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Headless mini screen resolution

R

riise

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 3, 2008
22
0
Copenhagen, Denmark
How can I force the boot-up screen resolution of mac OS X - when no monitor is present?

I have a headless mac mini (meaning: my TV is sometimes OFF when I start the mac). And when I boot the mac mini, it defaults to 1280x1024. I would like it to boot in the TV resolution (1920x1080), so when I switch to the mac input on the TV, the mini does not have to change resolution.

I have tried the com.apple.windowserver.plist with no luck.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

-Thomas
 
Why is your mac mini even off? Just leave it on and restart only when you have to.

Edit: I don't know the answer to your problem but yeah just leave the mac mini on.
 
It won't matter because as soon as you plug in a new monitor OSX will check all monitors afaik.

You could try setting Graphics Mode in boot.plist to whatever you want though.
 
kasakka said:
It won't matter because as soon as you plug in a new monitor OSX will check all monitors afaik.

You could try setting Graphics Mode in boot.plist to whatever you want though.
Click to expand...

Hi, thanks for your answer.

I will not plug in a new monitor. It's either no monitor OR my TV. And I want the same resolution always with these two options.

Do you relly think I e.g. can put in:
Code: 
<key>Graphics Mode</key>
<string>1920x1080x32@60</string>

In the /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist ?
 
By new monitor I meant what the OS sees as a new monitor. It detects it and then sets the resolution. When I was running a Hackintosh if my TV was off and then turned on, even though it was connected all the time, both my monitors would get redetected showing that blue screen for a moment. Annoying behavior IMO.

Yes, you can safely put that in com.apple.boot.plist. I don't think you need to put in the refresh rate though, at least I never have.
 
kasakka said:
Yes, you can safely put that in com.apple.boot.plist. I don't think you need to put in the refresh rate though, at least I never have.
Click to expand...

Hmm - doesn't seem to work, I have tried both

Code: 
<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string>"Graphics Mode"="800x600x32"</string>
and
Code: 
<key>Graphics Mode</key>
<string>1280x1024x32</string>

With no go. Any ideas?
 
Code: 
<key>Graphics Mode</key>
<string>1920x1080x32</string>

That should be the right string. However to edit com.apple.boot.plist you may have to copy it to your desktop first, edit it and then put it back to where it was, overwriting the original file.
 
kasakka said:
Code: 
<key>Graphics Mode</key>
<string>1920x1080x32</string>

That should be the right string. However to edit com.apple.boot.plist you may have to copy it to your desktop first, edit it and then put it back to where it was, overwriting the original file.
Click to expand...

I was just editing it direct from CLI with:
$ sudo vi com.apple.Boot.plist

And saved it, made sure that it is root:wheel that owns the file.

But still nothing happens... ?
 
misterredman said:
What about using cscreen in an applescript?

do shell script “/usr/local/bin/cscreen -d 32 -x 1920 -y 1080″

You will need the cscreen file that I attached below.

In this thread there is also the source of an app that should do the same as cscreen, but you will have to compile it yourself:

http://forums.macosxhints.com/showpost.php?p=419594&postcount=16
Click to expand...

Hi, thanks.

cscreen will not apply any screen resolution that is not available in the resolutions list (in system Preferences). Unfortunately (I have tried it).

I have no idea on how to compile the linked code. :-(
 
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