Re: Warning: New MacBook Pro M4 Pro & Old Monitor
On Apr 6, 2025, at 8:32 AM, Bob Gerard via groups.io <rowerbob@...> wrote:
my plan was to get the latest Mac Mini and a superior 27” external monitor. This is a popular question. The new M4 mini is wildly popular. I just hope that it doesn’t shoot up in price because of the tariffs. Okay, here we go. Let me give you a number of choices among products that are really good at a great price right now. A new base M4 mini comes with two USB-C ports (supporting USB 3), three Thunderbolt 4 ports and one HDMI port. Since it comes with an HDMI port, and since you don’t need a professional (read: wildly over-priced) monitor, you will be using the HDMI port to attach an external monitor. So, you are looking for a monitor that supports 4K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI. (That’s just about every single monitor out there.) So, you need a 27-inch 4K IPS monitor. (IPS, In Plane Switching, is the panel type. This is the type of panel most folks prefer. Other panel types are just about as good these days, but buy why not be picky?) Just about any monitor that you purchase will have an HDMI input. The HDMI spec that we are looking for all down the chain will be HDMI 2.0 or 2.1, so that the monitor can achieve 4K@60hz. This will be dead easy in your case, because you don’t need an adapter to make your mini work with a monitor, your mini already has HDMI. First, let me suggest a couple of monitors that are a great deal right now. If you don't mind a Chinese monitor, check out there amazing deals: YEYIAN ODRAZ 27” IPS Panel HDR 4K UHD Slim Bezel PC Gaming Monitor 3840x2160, 1 Billion Colors, Low Blue, 300cd/m2, 1000:1, 60Hz, 5ms, 16:9, 178°, G-Sync, FreeSync, DP/HDMI/USB, Speakers, VESA, Tilt $170 AOC U2790VQ 27" 4K 3840x2160 UHD Frameless Monitor, IPS, 5ms $180 If you feel that you have to have a name brand monitor, check out: LG 27US500-W Ultrafine Monitor 27-Inch 4K UHD (3840x2160) HDR10 IPS Borderless Design Reader Mode Flicker Safe Switch App HDMI DisplayPort - White $250 The monitor that you get should come with a suitable HDMI to HDMI cable to attach the mini to the monitor. If it doesn’t come with one, let me know and I can recommend a source for an HDMI 2.1 cable, the shorter the better. CAVEAT: There are now huge tariffs on Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese goods. All of the above prices could change (i.e. shoot up) any second. __________________________________________________ Randy B. Singer Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice __________________________________________________
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Re: LaCie d2 Network 2, defective master card
On Apr 6, 2025, at 10:20?AM, hibiscusjlb via groups.io <brousseaujeanluc@...> wrote:
Following your advice, I drill down all the folders (hundreds of them) without seeing any of my files. It took me most of the day Yesterday. I can see the 4 UNTITLED partitions and similar data in each of them, but nothing I can recognize. The only software that gives me something recognizable is Disk Drill. But it shows me all these thousand files, not the folders where they are. I want to reinstate all the Mac OS architecture as I am used to looking at it before.?
Quite a few years ago I had a problem with the external drive connected to my Dish DVR. That was formatted in Linux as that’s what the Dish DVR runs on.
I got one of the installation disk images for Linux online, and set up my MacBook Pro to be able to start up from that.
Then I was able to view the files on the drive. I don’t remember now just what I did with them - I think I copied them to another drive, and then used the DVR to format the drive, and then copied the files back - I know that whatever I did it worked and I got my saved TV shows back.
Maybe explore that and see if your drive makes any more sense when you look at it was a Linux operating system.
Roger
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Re: Warning: New MacBook Pro M4 Pro & Old Monitor
If you are looking for a monitor for a particular model/year of Macintosh, I’d be happy to make some recommendations for monitors, and tell you what needs to be done (what you need to get) to get that monitor to work seamlessly with your Mac.
Kind of you to offer, Randy, and thank you.
I have a 2020 iMac, 500 GB SSD, 27” monitor, macOS 15.4
When this iMac will no longer support the current macOS, my plan was to get the latest Mac Mini and a superior 27” external monitor. ?
I already have an Apple mouse and both a bluetooth and a wired keyboard, so in the very distant future [if I am still around; I am 86 after all…how many more upgrades do I get :-) ]when that Mac Mini will no longer support the then-current macOS, I would need to replace only the Mac Mini.?
Bob? —— If you are disillusioned, it means that you had illusions in the first place.
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Re: LaCie d2 Network 2, defective master card
On Apr 6, 2025, at 9:20?AM, hibiscusjlb via groups.io <brousseaujeanluc@...> wrote:
Following your advice, I drill down all the folders (hundreds of them) without seeing any of my files. It took me most of the day Yesterday.
I can see the 4 UNTITLED partitions and similar data in each of them, but nothing I can recognize. I do not know if either of these find apps will work via Paragon's extFS for Mac, but might be worth a try: If you use a search app such as: Find Any File either from the Mac App Store or the developer Find Any File or such as EasyFind can you search for a particular file name of one of your documents to see if you can find its path on the linux drive?
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Re: LaCie d2 Network 2, defective master card
I’m pretty sure that QTS is Linux-based so it’s worth a try. Just make sure that you say NO if it asks to reformat the drive.?
Otto
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On 6 Apr 2025, at 15:20, hibiscusjlb via groups.io <brousseaujeanluc@...> wrote:
? Hello,?
If I had to make a wild-ass guess, the first place that I’d look would be in the “usr” folder (i.e. the User folder).
The “root”, “home”, and “lacie” folders would be the next places that I’d look.
You may have to drill down quite a ways through any of those folders to find all of your files.
?
Following your advice, I drill down all the folders (hundreds of them) without seeing any of my files. It took me most of the day Yesterday.
I can see the 4 UNTITLED partitions and similar data in each of them, but nothing I can recognize.
The only software that gives me something recognizable is Disk Drill. But it shows me all these thousand files, not the folders where they are. I want to reinstate all the Mac OS architecture as I am used to looking at it before.?
?
My only choice would be to find a similar d2 Network 2 box and install my Hitachi driver in it. I did not find any on Amazon, eBay, etc.?
?
Can I use a QNAP T133 NAS box to find my folders and files? Do the QNAP boxes use the same file system as the LaCie one??
As you can see, I am looking for a viable solution.?
Thanks again?
Jean-Luc Brousseau?
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Re: LaCie d2 Network 2, defective master card
Hello,?
If I had to make a wild-ass guess, the first place that I’d look would be in the “usr” folder (i.e. the User folder).
The “root”, “home”, and “lacie” folders would be the next places that I’d look.
You may have to drill down quite a ways through any of those folders to find all of your files.
?
Following your advice, I drill down all the folders (hundreds of them) without seeing any of my files. It took me most of the day Yesterday.
I can see the 4 UNTITLED partitions and similar data in each of them, but nothing I can recognize.
The only software that gives me something recognizable is Disk Drill. But it shows me all these thousand files, not the folders where they are. I want to reinstate all the Mac OS architecture as I am used to looking at it before.?
?
My only choice would be to find a similar d2 Network 2 box and install my Hitachi driver in it. I did not find any on Amazon, eBay, etc.?
?
Can I use a QNAP T133 NAS box to find my folders and files? Do the QNAP boxes use the same file system as the LaCie one??
As you can see, I am looking for a viable solution.?
Thanks again?
Jean-Luc Brousseau?
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Re: Heads up on the Latest Updates - Auto Update Changes
On 6 Apr 2025, at 07:27, Randy B. Singer via groups.io <randy@...> wrote:
You can test the battery yourself. Download:
Coconut Battery (free)
There are two important things to look at in Coconut Battery.
First, check out the percentage of battery capacity left. If it is under about 85%, in my experience, it's time for a new battery.
Next, check out how many load cycles your battery has been through. You can check here for how many cycles your battery should be good for:
It's likely that your Macbook Pro should be good for about 1,000 cycles, but in reality it may not give you that depending on how you have used your laptop.
$250 for a new battery is excessive. You can probably find someone at a kiosk in a mall to replace your battery for about $80. (I’ve done so previously.) You can purchase the battery alone on Amazon currently for only $50:
I’ve been using Coconut Battery for years. Not only does it show you the state of your MacBook’s battery, it also does the same for any iPhone or iPad you connect, and keeps a history of the readings so you can see the trends. You can see a MacBook’s battery info at About This Mac > System Report > Hardware > Power (this might vary slightly with OS versions) but Coconut Battery makes it so much easier. Otto
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Re: Heads up on the Latest Updates - Auto Update Changes
On Apr 5, 2025, at 7:59 PM, Mark Holland via groups.io <mbholland96@...> wrote:
13" Mac Book Pro. It was bought in 02/2019, so it is probably late 2018 or maybe early 2019 Intel model. ...
technician determined after running the tests that the battery was bad and it needs to be replaced. I was quoted $250.00 and suggested that since the laptop is 6 years old it would be advisable to purchase a new laptop instead of replacing the battery.
You can test the battery yourself. Download: Coconut Battery (free) There are two important things to look at in Coconut Battery. First, check out the percentage of battery capacity left. If it is under about 85%, in my experience, it's time for a new battery. Next, check out how many load cycles your battery has been through. You can check here for how many cycles your battery should be good for: It's likely that your Macbook Pro should be good for about 1,000 cycles, but in reality it may not give you that depending on how you have used your laptop. $250 for a new battery is excessive. You can probably find someone at a kiosk in a mall to replace your battery for about $80. (I’ve done so previously.) You can purchase the battery alone on Amazon currently for only $50: __________________________________________________ Randy B. Singer Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice __________________________________________________
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Re: Heads up on the Latest Updates - Auto Update Changes
That is not the only problem with Sequoia. Apparently it also has a bug. My son after installing it was having a problem with charging his laptop computer battery. It was very slow and it would get extremely slow when battery would get low. It was stating that battery was not charging whether or not cable was plugged in or not. It did not matter whether cable was plugged into his laptop on right or left side of the computer. It also showed that the cable was plugged in all the time whether it was plugged in or not. The battery health showed that it was OK/Normal.
Took it to the apple store. The technician could not figure it out what the problem was after running all kind of tests. They told me to bring it back after backing up the computer and they would erase and reinstall the OS.
After backing it up and taking back to Apple store different technician determined after running the tests that the battery was bad and it needs to be replaced. I was quoted $250.00 and suggested that since the laptop is 6 years old it would be advisable to purchase a new laptop instead of replacing the battery. The battery was replaced free of charge about 3 years ago by apple together with keyboard. Apple recalled it.
Having two different opinions I took the laptop to Authorized Apple Service Center. They run all the tests and figure it out that it was probably software issue. Battery heath was normal. The laptop was completely erased and OS was replaced with Sonoma. So far this issue had gone away. I was told that when my son's computer was being worked on, another customer came in with the same issue.
My son's computer is 6 years old. It is a 13" Mac Book Pro. It was bought in 02/2019, so it is probably late 2018 or maybe early 2019 Intel model.
Mark H
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Re: Warning: New MacBook Pro M4 Pro & Old Monitor
On Apr 5, 2025, at 7:19 AM, Bob Gerard via groups.io <rowerbob@...> wrote:
When I began looking into monitors f/u/w a Mac, I discovered that the vast majority of monitors are built to work with Windows machines which connect differently with external monitors than do Macs and it's not easy to find non-Apple monitors that will seamlessly, repeat seamlessly, work as well with a Mac as do Apple monitors. You run into problems with Resolution & Pixel Density & Scaling, Refresh Rates, Panel Types, Response Time. You’ve made it sound very complex, and while there is a lot to know, you’ve made it way too complex, and you are worrying about things that you don’t need to worry about. (They may be important if you are a graphics professional and you need a monitor with specific capabilities.) There is no such thing as an “Macintosh-specific” monitor anymore. There are just monitors, some have different performance capabilities and some have different input connections. They all can be mated to a Macintosh fairly easily. Some have different inputs, which can be handled by using the appropriate Thunderbolt to whatever adapter with your Mac. However, all computers transmit a completely digital video signal now, so as long as you adhere to the most recent standard, including adapter and cabling, any input (on your monitor) you use should work fine (assuming that you aren’t using a monitor from years ago). The standard now is HDMI. Some Macs even come with HDMI output ports, and all monitors for years now have had HDMI inputs. But using the DisplayPort input (commonly used by Windows computers) that is also extremely prevalent, is absolutely fine too. Basically, unless a specific monitor’s manufacturer says that their monitor isn’t compatible with your Macintosh, it is. But I haven’t seen a monitor that won’t work with a Mac in many years now. See: Using 4K displays, 5K displays, and Ultra HD TVs with your Mac If you are looking for a monitor for a particular model/year of Macintosh, I’d be happy to make some recommendations for monitors, and tell you what needs to be done (what you need to get) to get that monitor to work seamlessly with your Mac. __________________________________________________ Randy B. Singer Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice __________________________________________________
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Re: LaCie d2 Network 2, defective master card
On Apr 5, 2025, at 7:39 AM, hibiscusjlb via groups.io <brousseaujeanluc@...> wrote:
I thought I would see the files on my Mac mini as before. Where are my files? If I had to make a wild ass guess, the first place that I’d look would be in the “usr” folder (i.e. the User folder). The “root”, “home”, and “lacie” folders would be the next places that I’d look. You may have to drill down quite a ways through any of those folders to find all of your files. __________________________________________________ Randy B. Singer Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice __________________________________________________
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Re: Heads up on the Latest Updates - Auto Update Changes
I noticed this after updating on each device. However, the splash screen definitely indicates the setting is optional (though defaults to opt-in). That is, the setting is changed to automatic but you can indicate you prefer download-only. Note the button in the bottom left corner.
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On Apr 5, 2025, at 12:04, John via groups.io <OceanCity@...> wrote:
? Heads up on the latest macOS v15.4 and the iOS v18.4 updates!
?
For the first time I am aware, and I had read about this warning last week but did not run my updates until today, simply running these updates forces the setting in your update prefs to "Update iOS or macOS Automatically." See screenshots below.
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If you don't want your OS systems updated the day or so they are released, and I never do (I generally wait a week or two depending) then you need to ?_MANUALLY_ ?drill down in your system prefs for General/Software Updates and toggle this setting not to ?_automatically update_ ?if this is your preference. In other words, turn it off. My personal preference is to leave the other automatic settings as seen in the screenshots.
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Below are screenshots of the before update and after update changes.
There may be other additional settings that were changed. If you are aware of any please advise.?
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All the best,
John
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Re: LaCie d2 Network 2, defective master card
You might be back to doing data recovery.
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On Apr 5, 2025, at 12:25, hibiscusjlb via groups.io <brousseaujeanluc@...> wrote:
? [Edited Message Follows]
Sorry, all these contain similar items that are unrecognizable. I cannot see the partitions that were present before the LaCie motherboard blew out.?
This tool may not be what I need to be able to gain access to my files.?
Jean-Luc Brousseau?
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Heads up on the Latest Updates - Auto Update Changes
Heads up on the latest macOS v15.4 and the iOS v18.4 updates!
?
For the first time I am aware, and I had read about this warning last week but did not run my updates until today, simply running these updates forces the setting in your update prefs to "Update iOS or macOS Automatically." See screenshots below.
?
If you don't want your OS systems updated the day or so they are released, and I never do (I generally wait a week or two depending) then you need to ?_MANUALLY_ ?drill down in your system prefs for General/Software Updates and toggle this setting not to ?_automatically update_ ?if this is your preference. In other words, turn it off. My personal preference is to leave the other automatic settings as seen in the screenshots.
?
Below are screenshots of the before update and after update changes.
There may be other additional settings that were changed. If you are aware of any please advise.?
?
All the best,
John
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Re: LaCie d2 Network 2, defective master card
Sorry, all these contain similar items that are unrecognizable. I cannot see the partitions that were present before the LaCie motherboard blew out.?
This tool may not be what I need to be able to gain access to my files.?
Jean-Luc Brousseau?
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Re: LaCie d2 Network 2, defective master card
Did you browse through the folder hierarchy? If I had to guess, I’d start with home, but they could be elsewhere. I recommend using the arrow keys to triage.
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On Apr 5, 2025, at 07:39, hibiscusjlb via groups.io <brousseaujeanluc@...> wrote:
? Thanks, Jerald,?
Now, I have succeeded in installing extfs. But what can I do to see the files on my LaCie drive? All I can see is a list of Linux things.
I thought I would see the files on my Mac mini as before. Where are my files?
Thanks.?
Jean-Luc Brousseau?
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Re: LaCie d2 Network 2, defective master card
Sorry, can’t help now (on vacation). Contact Paragon Software.?
Jerry
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On Apr 5, 2025, at 4:39?PM, hibiscusjlb via groups.io <brousseaujeanluc@...> wrote:
? Thanks, Jerald,?
Now, I have succeeded in installing extfs. But what can I do to see the files on my LaCie drive? All I can see is a list of Linux things.
I thought I would see the files on my Mac mini as before. Where are my files?
Thanks.?
Jean-Luc Brousseau?
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Re: LaCie d2 Network 2, defective master card
Thanks, Jerald,?
Now, I have succeeded in installing extfs. But what can I do to see the files on my LaCie drive? All I can see is a list of Linux things.
I thought I would see the files on my Mac mini as before. Where are my files?
Thanks.?
Jean-Luc Brousseau?
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Re: Warning: New MacBook Pro M4 Pro & Old Monitor
?
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I have been bookmarking articles on external monitors f/u/w the Mac Mini which I intend to purchase at some point. ?Above are two URLs I saved last week. ?When I began looking into monitors f/u/w a Mac, I discovered that the vast majority of monitors are built to work with Windows machines which connect differently with external monitors than do Macs and it's not easy to find non-Apple monitors that will seamlessly, repeat seamlessly, work as well with a Mac as do Apple monitors. You run into problems with Resolution & Pixel Density & Scaling, Refresh Rates, Panel Types, Response Time. ?I hope you report back on which monitor you get, how easy it was to connect to and set up, and your level of satisfaction with it. ?Good luck!
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Re: Warning: New MacBook Pro M4 Pro & Old Monitor
In 20 years of using Macs, I have only had one issue with a monitor not working properly, if the end of the cable has the right connector or you have a working adapter. The resolution may not have been optimal, but they worked.?
The one issue I have had and am now experiencing is that Apple and there rest of the monitor or TV industry disagreed with the HDMI v1.0 & 1.1, but I still have a clear image, just 3/4” on all 4 sides of the hidden.?
If when you get the new monitor, you have the same problem, I would say you have a bad graphics board, not a compatibility issue.?
Brent ?
On my late 2012 Mac mini running 10.15.7?
?? ?Just because 47 wants Greenland, doesn’t mean he can take it. Please excuse the Orange man-child. Apologies for the village idiot. Send him a bill for the cleanup of all the abandoned military bases.?
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On Apr 4, 2025, at 3:14 AM, Peter Rasmusen < peter@...> wrote:
A friend of mine just bought a brand new 14” MacBook Pro M4 Pro 24 GB / 2 TB to replace his very old “black chimney” Mac Pro. Monterey didn’t do it for him anymore. But OK. new MacBook pro arrived and we transferred data and stuff and everything is hunky dory, except his 30” Cinema Display HD (Model A1083) is either black or “patterned”. See image. It does look suspiciously like a bad cable, yes? Or mayle a bad DVI-to-USB-C adapter? Or a bad DVI-to-HDMI adapter, yes? No! We have cross-tested all adapters with my MacBook Pro M2 Max - and they work. We have also tested his new MacBook Pro M4 Pro with my 23” Apple Cinema Display HD (Model A1082) and that works fine too. Apple support has given up … they suggest reinstalling the system (which did not work) or accepting that ?… and I quote … “the chips in the MacBook Pro M4 and the Cinema Display may not be compatible” … Which I find weird, since it works with my 23” Cinema Display HD monitor … ?but maybe there’s different electronics in a 23” A 1082 and the 30” A 1083 … who knows Anyways … now you are warned, if you have one of these monitors and you are considerering a new M4 Pro MacBook Pro. Also: Recommendations for a good and affordable replacement for the 30” Cinemad Display are very welcome … ? :-) Peter -------------------------------- ?? ?Greenland is not for sale! 
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Bob Gerard
hibiscusjlb
Ben Rosenthal
John
Brent