Mac mini M2 has second startup chime and Finder issues

com.macpaw.CleanMyMac5.Agent.plist (MacPaw Way Ltd - installed 2025-12-29)

    Executable: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.macpaw.CleanMyMac5.Agent

Top on the List of several Third Party Applications that cause all sorts of issues

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS,  is an invitation for disaster. 

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale. 

What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions 

Disk Cleaner 

CleanMyMac , aka “ BrickMyMac “

New macOS Malware "Cthulhu Stealer" Targets Apple Users' Data

There are two schools of though in regards to BrickMyMac

{redicated on the Offending  Application has been Removed as per the Developers Specific Instruction 

# 1 Some Contributors suggest restarting in Recovery Mode and choosing to Reinstall the Operating System over the existing installation. 

This may or may not replace elements of the  Home Folder ( User Account )  and replace any corrupted or removed elements and make things right.

#2 - Then there are Other Contributors ( like myself ) would suggest  from this link Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.

Thereafter to start from scratch and install all Required Applications directly from the Apple Apps Store or Directly from the Developer.

If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate everything back as this will probably Re-Introduce the existing  issue at the time TM Backup was made 

Before starting over from scratch.

1) Get rid of CleanMyMac, SurfShark, Bitwarden and disable Malwarebytes.

You do not need any of those to protect or keep your Mac safe.

see > Apple Platform Security - Apple Support

2) I suspect the second or false chine is caused by a USB device or Audio software.

Test startup with all USB external drives and the Scarlett disconnected.

Test startup with all third-party Audio Software disabled at Log-in.

As my colleague has mentioned " Could be anything from third-party software . . . "

To flesh this out in more details

There are 4 Categories of Third Party Software / Services that are not needed 

Get rid of them via the Developers Instruction 

In no special order 

1 - Third Party 2 Way Firewalls 

like Lulu and Little Snitch 

2 - Commercial VPNs 

They may not be what one believes they are doing for the computer and what they actually are doing behind the scenes and unbeknownst to the user ( you ) 

They may also reduce your Internet Speeds by upwards of 30% 

https://gist.github.com/joepie91/5a9909939e6ce7d09e29

VPN: What you need to know - Apple Community

3 - Third Party Security Software 

There are no known Windows-like Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS, because of the underling UNIX  Foundation and Permission Limitation. 

The Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that cannot be opened by the User nor by Third Party Applications.

The Only thing this Antivirus software is protecting is the Bank Account of the Developers and for zero return to the User aside from the problems this software creates.

Security. Built right in

Mac app security enhancements

The Built in Security  is all that is required to protect the computer.

Protecting against malware in macOS

4 - Third Party Disk Cleaners / Optimizer 

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS,  is an invitation for disaster. 

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale. 

What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

To put the Third Party Disk Cleaner / Optimizer in context and the damages it may have or has already done.

This type of applications can or will Muck Up your User Account ( Home Folder ) of this machine.

It does not touch the Operating System itself unless you consider your User Account ( Home Folder ) as part of the Operating System.

The Operating System may be  hosed

Could be anything from third-party software to low storage space.

EtreCheckPro is an excellent tool for locating and sorting out all sorts of problems.

Download and run the free version of EtreCheckPro, from > https://etrecheck.com/en/index.html

Then post back here with your Report, as per > How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

bwardapple14 wrote:

p.s. I upgraded from Sequoia 15.6 to Tahoe 26.1 about 2-3 months ago, I think. Not yet on Tahoe 26.2.

In addition to third-party software, what external devices are connected to your M2 Mac mini...?

A display w/speakers, a speaker system, an audio input device, any of those can cause the Audio MIDI to switch at startup.

Again:

Download and run the free version of EtreCheckPro, from > https://etrecheck.com/en/index.html

Then post back here with your Report, as per > How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

Follow on

If the machine does exhibit any of the symptoms mentioned earlier

Forget the double chime

Restart the computer in Safe Mode

Be sure to discounted ALL External Drives first

If still have issues

Follow the previous advise, use the Etrecheck application and post the full report

The below image is from Within the Etrecheck application

Post back the Full Report - Share Report >> Copy report , then  paste,   ⌘ + v >>>> using the Additional Text Icon  <<<<

During the Cold Boot ( 100% Off ) to On

During the boot up process does the loading bar ( before the login screen) Pause for an time and then reload the loading bar ?

Does is disappear and reappear during this process ?

If so, the system maybe doing a Firmware check

If we may ask

Has the computer recently been upGraded from Sequoia 15.6 to Tahoe 26.2 ?

Has the user ever downgraded from macOS 26 Tahoe back to macOS 15 Sequoia and subsequently re UpGraded back to Tahoe ?

In the meantime

Until the existing issue are resolved

It is not suggested to update to 26.2

What about the all the other suggestions that have been put forth

I see and . . .