2011 Mac Mini stalling on start up.

Question

2011 Mac Mini stalling on start up.

I am using a 2011 Mac Mini, it had 2 gigs of RAM but after the problem started I installed 4 gigs.

Problem started after I went to start the mini up a week ago. Heard the chime, grey screen with Apple logo, spinning wheel, then mouse pointer arrow and it didn't do anything. Restarted same thing, Restarted with Command R which got my to the OSX reinstall/disk utility. Started to run disk utility and it started to slow down to a crawl and then froze completely. Try to start off an external drive and same thing. I thought it was a RAM issues so I bought two 2 gig ram chips and put them in. I can get farther along start up to the point the desktop picture will display but then it freezes on me again. It will do the same thing if started in Safe Mode.

I am at loss as what to do next. Does any one have any advice or has anyone encountered this before?

Thank you for you time.

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), 2011 Intel

Posted on Aug 16, 2014 7:13 PM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Aug 17, 2014 3:36 AM in response to Quantum Filament

- Boot to Recovery and repair the HD. and look at the SMART status. If the SMART satis says verified that is a god sign.

Note anly errors fixed by the repair

- Run Apple Hardware Test

Using Apple Hardware Test

- Reinstall the original memory that worked

- What new emory did you install? DId the manufacture say it will work wioth your model MIni? Macs are picky about memory

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Answer 2

Aug 17, 2014 4:59 AM in response to lllaass

I did try the Recovery several times with the original RAM, it would freeze on me. I was able to get it to complete a repair on the HD this morning. SMART was verified. No errors were decocted. Apple Hardware Test gave me a "4hdd/11/40000000: SATA(0,0)" error. I have tried to boot off an external HD same results with the slowing down and freezing.

The new RAM is from OWC and is a paired set for a Mac desktop. Since OWC specializes in Mac sales I figure the new RAM will work correctly. I am running the Extended test right now.

I do not live near a Apple store but there is a Apple repair specialist that's been in business since 1979. If I can not fix it I'll take it to them, I have only once ran into a problem I haven't been able to fix in the 22 years I have owned a Mac so I'm hoping I can fix it myself. That one time my G4 tower was the victim of a lightning strike.

lllaass, thank you for responding to my question.

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

92,350 points

Aug 17, 2014 6:43 AM in response to Quantum Filament

That is sounding more like a problem with the HDD or SSD.

If your Mini has an SSD drive instead of an HDD, see > Apple Hardware Test may report "HDD" alert

For more, check out the > Google Search for 4hdd/11/40000000: SATA(0,0)

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Answer 4

Aug 17, 2014 8:02 AM in response to den.thed

HDD. That error code has gone away but its not working correctly. I can not even try to install a new OS on an external drive because it will stall and freeze durning the insulation. I am going to borrow some ones G3 iBook and make sure I don't have any important on it before putting it in the mini and trying to format and install a new OS on this other drive.

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Answer 5

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Aug 17, 2014 8:04 AM in response to Quantum Filament

You said "The new RAM is from OWC and is a paired set for a Mac desktop. Since OWC specializes in Mac sales I figure the new RAM will work correctly."

Check with OWC to confirm it should also work with the Mac Min

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