display problem: half-size screen after installing OS 9

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iBook G3 12"

Model M6497 or A1005 / 500, 600, 700, 800, or 900 MHz G3 processor

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Ed Hudecek @edhudecek

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Posted: Mar 6, 2010

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display problem: half-size screen after installing OS 9

My problem is almost exactly like one mentioned in a discussion thread on "discussions dot apple dot com" that didn't lead to a resolution! Upon startup, the OS 9 screen fills the monitor screen entirely, then halfway thru startup, collapses to about half the screen. The monitor settings only give 1024 x 768, but clicking on on the monitor icon in the bottom scroll gives "color lcd (1) •1024 x 768; display (2) 640 x 480. I don't see any way of changing any settings. Any ideas? Thank you very much.

-Ed

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Does the problem persist when connected to an external display?

Mar 7, 2010 by rab777hp

I don't have one at home, but you just reminded me that there's one at work I can try. I read that it might be that it might be the wrong version of OS 9 that's causing it, so I'm going to try customer support from the store I bought it from. thanks.

Mar 9, 2010 by Ed Hudecek

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mayer @mayer

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Posted: Mar 6, 2010

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Try going under the Apple in the upper left hand corner to Control Panels - Monitors. See if this is different than the monitor control you are using.

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Start up from your installation CD by holding down the "C" key. If this is a software problem the screen will be normal. If not then you have a hardware pro

Mar 9, 2010 by mayer

Perhaps something? The OS 9 "APPle system profiler" shows the PCI--slot ATI (AGP)--> display card--> display (2) as 640x480...additional information: main screen. ???

Mar 11, 2010 by Ed Hudecek

As a general rule the eMac software will install on just about any machine. It appears this is not the case on your machine. You can call Apple 1-800-SOS APPLE and request that they sell you the original installation disks for your machine. They usually charge $15 for this. I don't know which system that would be. But you can then install a upgrade to that system.

Mar 11, 2010 by mayer

I was able to test it with a an external monitor. With a Dell flatscreen plugged in, the iMac's screen is still condensed, but the external flatscreen monitor gets the proper display, filling the screen entirely.

Mar 12, 2010 by Ed Hudecek

I spoke with a tech at AllMac and he suspects there might be a short within the external monitor circuit. Because it's showing a 2nd monitor in the monitor info on the bottom tool bar when one is not plugged in, he thinks that the short could be making the computer erroneously detect a non-VESA-compliant monitor in the port, which is defaulted to 640x480, so it's mirroring that non-existent monitor by displaying 640 x480 over the 1024 x7xx screen. He suggested I try reseting the p-ram, holding Apple-Option-P-R as it chimes three times during start-up, but that didn't help.

Does this sound right to anyone, that the monitor port is shorted or some other hardware issue? I have 2 days to return this, and though I'd actually like to keep it if I can get the full screen going, it's not worth the labor rate to resolve a hardware issue.

anyway, thanks to all.

-Ed

Mar 15, 2010 by Ed Hudecek

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Does the problem persist when connected to an external display? — rab777hp
I don't have one at home, but you just reminded me that there's one at work I can try. I read that it might be that it might be the wrong version of OS 9 that's causing it, so I'm going to try customer support from the store I bought it from. thanks. — Ed Hudecek
Start up from your installation CD by holding down the "C" key. If this is a software problem the screen will be normal. If not then you have a hardware pro — mayer
Perhaps something? The OS 9 "APPle system profiler" shows the PCI--slot ATI (AGP)--> display card--> display (2) as 640x480...additional information: main screen. ??? — Ed Hudecek
As a general rule the eMac software will install on just about any machine. It appears this is not the case on your machine. You can call Apple 1-800-SOS APPLE and request that they sell you the original installation disks for your machine. They usually charge $15 for this. I don't know which system that would be. But you can then install a upgrade to that system. — mayer
I was able to test it with a an external monitor. With a Dell flatscreen plugged in, the iMac's screen is still condensed, but the external flatscreen monitor gets the proper display, filling the screen entirely. — Ed Hudecek
I spoke with a tech at AllMac and he suspects there might be a short within the external monitor circuit. Because it's showing a 2nd monitor in the monitor info on the bottom tool bar when one is not plugged in, he thinks that the short could be making the computer erroneously detect a non-VESA-compliant monitor in the port, which is defaulted to 640x480, so it's mirroring that non-existent monitor by displaying 640 x480 over the 1024 x7xx screen. He suggested I try reseting the p-ram, holding Apple-Option-P-R as it chimes three times during start-up, but that didn't help.

Does this sound right to anyone, that the monitor port is shorted or some other hardware issue? I have 2 days to return this, and though I'd actually like to keep it if I can get the full screen going, it's not worth the labor rate to resolve a hardware issue.

anyway, thanks to all.

-Ed — Ed Hudecek

originalmachead @originalmachead Rep: 116.3k 66 68 359 · Answer 1 · 2010-03-06T18:38:24-07:00

originalmachead @originalmachead

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Posted: Mar 6, 2010

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(I'm not sure I'm understanding "collapses to about half the screen" ) you might try this handy app. It allows choosing odd resolutions.

Good Luck,

N.

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The screen is fine. It's some software issue I'm presuming. It starts off showing the startup screen filling the entire screen. At some point the image concentrates itself into a rectangle centered on the screen with about a 3'' black border. If I were to guess, I'd say it's showing a 640x480 image over a 1024x768 screen. I looked at those apps. One looks like it could be related to screen settings but I don't know how to apply it. Thanks, though, I'll explore it a bit further.

-Ed

Mar 7, 2010 by Ed Hudecek

OS 10.2 displays fine. Might be a compatibility issue with the particular 9.2 software, or perhaps an update needed? Unfortunately I can't get on line with it yet.

Mar 16, 2010 by Ed Hudecek

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