macbook pro external monitor "out of range"...

[carboncow]

Ok gang I know this is somewhat common topic but am not seeing a solution that works for my need. Please read why my example is different so you don't suggest that which I have already tried!!

When I got my 26" monitor the other day it worked right out of the box plugging into my 13" Macbook Pro. I am slaving it off the macbook w/o using the LED screen on the MBP. Just the external.

Yesterday I was trying to improve the image quality and changed the frequency (common bad decision) and am getting the common "out of range" message.

Now if I run the external WITH the 13" LED of the MBP it is fine as it's using a different profile/preferences to set the right frequency.

I have deleted the pref file that everyone on the net says to do with no luck
I have reset the PRAM and VRAM as suggested with no help.

Is there another location for the preferences related to this in Snow Leopard as most help I am finding is a year old to several years old. The pref to delete in old posts just doesn't do the trick.

Again the monitor works fine when used in conjunction with the screen on the MBP but is out of range when running solo with the MBP lid closed.

thanks.
Shawn

 

[kahlil88]

I believe when a monitor says "out of range" it means the resolution is set too high. What's it at now? You might wanna take it down to something common (1024x768 perhaps) and see if you get a picture.

 

[carboncow]

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

I was sure I would get suggestions that do not understanding the concern in regard to how macs work. In an Windows world this concern would not be an issue but in OSX when running a monitor and it goes out of range you cannot see anything to make the adjustment and it will not revert back (as MS Windows does) if there is not a "OK" response with a time frame

If you try to adjust variables with another monitor or the MBP screen the setting are assigned to the unique identity of that particular monitor or screen, and not the one having concern. A reset of stored parameters for this unique monitor is going to be required to restore this monitor under a single view.

FYI out of range can be due to frequency too. The resolution was not changed and the monitor i have is capable of far greater then the MPB can reporduce.