Just upgraded my Mac mini with 8 GB of RAM. Got the memory from crucial.com. Since the upgrade the computer will shut down without warning after a few minutes of being on. Anyone know what could be causing this? Please advise.
Mac mini (Early 2009), Mac OS X (10.7.4)
If those resets don't work, you should check each stick of RAM individually to make sure that they're both ok.
Did that and it still crashed. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes and then just shuts down.
Currently running a test on each memory module through "Rember". 1st test on 1st module and the computer shut down part way through. Running the test again on the other module. I will let you know what happens.
Well, the second one crashed too. I highly doubt both modules could be bad. I will put the original RAM modules back in tomorrow morning. The saga continues.
It's possible that you got two bad sticks if they came from the same lot. Is there another machine that you can install the RAM in to check? Whatever it is, I hope you get it worked out...
Check your EFI Firmware version, at > EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs
According to > OWC Apple Mac mini Memory DDR3 / Ram upgrades an Early 2009 Mac Mini must have the > Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.2 before it can use 8GB of RAM.
Installed the old memory back in and everything seems to be working fine.
Checked the site you pointed me to and it gave this # for firmware "MM31.0081.B06 (EFI 1.2)" Checked my system profiler and it states "SMC Version (system): 1.35f0"
So I think I have the most up to date version, correct?
Do you really think both modules are bad and came from a bad lot? I'll contact crucial.com today and see what their advice is.
Keep offering your thoughts, I enjoy growing, learning, and hopefully solving this problem.
Okay everyone, just finished a chat session with crucial. So eventhough the memory advisor tool said that my mac mini could take a 8GB upgrade. It apparently cannot. The customer service representative said that this is the only upgrade available for the mac mini (a maximum upgrade of 2GB per slot):
http://www.crucial.com/search/searchresults.aspx?keywords=CT2251286
So on Monday I will get a RMA/RO exchange through customer support
Thanks for all your help!! I appreciate it.
booyabug wrote:
Installed the old memory back in and everything seems to be working fine.
OK good, I was starting to worry that we had lost you. 😉
1. Backup using CarbonCopyCloner, SuperDuper or perhaps even Time Machine if you currentlly do not have a backup.
2. Download > Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.2
a. if your system is up to date or has a newer version, no harm it will not run.
b. if your system is not up to date, see step #3 below.
3. Be sure to carefully follow > About EFI firmware updates
Note: Some USB and FireWire devices may prevent firmware updates from installing correctly; disconnect non-essential devices and use only an Apple keyboard and mouse to apply the update.
Quit all open applications, then download and install the firmware update:
- Click the appropriate link in the table in EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs to download the right update for your computer.
- The downloader will place the disk image with an installer in your downloads folder or the location specified in the General tab under Safari > Preferences. If you downloaded the disk image via Safari, Safari will notify you that an application is in the image. Click OK to continue.
- If "Open safe files after downloading" is enabled in Safari preferences, the disk image file will mount by itself. If that preference is not enabled in Safari, double-click the disk image to mount it.
- In the mounted disk image, double-click the .pkg file to start the firmware update process. (The installer puts the EFI Updater in the /Application/Utilities folder by default, and opens it automatically.)
- Read the onscreen instructions and click Shut Down to proceed with the update. The firmware image will be loaded onto your computer. Your computer will shut down, but the update will not be installed until step 6.
- Turn on your computer but do not hold the power button down. The screen will turn black and remain in that state for up to 40 seconds. The computer will emit a long tone. A gray screen will appear and a status bar indicates the progress of the update.
Important: Do not unplug, shut down, or restart your computer while the update is taking place.
Installation may take several minutes.
That's actually false your 2009 Mac Mini can take 8GB of RAM. I had the same issue. I guarantee you its bad ram from Crucial. I had the same exact issue. So have many others doing the same thing and if you look around the web it's always been the RAM. If your Mini runs fine on its stock RAM then it's the new RAM that's causing the issue. I read one post where a person had to send back two pairs to Crucial ( Who usually has great RAM ) before he finally got it to stop rebooting.
Upgraded Mac mini to 8GB RAM, shuts down automatically
