My 85-year-old grandpa has been dealing with some strange lines on his Mac computer that we just can't seem to get rid of. He's not very tech-savvy, and it looks like he may have accidentally pressed something. The lines appear as if a piece of paper is displayed in the middle of the screen, and it briefly shows 'A4' when you start the Mac before it disappears. There's also a box at the bottom right that says 'exit' and 'quickfix,' but I can't click on it. My family has tried helping him out, but we're stuck!
5 Answers
Hmm, maybe try changing the background picture? It could help clear things up a bit.
Honestly, the A4 lines on the screen are likely coming from the Asus monitor. On the bottom right there’s a menu button. You might need to press that to exit the overlay that's causing the issue.
Could you share a picture? It's hard to understand without seeing it, lol. Also, how old is your grandpa's computer?
The Mac is a mini from 2020. Here’s a pic for reference: https://preview.redd.it/jyc8u5rbiw6f1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1198dbbae0a570d07b440dfe2ac0a2a8c0133b61
Sounds like the A4 message might be a processor indicator, but those lines could signal a graphics issue or a loose connection. It's also possible these are two separate issues! Is it a desktop or a laptop? Definitely would help if you could post a photo.
Here’s a pic of the desktop: https://preview.redd.it/c1smzuutiw6f1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e90bf31d8ae4ba30b5c213a98b1851ebaec9bf7a
It sounds like there could be some burn-in on the display. There are utilities that can help with that by cycling colors on the screen, but if it's really bad, you might need to replace the display. A picture or video would definitely help narrow down the issue.
And another one: https://preview.redd.it/ynigympyiw6f1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7edd82996b54563e4c2e01de636da4388cac3947
Here are some more pics that might help: https://preview.redd.it/bjqvmugxiw6f1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1eee7d815bd9d23190e9902e560ee268085322a2
Exactly what I was thinking!