Simulate a VGA monitor connected to a computer?
notme
connected or not. This is the case when connecting via VNC to a "headless"
Mac Mini.
Using just a Mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter won't load another driver.
Is there a way to emulate a monitor connection?
Is this a case of I^2C communication? Any simpler method?
Thanks.
N.
Tim Williams
news:0001HW.C684D86B...@news.eternal-september.org...
> Is this a case of I^2C communication? Any simpler method?
I think so. I can't get VGA from my laptop without I2C... when I try
forcing it, Windows drops the data line (request, I suppose) for about 1ms,
then it fails, not detecting anything. And I so wanted to get raw RGB+sync
signals at the time... guess I won't be doing that, at least without
something I2C on the line (EEPROM? uC?).
Tim
--
Deep Friar: a very philosophical monk.
Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms
IanM
> "notme" <no...@notme.org> wrote in message
> news:0001HW.C684D86B...@news.eternal-september.org...
>> Is this a case of I^2C communication? Any simpler method?
>
> I think so. I can't get VGA from my laptop without I2C... when I try
> forcing it, Windows drops the data line (request, I suppose) for about 1ms,
> then it fails, not detecting anything. And I so wanted to get raw RGB+sync
> signals at the time... guess I won't be doing that, at least without
> something I2C on the line (EEPROM? uC?).
>
> Tim
>
fake one you'll need a 24C02 I2C EEPROM programmed with suitable VESA
EDID data *AND* 75 ohm resistors to ground on the R B and G lines.
Probably easiest to rob a dead CRT monitor for the EEPROM if this is a
one off project. Otherwise you'll need to research VESA DDC2B and EDID.
--
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk
[at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & >32K emails --> NUL:
JF Mezei
> Apparently different video drivers are loaded depending on if a monitor is
> connected or not. This is the case when connecting via VNC to a "headless"
> Mac Mini.
>
> Using just a Mini-DVI-to-VGA adapter won't load another driver.
Not quite the same, but if you plug a VGA monitor to a MiniDisplayPort
to VGA Adapter, the LAPTOP (13" Macbook pro) will show the second
monitor as a VGA monitor, while it shows the Laptops's own as the
standard LCD one.
So it clearly detects it is a VGA monitor connected to the
minidisplayport. Whether it used a different driver, I can't tell.
Not sure how the newer MiniDisplayPort compares against Mini-Dvi in
terms of the outputs. Is it just a different plug with same signals, or
is it really very different ?
Whether it is a different "driver" I can't tell. But the OS clearly knew
this was a VGA output, despite coming out of a Mini-DVI port.
Jolly Roger
<0001HW.C684D86B...@news.eternal-september.org>,
notme <no...@notme.org> wrote:
What problem are you trying to solve?
--
Send responses to the relevant news group rather than email to me.
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JR
notme
When VNC'ing into a Mac Mini (Mini has 10.5.7), I cannot see data in Apple
Numbers spreadsheets. They appear blank (all menus work, all features of the
spreadsheet function -- there's just no data displayed). The spreadsheet
prints and shows the data OK.
The author of the VNC client tells me that it's probably because of the
default display driver. He suggests plugging in a monitor or emulating one. I
am moving house and have nothing (my monitors and most everything else is
2000 miles away) other than the Mini and an old PowerBook G3/400 (w/ 10.4.11)
that I'm using for the VNC client.
I tried another "brand" of VNC client with the same results.
I tried changing numbers of colors and display resolution with no results.
not
Malcolm
A Mini-DVI to DVI adapter
<http://store.apple.com/us/product/M9321G/B?fnode=MTY1NDA5OQ&mco=MjE0NTg3Nw>
followed by a DVI Detective might do it.
<http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=4714>
notme
> <http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=4714>
Yow! $80. Hmm...
Well, if I can't find a simpler way, I'll look into this.
Thanks.
Dave
Doc O'Leary
<0001HW.C6856DAA...@news.eternal-september.org>,
notme <no...@notme.org> wrote:
The DVI-to-Video adaptor is only $20, and I'm guessing it doesn't need
to query a TV to provide the composite signal.
--
My personal UDP list: 127.0.0.1, localhost, googlegroups.com, ono.com,
and probably your server, too.
Jolly Roger
<0001HW.C6854A23...@news.eternal-september.org>,
notme <no...@notme.org> wrote:
> > What problem are you trying to solve?
>
> When VNC'ing into a Mac Mini (Mini has 10.5.7), I cannot see data in Apple
> Numbers spreadsheets. They appear blank (all menus work, all features of the
> spreadsheet function -- there's just no data displayed). The spreadsheet
> prints and shows the data OK.
All other applications display their content just fine?
> The author of the VNC client tells me that it's probably because of the
> default display driver. He suggests plugging in a monitor or emulating one. I
> am moving house and have nothing (my monitors and most everything else is
> 2000 miles away) other than the Mini and an old PowerBook G3/400 (w/ 10.4.11)
> that I'm using for the VNC client.
>
> I tried another "brand" of VNC client with the same results.
>
> I tried changing numbers of colors and display resolution with no results.
I'm not convinced this is a video driver issue from your description.
Typically video problems associated with drivers don't show up in only
one or two applications.
Have you tried opening the spreadsheet in a brand-new Mac OS X user
account to see if the problem is local to that user account?
Have you tried placing the spreadsheet on another computer that you can
access remotely with VNC to see if perhaps the problem is local to the
Mac mini?
I would be extremely interested in seeing a screen shot so that I know
exactly what you are describing is what I imagine from your description.
Can you post a screen shot of it to http://imageshack.us and post the
URL here?
notme
(in article <droleary.usenet-CE...@news.twtelecom.net>):
> The DVI-to-Video adaptor is only $20, and I'm guessing it doesn't need
> to query a TV to provide the composite signal.
Good idea. Any favorite makes / models?
Thanks.
notme
> account to see if the problem is local to that user account?
Spreadsheet appears identical regardless what user opens it on this Mini via
VNC.
> Have you tried placing the spreadsheet on another computer that you can
> access remotely with VNC to see if perhaps the problem is local to the
> Mac mini?
No other computers available. I'm moving house and all my tools & stuff is
2000 miles away.
> I would be extremely interested in seeing a screen shot so that I know
> exactly what you are describing is what I imagine from your description.
<http://i29.tinypic.com/2ebcric.jpg>
I can access all menus and buttons on the window. Note the term "Rent" in the
edit field just below the Format Bar. This shows the content of the current
cell, and changes as I use the arrow keys to scroll around the (invisible)
cells of the spreadsheet, so I know the data exists.
Printing works as it should and shows a normal spreadsheet populated with
data.
Thanks.
Chris Ridd
That's a pretty interesting way for Numbers to fail, and I'm wondering
if it is using Quartz in some way that VNC isn't supporting.
Which VNC server and client are you using? Have you tried different
clients? (Not sure if you can run a different VNC server...)
If you've got Xcode installed, can you run
/Developer/Applications/Graphics Tools/Quartz Debug.app and play with
the Disable Quartz Extreme/Enable QuartzGL menu items? I think you need
to restart Numbers after making these changes.
--
Chris
Jolly Roger
Chris Ridd <chri...@mac.com> wrote:
I was thinking the same thing. The fact that the entire content of the
view is gone supports that theory. If it's a Quartz issue, the problem
may happen regardless of VNC client. Disabling Quartz Extreme may do the
trick.
Doc O'Leary
<0001HW.C6868F91...@news.eternal-september.org>,
notme <no...@notme.org> wrote:
I was just talking about what the Apple Store has available. You could
probably find cheaper at any computer shop, especially if you're not
really going to use it.
notme
(in article <droleary.usenet-04...@news.twtelecom.net>):
> I was just talking about what the Apple Store has available. You could
> probably find cheaper at any computer shop, especially if you're not
> really going to use it.
You mean? ::
Malcolm
It may provide only a limited set of resolutions.
Tim Murray
I saw the screen shot, and that's certainly odd. I'm thinking Quartz is doing
something VLC doesn't like. If you have two people available, one at each
machine, try YuuGuu or www.acrobat.com > connect now. Both are free.
notme
(in article <0001HW.C688B3AF...@nntp.charter.net>):
> I saw the screen shot, and that's certainly odd. I'm thinking Quartz is doing
> something VLC doesn't like. If you have two people available, one at each
> machine, try YuuGuu or www.acrobat.com > connect now. Both are free.
My problem -- and the reason I started using VNC -- is that all (2 of them)
of my monitors are with all my tools and other stuff, 2000 miles away. The
"host" mac (server) is a headless Mini. So even if someone would sit at the
Mini, there's nothing to report.
N.
Chris Ridd
Have you tried different VNC clients, including Apple's Remote Desktop?
If no clients can see your Numbers spreadsheet, then the bug's likely
to be in the VNC server.
--
Chris
Jolly Roger
<0001HW.C6896832...@news.eternal-september.org>,
notme <no...@notme.org> wrote:
That's exactly how I use my Mac mini server that sits in the closet.
I just installed iWork 2008 on it to try it out, and it's behaving
*very* strangely. First, choosing File > New seems to have no effect
other than momentarily highlighting the File menu. And when I attempted
to open an existing spreadsheet created in Excel, the Progress (Opening)
dialog displayed for a long time and then Numbers crashed. Im not sure
if these issues are because I'm running an older version of Numbers on
Mac OS X 10.5.7, or if this is symptomatic of some other issue, or if
it's related to the fact that the display is being served up through VNC
though.
notme
(in article <7civh9F...@mid.individual.net>):
> Have you tried different VNC clients, including Apple's Remote Desktop?
> If no clients can see your Numbers spreadsheet, then the bug's likely
> to be in the VNC server.
At US$300 for ARD, I could go buy a monitor (2 or 3) to plug into the Mini
and solve the issue.
Jolly Roger
Have you tried doing this yet?:
<http://soerennielsen.dk/mod/VGAdummy/index_en.php>
<http://preview.tinyurl.com/l555f6>
<http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=86507>
Chris Ridd
Yeah, but what about the other free clients? It mght be worth trying
this out in an Apple Store too, if you can reach one.
--
Chris
notme
(in article <7cjbhdF...@mid.individual.net>):
> Yeah, but what about the other free clients?
Both JollysFastVNC and Chicken Of The VNC give identical results.
notme
Thanks for the creative suggestion.
I just made up one tonight and plugged it into the Mini. It had an effect, if
not the one I expected.
When I plug in the "dummy" connector and reboot, I cannot connect to the Mini
via VNC at all. (Tried different clients; no joy.)
If I unplug the dummy, the mini behaves as before; VNC connectivity is
restored.
???
Thanks.
IanM
because its got a dialog box up resulting from the monitor change. Can
you set the resolution to 640x480 via VNC and try again?
As all ID pins open was originally defined as 'no monitor', it would
also be worth connecting pin 11 (ID0) to pin 5 (GND) to properly
identify your connector as a colour VGA monitor.
I don't think grounding pin 4 (ID2) will help as I doubt the Mac
supports IBM 8514/A displays :-) It is worth a try though if you
already have it working at 640x480 to see if you can then switch to
1024x768.
You *will* need the I2C eeprom if you want to emulate a higher
resolution monitor.