nvram reset without keyboard on Mac Mini media server?

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nvram reset without keyboard on Mac Mini media server?

I have a mac mini 2.3Ghz i5 with 8GB of RAM and 6TB Lacie external storage running 10.7.4 Server however I constantly find I'm using all 8GB of RAM. I'll throw 16 in shortly but 8 seems like it should be good enough. It backs up two MacBook Pros via time machine through an airport extreme which I understand can be pretty resource intensive however I refuse to believe the hardware is the cause. I have the mini hooked in to two TVs throughout the house and use the MacBook Pros to screen share to the mini to control it.

I've never done a nvram reset on the mini because I dont have a USB keyboard on hand at the moment and it just dawned on me the pram reset may be the solution.

The question: Is there a way I can do the reset without a keyboard? Is the a command in Terminal I can pop in to force it to do so once or twice on reboot?

As a side issue, when screen sharing recently Safari has stopped responding. As a sandbox app I can still minimize, move, etc however if I want the actual "page" to refresh I have to minimize then maximize the window. I assume the nvram reset will fix this. Simple reboots do not.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.

Mac mini, OS X Server, 10.7.4

Posted on Aug 14, 2012 6:09 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

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Aug 14, 2012 6:25 PM in response to Kdoubt

Here's the old PPC Open Firmware commands...

reset-nvram (press Enter)

set-defaults (press Enter)

reset-all (press Enter)

Might work in Terminal preceding each line with sudo SPACE, but I don't think it works on Intel Macs.

I think it's likely some other problem...

Open Activity Monitor in Applications>Utilities, select All Processes & sort on CPU%, any indications there?

How much RAM & free space do you have also, click on the Memory & Disk Usage Tabs.

Open Console in Utilities & see if there are any clues or repeating messages.

In the Memory tab, are there a lot of Pageouts?

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Answer 2

Kdoubt Author

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Aug 15, 2012 4:50 PM in response to BDAqua

Here are a couple Screen shots of the Activity Monitor. There is about 16GB left on the internal 500GB drive however its mainly backups and this has persisted for quite some time. The externals at this point are empty.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

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Aug 15, 2012 10:14 PM in response to Kdoubt

You canrecover some of that "blue" Inactive RAM by Repairing Perissions usually, but sort by that Real Mem tab, what is hogging it?

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Answer 4

Kdoubt Author

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Aug 18, 2012 10:49 PM in response to BDAqua

When Safari is open it takes about 400MB. Finder takes 107MB. Still trying to figure out what exactly is happening. I may have to take it in before my Applecare runs out.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

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Aug 19, 2012 11:22 AM in response to Kdoubt

Yeah, any browser today is a hog for RAM. 😟

I do think I'd take it in before Applecare is gone.

Where you ever able to get more Green/free Ram showing?

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Answer 6

Kdoubt Author

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Aug 29, 2012 3:59 PM in response to BDAqua

I was not. I got the logic board replaced the other day. I'm going to reinstall lion server as the next step. Step after that is new RAM.

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Answer 7

Kdoubt Author

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Jan 25, 2013 10:38 AM in response to BDAqua

Just as an update, the logicboard, hard drive, and airport card were replaced... Only the case is original now. Had a lemon I guess but at least I dont have to go crazy figuring out why things were going sideways.

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