Mac Mini Late 2012 Keeps Restarting

What is connected at home that wasn't at Apple?

We need to see what all is running, a report from this will not display any personal info...

Using EtreCheck - Apple Community

EtreCheck is a FREE simple little diagnostic tool to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac. It will not display any personal info.

https://www.etrecheck.com/

Thanks for Old Toad’s etrecheck instructions…

Slow iMac 2017 - Apple Community

Use the Note tool on the bottom of this editor's toolbar, as shown in the image, to copy and paste the output from EtreCheck. In a Reply before you click post, look for this to add longer texts...

Try one of these two…

You can use Drive DX to possibly get a better view of Drive health…

https://binaryfruit.com/drivedx

Thanks to Jack-19…

It may be wise to run SMART Utility to check the drives' health. 

My solution. My late 2012 mini running Catalina appeared to be overheating and repeatedly rebooted. I simply Installed and ran a fan control app at full blast. Also elevated the mini about 1/2 “ on its center plastic stand… this enhanced the air flow. Seems to fix it.

Yeah' if you must or want to keep the 2012 Mac mini going for a while longer, then it needs a replacement HDD or an SSD upgrade.

Sadly it's a little late in the game to replace the HDD with an SSD for a speed boost, because the maximum macOS is no longer supported.

At this point, I would recommend replacing the 2012 Mac mini with a new Mac mini and then decide what to do with the 2012 Mac mini.

For a few examples:

Replace the HDD or replace the HDD with an SSD and use it as a media server.

Replace the HDD and pass down to a family member or sell it.

Do nothing except for Erase and Recycle.

This sounds like a failing HDD. What did the Apple Store say and recommend?

I say, it's time to replace for more than a couple of reasons.

1) It is 11 years old and no longer supported by Apple Security Updates.

2) Sporadic hardware issues are nearly impossible to troubleshoot.

3) One day it will work, then the next day it will go belly up dead.

4) It will cost more to repair than a 2012 Mac mini is worth.

5) One repair bill, could pay for half the cost of new.

Many recommend a vacuum, I've not been successful vacuuming.

See this Install video to see how easy it is to open up,then a vacuum my work mush better...

https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/mac_mini2012_mem/Macmini6-1-nonserver/

Good work!:)👍

Have you blown the dust out?

As best I could. Any tip on getting all dust out? What about using a vacuum?