaZine Knowledge Base http://kb.mozillazine.org/Sorting_and_rearranging_bookmarks_-_Firefox
* Transferring data to a new profile - Firefox - MozillaZine Knowledge Base http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

HT201303 using a new computer, and cannot download music without being able to answer security questions. Is there a way to reset these or get the answers sent to you for one's security questions.

using a new computer, and cannot download music without being able to answer security questions. Is there a way to reset these or get the answers sent to you for one's security questions.

If you have a rescue email address set up on your account then you can try going to https://appleid.apple.com/ and click 'Manage your Apple ID' on the right-hand side of that page and log into your account. Then click on 'Password and Security' on the left-hand side of that page and on the right-hand side you might see an option to send security question reset info to your rescue email address.
If you don't have a rescue email address set up then go to Express Lane and select 'iTunes' from the list of 'products' in the middle of the screen.
Then select 'iTunes Store', and on the next screen select 'Account Management'
Next choose 'iTunes Store Account Security' and fill in that you'd like your security questions/answers reset.
You should get an email reply within, I think, about 24 to 48 hours (and check your Spam folder as well as your Inbox)

Win 7 stopped being able to see CP2025dn

Since yesterday my Win 7/x64 system has stopped being able to see my CP2025dn. So far I have tried disconnecting and reconnecting the printer; reinstalling the HP software (upd-ps-x64-5.3.1.10527.exe); connecting the printer to a new USB port; rolling back all system changes since before the last time the printer worked (and rebooting, or course). None of this helps. The printer remains invisible to Windows -- it does not appear in the Devices and Printers window. My other printer (a Brother HL-5350D) has no problems.

I have an R100 and I lost my SD2 card and the computer tech gave me an SD3 to replace it. I found the SD3 version more stable as I had some of the same frustrations as you in the past. It sounds like you have done the logical things, but give a complete uninstall / reinstall another go. That is what I did several times. Also, scrub your device manager to make sure all the BT devices are gone (it may be helpful to display all the hidden ones and uninstall them one by one). Finally, make sure the BT Manager is loading when you reboot, or at least that you can manually load it. Sometimes you just have to be patient with device discovery, there were times when it could not find a device and then I would try it a few hours later and there it was. If all else fails, try an SD3 card and the 4.20 stack because that combination cured all problems.

Can I require password to Firefax on my home computer so that a guest can use my computer without being able to access Firefox and my most frequent Websites and my automatic passwords?

Basically I want to let someone use my desktop computer at home without that person being able to pry into my Google email, Firefox bookmarks, etc. I want to leave computer on because I want remote access when I travel.
If you have a solution that does not require a Firefox finesse, please let me know that too.
P.S. As is obvious, I am moderately, but I believe, not hopelessly , computer-challenged. Simple is best.
P.P.S. I don't know whether it is relevant, but I have not even set up a home page.

It is best to setup a separate Guest Windows account for that user and protect your own account with a password.

How could you use an iPad2 to view (without being able to control) what is projected from a teacher laptop?

A low-vision student with an iPad would like to be able to see on the iPad what the teacher is displaying on the electronic whiteboard. Is there a device or app that can accommodate this student? We would expect that the student would not be able to control the teacher computer with this setup.

Welcome to the discussions,
a manual backup should help to transfer your data and apps.
Disable autosync in itunes, connect your phone, right click on it in the device list and choose backup. iTunes will backup your phone without syncing and save data, pictures taken with the phone and settings to the new itunes library.
See what's included in this backup here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766
After that, transfer your purchases the same way by choosing "transfer purchases", to copy all apps and bought media from the Store to your computer.
Set up at least one contact and event on your computer to be able the merge your calendars and contacts after your phone got wiped during the first sync.
The rest of the data can be restored again from the manual backup you made before.
Music is one way only, from the computer to your device, unless you bought the songs in itunes and transferred your purchases.
There is 3rd party software out there, but not supported by Apple, see this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2013615&tstart=0
Restoring: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414
Apps can be downloaded again for free, in case you missed some: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519

Trying to switch primary displays without being able to see

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for