Member Avatar for Helen_2

I have a new Mac Mini but an old Dell monitor. A while back I had a monitor display problem, and I'm not sure what I did to correct it, but the issue went away. Now it's back.
First of all, everything has taken on a green tinge.
Secondly, the font is stretched too wide.
Thirdly, the default for display setting is 800 x 600 which is ridiculously too large.
The only other option is choosing SCALED for a resolution of 1280 x 1024 which is still not right.
There must be a quick and easy solution to this, as it's happened before.
PLEASE HELP - thank you.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by rubberman

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Short, practical summary and a few checks based on the thread: ’s experience (monitor returning to normal after removing mains power) is common and points to the monitor’s internal scaler/EDID or its on-board settings getting into a bad state. ’s question about connection type is on the right track — how the Mac is connected (VGA vs digital) matters for both color and resolution detection.

Quick checklist (try in this order):

  • Power-cycle the monitor fully: unplug the AC for 30–60 seconds, then plug back in. This clears the monitor’s internal scaler and EDID cache (and is what reported fixed the problem).
  • Reseat or swap the cable/adapter. Analog VGA is most prone to color shifts from bent pins or a bad adapter; use a direct digital connection (DVI/HDMI/DP) if possible.
  • On macOS Displays prefs, hold Option while clicking “Scaled” to reveal exact resolutions and choose the monitor’s native resolution. Holding Option in Displays also reveals “Detect Displays.”
  • Check the monitor OSD: reset to factory defaults and inspect RGB/channel controls. In macOS, try a different color profile or run the Display Calibrator.
  • If it recurs, reset NVRAM/PRAM (restart and hold Cmd+Option+P+R until the machine restarts) and, for Mac desktops, perform the SMC-style power reset (shut down, unplug for ~15 seconds, plug back and wait a few seconds before powering on).

If problems persist despite the above, isolate the fault by testing a different monitor and testing the Mac with another cable/adapter. Repeated color casts or weird scaling can indicate a failing monitor internal board (or a poor adapter/adapter-EDID) rather than the Mac.

Member Avatar for Helen_2

I tried everything in the book on this one including a cold boot. But what finally worked was unplugging the power source. I had a feeling this was not a serious problem and I apologize if anyone spent any time on it.

Member Avatar for rubberman

Is this a CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor? How is it connected? VGA? DVI? Other?

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