Trying to help a friend with his Mac - menu bar problem

[vavavroom]

The guy has Parkinson's and now he's somehow messed up his Mac Mini or it has gone bonkers on its own, While I am somewhat familiar with Macs and can use them just fine, troubleshooting more involved problems isn't my forte. My friend has no way of taking his Mac to the geniuses at the shop and he doesn't have anybody who can help him. I will drive 100 miles to see him in a few days and I would like to sort out his computer problem.

The setup
He has a 2020 Mac Mini running Ventura 13.4.1. The Mini is hooked up to a big-screen TV that he has been using as a monitor for years.

The problem
The menu bar at the top of the screen is apparently magnified to the point that the menu doesn't show up on the screen. The problem occurred suddenly and he says he didn't do anything to cause this. I can't say I necessarily believe him. I asked him for a screenshot but he couldn't manage. He tried taking picture of the screen with his phone but he's too shaky to get a clear-enough image!

What I told him to check
I told him to: check the screen resolution setting, although this would affect everything and not just the menu bar - no joy
I asked him to go into Acessabiloity and to check if any magnification option was on - no joy
I also asked him to zoom out with the mouse - no joy'

Looking for a solution online, I came across one person who said that he had this problem after plugging HDMI ports. My friend says he did not do such a thing. and I believe him since his mobility is so limited.


I'd hate to go visit him unprepared. Any ideas?

 

[dogememe]

You're using a TV as a monitor? Many TVs have some sort of overscan that basically zooms in the screen slightly and cuts off the edges. I haven't used a Mac in ages so IDK if they have an underscan feature but I know on Windows this is done through the GPU drivers if your TV can not disable this. On Samsung, it's as easy as changing the "source type" from the default to PC on the HDMI input you are using. Other TVs may do it differently.

 

[Elkins45]

The problem is likely in the TV and not the computer. Our TV has a “format” button on the remote that changes the screen perspective. Some formats cut off part of the picture, especially if you select full screen on a 16:9 screen. He’s probably bumped the button on the remote and switched the viewing format.

 

[vavavroom]

You're using a TV as a monitor?

No, I am not. I use a proper monitor with my pc.

Many TVs have some sort of overscan that basically zooms in the screen slightly and cuts off the edges. I haven't used a Mac in ages so IDK if they have an underscan feature but I know on Windows this is done through the GPU drivers if your TV can not disable this. On Samsung, it's as easy as changing the "source type" from the default to PC on the HDMI input you are using. Other TVs may do it differently.

To reiterate, he's been using the same TV as a monitor for years without problems until recently.

 

[vavavroom]

The problem is likely in the TV and not the computer. Our TV has a “format” button on the remote that changes the screen perspective. Some formats cut off part of the picture, especially if you select full screen on a 16:9 screen. He’s probably bumped the button on the remote and switched the viewing format.

That's quite possible. He's clumsy with shaky hands and poor eyesight. His brain is also compromised. I'll have to check that option when I go see him. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[OVERKILL]

This is Monterey, but the settings should be very similar on his:

 

[vavavroom]

This is Monterey, but the settings should be very similar on his:
View attachment 233539

Thanks for showing the screenshot. If I interpret the options correctly, the Menu Bar's size can't be changed in these settings. Only the Dock size can be changed. I'm going to see my friend probably on Wednesday. I'll see what I can do.

 

[OVERKILL]

Thanks for showing the screenshot. If I interpret the options correctly, the Menu Bar's size can't be changed in these settings. Only the Dock size can be changed. I'm going to see my friend probably on Wednesday. I'll see what I can do.

Yup, so if it's huge I would lean more toward it being a resolution issue that he may not be properly communicating to you, though you have piqued my curiosity now, lol.

 

[vavavroom]

I checked it out in person today. No joy.

The menu bar is offscreen and cannot be popped out. I never got to see it. Collapsed windows at the top of the screen can be popped out.

The menu bar pulldown menu can be accessed by clicking blindly near where the menu bar should be. The menu bar is partially off-screen.

The hard disk icon is partially cropped by the right edge of the screen.

The dock is partially cropped at the bottom.

The screen res of the TV matches the set screen res. Different resolution settings did not solve the problem.

Changing the aspect ratio of the image via the TV remote did not help,

Nothing is magnified or zoomed in.

I switched from HDMI 1 to HDMI 2 port and HDMI 2 was dead.



The invisible menu bar's pulldown menu is partially off-screen


The dock is cropped at the bottom

 

[berniedd]

The pictures seem to me that the data for display sent to the Sony Bravia is set for a resolution that is lower than that of the native resolution of that external monitor/TV. Have you tried setting the screen resolution of the external/2nd display to the next higher step? You can see it at the upper left corner: System Settings -> Displays -> Second Display.

 

[vavavroom]

The pictures seem to me that the data for display sent to the Sony Bravia is set for a resolution that is lower than that of the native resolution of that external monitor/TV. Have you tried setting the screen resolution of the external/2nd display to the next higher step? You can see it at the upper left corner: System Settings -> Displays -> Second Display.

It's set to the highest resolution. 1920x1080. That TV is 12 years old.

 

[dogememe]

Really looks like typical HDMI overscan. Worst case you can just replace the TV, plenty of models for $100 new.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102202

 

[Rand]

Looks like an overscan issue.
should be a setting on the tv somewhere. What model is it?

Typically this is in settings such as
Settings / Set-up / Screen settings / Display Area "Full pixel"

 

[vavavroom]

Really looks like typical HDMI overscan. Worst case you can just replace the TV, plenty of models for $100 new.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102202

Looks like an overscan issue.
should be a setting on the tv somewhere. What model is it?

Typically this is in settings such as
Settings / Set-up / Screen settings / Display Area "Full pixel"

You guys nailed it. I called my friend and had him check if Overscan was turned on. Overscan is the default. He only could find an Underscan option and once he turned it on the display went back to normal with the menu bar visible, the pulldown menu, and the dock now uncropped. We both thank you for your suggestion. I should have known because I was the one who set up the TV and the previous and current Mac Minis for him and I must have turned Underscan on back then. How it got tuned off he doesn't know. I asked him to send me a screenshot.

 

[vavavroom]

He showed me this after I told him to look for Overscan. I told him to turn Underscan on.


Back to normal!

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

But is that now not using all of the screen area? It still doesn't really look right.

 

[mk378]

Optimally the TV would be set for 1:1 scan then the Mac can use normal (non-underscan) and you will have more pixels. After the TV setting is corrected, the underscanned Mac screen image will be smaller than the physical screen.

But this is also a good time to leave things alone because it is nominally working.

 

[vavavroom]

But is that now not using all of the screen area? It still doesn't really look right.

That's as good as it ever was.

 

[vavavroom]

Optimally the TV would be set for 1:1 scan then the Mac can use normal (non-underscan) and you will have more pixels. After the TV setting is corrected, the underscanned Mac screen image will be smaller than the physical screen.

I don't think there's a 1:1 setting and he doesn't know. His Parkinson's has done a number on him and it's getting worse. I'd have to drive another 80 miles to find out.

But this is also a good time to leave things alone because it is nominally working.

I agree.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I'm really surprised that playing around with TV's aspect ratio/zoom settings didn't fix this and you had to change a setting on the computer instead.

Glad it's working though.