Start up from CD/DVD?

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Level 1

10 points

Start up from CD/DVD?

I have 2 identical Mac Mini's, both refuse to start up from CD/DVD, from both the internal and an firewire external DVD. Both have 10.5 (had to upgrade, rather than clean install because couldn't get to start from DVD, had to put DVD in, then restart with DVD selected as startup disk). Well, one of the mini's has all sorts of permission issues (that I can't fix because now it will not let me start up from DVD) and the other has a corrupt operating system and refuses to start up. I manage about 40 macs, these are the only 2 that stump me. I have tried every key command at start up (C, X, Shift, Cm/Opt/Shift/Delete) and even made a few more up, it is like the keyboard doesn't work (I even tried multiple keyboards). Right now there is a disk stuck in the drive (the original disk that came with the computer) that will not eject holding the eject key. I have tried "target" mode, but again it doesn't respond to the "T" key at startup. Now I have one computer that crashes all the time and another that has a DVD stuck in the drive that refuses to start up. I think (just a thought, nothing to back that up though) that this is somehow related to 10.5, as I didn't have issues with these computers until 10.5 was put on them, but have people that use iPhones so I need 10.5.

Mini, iPhone, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Jul 17, 2008 6:45 AM

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Answer 1

Boece

Level 5

6,264 points

Jul 17, 2008 7:01 AM in response to Richard Fix

If you have a wired usb mouse, holding down the (left) mouse button during startup will pop the disc out. Hold down for about 30 seconds, until the disc comes out.

Worth trying an SMC reset (if these are Intel Macs) or a PMU reset (only if these are older G4 PPC Macs).

And hopefully you aren't using the Aluminum Apple keyboard, since the startup keys won't work with them on Minis.

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Answer 2

Richard Fix Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 17, 2008 7:00 AM in response to Richard Fix

That is an old system 9 trick, tried that, no luck. Taking the computer apart again as we speak. That will get the DVD out, but still can't get it to start up.

I have 2 mini's doing this exact thing. I can't believe that there isn't some know issue here. I am not smart enough to screw up 2 computers the same way.

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Answer 3

Jul 17, 2008 7:03 AM in response to Richard Fix

Is the DVD disk damaged? Are you using the correct disk for your systems?

Luck-

-DP

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Answer 4

Boece

Level 5

6,264 points

Jul 17, 2008 7:05 AM in response to Richard Fix

Aside from Minis sometimes needing the resets I mentioned (for whatever reason), there has been no Leopard-related issue coming up here that would explain/resolve your problem.

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Answer 5

Richard Fix Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 17, 2008 7:06 AM in response to Richard Fix

Currently I have the original disk that came with the system in the computer, then in the external I have a 10.5 disk. It can't be the disk, I have 4 different original mini start up disks, all do the same thing.

Actually right now I am pulling the drive apart to remove the disk.

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Answer 6

Richard Fix Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 17, 2008 7:09 AM in response to Richard Fix

Don't abandon me on this people, I can't let this one conquer me. It just is too strange that both mini's are doing the same thing to me and this isn't a know issue.

Again, I am not smart enough to goof 2 computers up the same way.

I have ruled out every variable I know to rule out. Multiple keyboards, mice, external drives, all react the same way on both machines.

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Answer 7

Jul 17, 2008 7:12 AM in response to Richard Fix

Were these Minis upgraded at all from factory stock?

Since you've tried everything else, how about swapping power supply bricks with a known working unit?

Luck-

-DP

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Answer 8

Boece

Level 5

6,264 points

Jul 17, 2008 7:15 AM in response to Richard Fix

If you have a non-alu usb keyboard and have done the appropriate reset and still have the problem, then I wonder if the real issue is damage or dirt in the cd drive.

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Answer 9

Richard Fix Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 17, 2008 7:16 AM in response to Richard Fix

Both have more RAM added, and one needed a new hard drive (that was before it was running 10.5)

This is good stuff, I am open to hearing everything. I will try putting original factory RAM back in.

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Answer 10

Richard Fix Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 17, 2008 7:33 AM in response to Richard Fix

I have used 2 different external drives, same unresponsiveness (as well as in internal drive). Put original RAM back in, no luck. Reset the PMU, these are not the aluminum keyboards that I have tried.

Don't give up on me, I will try anything.

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Answer 11

Boece

Level 5

6,264 points

Jul 17, 2008 7:38 AM in response to Richard Fix

Are these G4 or Intel Minis?

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Answer 12

Richard Fix Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 17, 2008 7:40 AM in response to Richard Fix

Both of these are G4

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Answer 13

Richard Fix Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 17, 2008 9:19 AM in response to Richard Fix

Okay, after numerous different CD's and external drives (all that work on other computers) I found a combination that miraculously starts up (external DVD firewire drive and Apple hardware test disk). Unfortunately when I run disk utility it doesn't show the hard drive. So do I assume that the power supply is bad, since the internal CD/DVD drive and the internal hard drive don't work? According to the person that used this computer the CD drive was working before it refused to start up. Would a bad power supply cause just the hard drive and CD drive to stop working or would the entire computer not work?

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Answer 14

AndyO

Level 6

17,064 points

Jul 17, 2008 11:37 AM in response to Richard Fix

If the power brick was faulty, you would expect the entire system to fail since the brick doesn't output separately to the drive frame, logic board and other components.

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Answer 15

Jul 17, 2008 2:17 PM in response to AndyO

Reset PRAM.

Also open itunes, and use the eject button. You can also add an eject button to Finder too. Open Finder, right click the top grey bar, customize.

I've got a Mini running 10.5.4. upgraded ram and HD with SuperDrive. No issues like this but I did have a PowerBook that refused to acknowledge the optical until I reset the PRAM.

PRAM Reset:
Turn off Computer.
Press power THEN press and hold "Option" + "Command (apple key)" along with "P" and "R" keys. Hold until the second chime then let go.

Also holding down the eject button on an Apple keyboard during startup will eject the disc too.

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