Display Resolution Problem

NovaScotian · 11-02-2012, 01:59 PM

My 27" iMac (iMac12,2 - Mid 2011) and my second screen (attached via an Apple mini display port to DVI converter) have both quite suddenly started displaying everything at many times normal size. Makes it very difficult to use the computer because the screens slide around under the cursor in response to mouse movement with or without the Magic Mouse active. Checking the system report and the System Preferences > Displays shows the correct resolutions, and an executable I use for display size and menu bar location in AppleScipts does as well. Restarting doesn't help. To make matters worse, I forgot that SuperDuper! would automatically start a backup when I switched the backup disk on, so when I went to restart on the backup, I got a backup instead with SuperDuper!'s window off screen so I didn't know it was running. I'm typing this on an MBP with a dead battery (replacement hasn't come) so when it rains, it pours. Fortunately, if it's a hardware problem, the iMac is still in warranty until November 28th of this year.

Suggestions?

NaOH · 11-02-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NovaScotian


	My 27" iMac (iMac12,2) and my second screen (attached via an Apple mini display port to DVI converter) have both quite suddenly started displaying everything at many times normal size. Makes it very difficult to use the computer because the screens slide around under the cursor in response to mouse movement with or without the Magic Mouse active.

Sounds like you invoked the Control-[Mouse Scroll] zoom. Have you tried using that command to undo this view? (That would be holding Control and, if using natural scrolling direction, scrolling toward yourself.)

DeltaMac · 11-02-2012, 02:10 PM

Sounds like you have Zoom turned on, and inadvertantly zoomed IN (or out, or whichever zooms into the screen.) You likely would be better off to turn that zoom completely off.
System Preferences/Universal Access/Seeing tab. Click Zoom "off".

NovaScotian · 11-02-2012, 03:55 PM

Zoom it was -- Thanks for the suggestions, folks. I didn't even know there was such a preference. I often use "Command =" to make print larger. Must have hit "Option Command =" to make the whole screen larger. PITA

DeltaMac · 11-02-2012, 04:18 PM

All it takes is touching your scroll, while you are holding the Control key.

11-02-2012, 01:59 PM	#1
NovaScotian Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 4,946	Display Resolution Problem My 27" iMac (iMac12,2 - Mid 2011) and my second screen (attached via an Apple mini display port to DVI converter) have both quite suddenly started displaying everything at many times normal size. Makes it very difficult to use the computer because the screens slide around under the cursor in response to mouse movement with or without the Magic Mouse active. Checking the system report and the System Preferences > Displays shows the correct resolutions, and an executable I use for display size and menu bar location in AppleScipts does as well. Restarting doesn't help. To make matters worse, I forgot that SuperDuper! would automatically start a backup when I switched the backup disk on, so when I went to restart on the backup, I got a backup instead with SuperDuper!'s window off screen so I didn't know it was running. I'm typing this on an MBP with a dead battery (replacement hasn't come) so when it rains, it pours. Fortunately, if it's a hardware problem, the iMac is still in warranty until November 28th of this year. Suggestions? __________________ 17" MBP, OS X 10.8.3; 27" iMac, OS X 10.8.3 Last edited by NovaScotian; 11-02-2012 at 02:09 PM.

11-02-2012, 03:55 PM	#4
NovaScotian Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 4,946	Zoom it was -- Thanks for the suggestions, folks. I didn't even know there was such a preference. I often use "Command =" to make print larger. Must have hit "Option Command =" to make the whole screen larger. PITA __________________ 17" MBP, OS X 10.8.3; 27" iMac, OS X 10.8.3

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11-02-2012, 02:10 PM	#3
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,963	Sounds like you have Zoom turned on, and inadvertantly zoomed IN (or out, or whichever zooms into the screen.) You likely would be better off to turn that zoom completely off. System Preferences/Universal Access/Seeing tab. Click Zoom "off".

11-02-2012, 04:18 PM	#5
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,963	All it takes is touching your scroll, while you are holding the Control key.