Mac Mini 2014 Boots From External SSD Unless Other USB Drives Are Connected

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Mac Mini 2014 Boots From External SSD Unless Other USB Drives Are Connected

Have a newly acquired Late 2014 Mac Mini. I have it booting off an external SSD. As long as this SSD is the only drive device connected to the Mac Mini USB ports, every thing runs perfectly. If I plug in any other USB drive (including a flash drive) I get the question mark (?) flashing icon and it refuses to boot.

My plan is to install this SSD internal to the Mac Mini (waiting for the little PC board removal tool from OWC) and I'm hoping that addresses the issue. Just wondering if others had similar issues and came up with a fix.

Posted on May 13, 2022 2:33 PM

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Answer 1

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MargeHomer Author

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May 14, 2022 12:10 PM in response to MargeHomer

So, as I suspected, installing the SSD internal to the Mac Mini resolved all the boot issues. Boots up from the internal SSD regardless of any connected external USB drives. Solved!

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Answer 2

tbirdvet

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May 13, 2022 4:26 PM in response to MargeHomer

With all drives attached have you designated the drive for booting as default in the startup pane in preferences? It needs to know which drive to use when booting.

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Answer 3

MargeHomer Author

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May 13, 2022 6:50 PM in response to tbirdvet

Yes, I've done the "Startup Disk" selection in System Preferences, but no luck.

There is a posting here by a "Jack-19" How to Setup and Use an External SSD as y… - Apple Community where he talks about a special cable needed for Late 2014 Mac Mini https://www.bestbuy.com/site/belkin-3-usb-3-1-type-a-to-usb-type-c-cable-black/9511001.p?skuId=9511001 that looks like it may have a USB on one end for the USB drive, and the other end I don't know (could that end be a Thunderbolt 2 connector to plug into the Mac Mini Thunderbolt 2 port) so that even though the drive is USB, it runs connected to the Thunderbolt 2 port?

If I could get reliable startups with the USB drive, I would not remove the 5400 RPM internal HD but use it for Time Machine.

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Answer 4

tbirdvet

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May 14, 2022 4:55 PM in response to MargeHomer

I had a 2012 Mini and used external drive to boot and also had other drives attached and no issue but glad you got yours running again.

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Mac Mini 2014 Boots From External SSD Unless Other USB Drives Are Connected

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