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User profile for user: blin22
blin22 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

mac mini won't boot at all

I am currently using my mac mini (core solo) as a media center. I cam home from a long weekend to find it completely frozen, so i powered it off, and i have not been able to get it to boot since.

The regular startup screen appears, but it permanently hangs with the grey screen with the apple logo, and no spinning wheel.

I have attempted to boot from my Leopard disk with no success. I cannot boot into single-user mode. I cannot boot into safe mode. The only thing I can do is boot into target disk mode, which I have done in order to retrieve some files. I have also applied the 10.5.4 combo updater via target disk mode with no change in my problem.

When I boot in verbose mode, I can see some messages which may or may not be out of the ordinary, one example of which is:

+Extension "com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform" has immediate dependencies on both com.apple.kernel and com.apple.kpi components; use only one style+

It has the same exact message for com.apple.driver.ApplePCIConfigurator and com.apple.driver.Apple.IntelCPUPowerManagement. I don't know if these are normal or not.

The last 3 lines where it stops booting are:

+rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: 7FB33E59-0964-31AC-8244-283A02217CBA2+

+Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClass</key><string ID="1">IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>+

+FireWire (OHCI) Lucent ID 5811 built-in now active, GUID 0016cbfffe59e93c; max speed s400+

Any ideas? At this point I'm ready to just format and re-install, but how can I proceed if I can't get it to boot to the Leopard disk?

iBook G4 (1.33 GHz) and MacMini (Core Solo), Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Aug 30, 2008 2:36 PM

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15 replies
User profile for user: Boece
Boece
User level: Level 5
6,264 points

Aug 31, 2008 1:02 PM in response to blin22

+At this point I'm ready to just format and re-install, but how can I proceed if I can't get it to boot to the Leopard disk?+

In terms of booting from your Leopard disc, you will either need the original install disc that shipped with your Mini, or a full retail version.

To boot from the install disc, typically you would insert it while the Mini is "on", then force it off by holding down the power button for 5-10 seconds. Then restart. As soon as the startup chime (or beep) occurs, hold down the C key until you see the "gear" spinning.

You will need a wired usb keyboard (and not the Apple Alu model) for this to work. Most PC usb keyboards will also work.
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User profile for user: AndyO
AndyO
User level: Level 6
17,064 points

Sep 8, 2008 4:38 AM in response to blin22

If the install disk you have is valid for that system and the system is spinning the drive up and attempting to load from the installer rather than continuing to try and boot from the internal drive, then yes, it would seem probable that you have a hardware issue - likely a faulty drive or possibly logic board.

However, are you sure that the install CD you have is the right one, and that when you are using a wired keyboard, you are holding the C key down at the right time in order to get it to boot from the optical drive? What about holding Option (Alt on a Windows keyboard) down during startup instead of C? That should take you to the boot loader screen where it should show the install disk if that is in the drive, and if so, let you select it to boot the system.
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User profile for user: burky79
burky79
User level: Level 1
9 points

Sep 9, 2008 4:22 AM in response to blin22

I am having the exact same problem with my Mac mini.

Power on this morning and I got the chime, then a gray background, with apple logo. No sounds, no nothing. I have done the SMC and am getting ready to try C boot and install disk... but it isn't sounding or looking good!

I will update later, as I have to go to work now.

Thanks
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User profile for user: Diamond Pete
Diamond Pete
User level: Level 1
23 points

Oct 6, 2008 7:43 AM in response to LE Studios

LE Studios,

I also had a boot-up problem similar to yours, but possibly for different underlying reasons (RAM related, I think). Anyway, what sometimes happens is that your directory might be corrupted preventing the unit from accessing the boot-up files that it needs. You might try running Disk Warrior, a utility that is used by the genius bar at Apple Stores. It comes on a disk that you would use as the start-up disk.

Start up the unit and insert the Disk Warrior DIsk and hold down the "C" key. The software can take a while to load (3-4 minutes). When it's finished loading you should see the Mac Mini hard drive available for the program's routines. Choose the directory fix. If successful, you should be able to re-boot the Mac Mini normally once the new directory is written to the disk.

This may not solve the original problem as to why the unit froze in the first place, but it should allow you to boot the computer.

You may also want to run the Apple Hardware Test that is on the installation disk that came with the computer.
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User profile for user: Locutus01
Locutus01
User level: Level 1
76 points

Nov 9, 2008 12:53 PM in response to blin22

Have you guys try booting with your Mac OS X install disk by holding down the Option (Alt) Key down (Wired USB Keyboard). A screen should come up displaying the CD and the Hard drive. Pick the CD, if it boots with the CD in. Then run the Disk Utils from the disk to see if your hard drive is okay.

Also have you tried to boot holding down the shift key down? One time, my Mini wouldn't boot and I booted with the shift key down. That fixed what ever the problem was.. :/

-Locutus
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User profile for user: iiebill
iiebill
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jan 30, 2009 1:51 PM in response to blin22

If you have the grey mac mini tiger install discs they WILL load at start up with "C" pressed.
You will be able to reinstall, or archive and the unit will be as new....BUT.........
I doubt if you will be able to install any updates past 10.4.7. with out re-creating the lock up.
There is a bug, glitch, defect or whatever you call it, in the logic board somewhere (efi/smc..?)
Maybe someone will figure out that the firewire chip is flakey and this is what it causes.(my 2'nd guess)
So you can trouble shoot it from there, guess. I had same problem, I'm looking for mini-leopard discs to see if i can at least run 10.5.2 ? without updates at all.
Sometimes in the early stages i let my mini run all night and after it had a panic on screen ( by morning) it would then start up normally, but reboot again to problem!
LMK if there is a solution to this quagmire!
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mac mini won't boot at all

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