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You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac OS X > Need help logging into Mac mini without a monitor

Need help logging into Mac mini without a monitor
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2009
Status: Offline
Aug 9, 2009, 12:47 AM
 
I am installing a new Mac mini (early 2009) running Leopard (10.5.8) at my in-laws. I configured it at my house before bringing it to them and it is setup for the login screen to display a list of users at boot.

Stupidly, I forgot to bring the Mini DVI to VGA adapter with me and cannot connect to a monitor. As such, there is no monitor connected to it. When I boot the mini, I hear the startup chime, then wait 60 seconds, at which point I should be able to do the following and get logged in:

1. Hit the down arrow on the keyboard, thus selecting the first user on the list.
2. Hit <ENTER>, thus activating the text field beneath that user's name.
3. Type the password.
4. Hit <ENTER>, thus getting logged in.

Instead, what I get is the Alert beep with each keypress.

Is there something that prevents the mini from being logged into without a monitor connected?

If I'm doing it wrong, can someone please tell me what I might try to get logged into this thing?

Degrees of difficulty:

1. ALL sharing is disabled.
2. Airport is on.
3. I'm in Bishop, CA, which is over 200 miles from the nearest Apple Store, and 250 miles from home.
4. I have to be at work Monday morning, so I can't just say "To heck with it - I'm gonna make the 200+ mile drive each way to the Reno, NV Apple Store, then drive home to LA tomorrow night" and expect to get any sleep tomorrow night.
5. There is a wired/wireless network with Internet connectivity here.
6. LogMeIn is installed, so I can remotely connect to it once I can get logged in.
7. Still need to install Windows XP in Parallels so they will have a bit of a security blanket until they get used to using OS X.
8. It's an early 2009 Mac mini, so it only has Mini Dsiplay Port and Mini DVI video out ports.
9. The wife can't bring the mini DVI - VGA adapter to me because she's in another state.

Any help the community at-large can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all,

MustangFive

"Help me Obi Wan Kenobi - You're my only hope."
     
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Jose, CA
Status: Offline
Aug 9, 2009, 02:21 AM
 
Please do not cross-post.

Steve
Celebrating 10 years and 4000 posts on MacNN!
     
   
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