Display problem, clean install from boot?

**moxmox** · December 12th, 2008, 02:28 PM

First post here... First real problem I've had with my mac in a few years of smooth sailing. I'll take that as a good thing.

Anyway, my Mac Mini (PPC, 10.4.11) always just recognized the exact model/native resolution for my display... One day booting up it decided to boot into 800x600 for some reason. When trying to switch back in the system pref the native 1440x900 had DISAPPEARED from the list...

Long story short, I modified some files in the Terminal and now I get NOTHING on the monitor at all.

Is there any way to do a fresh install from the boot up?

**ElDiabloConCaca** · December 12th, 2008, 03:05 PM

You can do an "Archive & Install" procedure, which will retain your user account, settings and applications by booting from the Mac OS X Install CD/DVD. You will then need to re-apply any system updates you want (10.5.1, 10.5.2, etc.).

**moxmox** · December 12th, 2008, 03:29 PM

I figured as much, but how do I boot up from the CD? I'm used to the XP method of just having the CD in at boot up... Is there a key I have to press or something?

**ElDiabloConCaca** · December 12th, 2008, 03:34 PM

http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=...om+cd+mac+os+x

**Satcomer** · December 12th, 2008, 03:35 PM

Well in Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts it says all you should have to do is hold down the C button while booting. Then once the system comes up you can do an Archive & Install and this will let you keep your applications. IMHO this is the best way short of a whole reinstall.

**moxmox** · December 12th, 2008, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by Satcomer

Well in Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts it says all you should have to do is hold down the C button while booting. Then once the system comes up you can do an Archive & Install and this will let you keep your applications. IMHO this is the best way short of a whole reinstall.

That sounds perfect, but will it restore my display settings to the defaults?

**Satcomer** · December 12th, 2008, 03:43 PM

Well you asked about nuking your OS X to fix the problem and i pointed you to the best way to do so, on a Mac. Now if you really want to see if the problem is hardware or software then you have to check it, so follow these steps:

1. Reset Your PRAM

2. Make a new user (System Preferences->Accounts) and see if it has the same problem.

If you have the same problem after testing it with a new test user account then it may well be hardware. So let us know.

**ElDiabloConCaca** · December 12th, 2008, 03:50 PM

I modified some files in the Terminal and now I get NOTHING on the monitor at all.

What files, and what modifications did you make?

That would be extremely helpful in troubleshooting the problem. It could be as easy as restoring some files using Pacifist from your OS X install CD/DVD, without having to reinstall anything.

Er, I guess without a monitor that would be a little difficult... but not impossible. Leopard allows you to use the Terminal to navigate your hard drive when you boot from the OS X Install CD/DVD, so that would be one way to do it without having to reinstall.