ramjr0516
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: Mac mini will not shutdown or restart

I have a Mac Mini, early 2009 and running OS X 10.6.8, that hangs after a software update, during shutdown/restart and needs to be forced to shutdown using the power button.

 

I would like to upgrade to a more recent OS X, but I want to be sure all updates are fully and properly installed first, and this failure is preventing the restart needed to finalize the update.

 

Here's what's happening, in detail:

 

1.  I run Software Update (SU) and it tells me I have updates available.

 

2.  I tell it to go ahead and download/install.  Since I've done this several times, and since the download has already been done, it almost instantly installs and tells me to restart.

 

3.  I press the restart button, the display goes to a blank teal/blue, and then to the star field splash screen.  It will sit there, with an active mouse pointer (arrow), until the display goes to sleep.  On one of my retries, I let it sit for 20 minutes before using the power button shutdown.  There are no spinners, or other indicators that would suggest there was any sort of activity.

 

There have been times when the system will somehow get back "in shape" and shutdown/restart properly after a normal start up **without any SU process**.  As soon as I try to run SU again, and try to restart, it hangs as described above.

 

I have tried resetting NVRAM, the SMC, disconnecting all non-essential peripherals and being sure there's no CD in the CD drive.  Nothing has helped.

 

I have found a number of posts that seem to be the same issue I'm having, but in no case has a useful solution to the problem been mentioned.

 

Thanks.

 

Bob

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Early 2009 HW

Posted on May 16, 2015 6:43 PM

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ramjr0516

Q: Mac mini will not shutdown or restart

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  • Helpful answers

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer May 16, 2015 6:55 PM in response to ramjr0516
    Level 6 (14,567 points)
    Desktops
    May 16, 2015 6:55 PM in response to ramjr0516

    There is a replaceable battery on the logic board which powers a memory chip

    whose information may be corrupted; when the battery has failed after several

    years time, it should be replaced. This may be a cause of the symptoms of note.

     

    The clock or PRAM battery could be replaced by  someone with a certain level

    of skill, and the computer also could be tested to see if there is a different cause

    behind the issues so far involved.

     

    Were you able to see if there were any log errors or crash reports available by

    looking into the Console utility? Did the computer start OK in SafeBoot, which

    may be helpful in a diagnostic process. Also, there may be some corruption in

    the system; at times a semi-defective hard drive or damaged files could be a

    cause of issues. You may have to see about setting an appointment to take

    the computer to an Apple Store with Genius bar, for inspection & testing. Or if

    no Genius, be sure to backup your computer files (your work) & consider the

    other options to have diagnostic testing at an Authorized Apple Service Provider.

     

    In any event...

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass May 17, 2015 1:42 AM in response to ramjr0516
    Level 10 (190,740 points)
    Apple Watch
    May 17, 2015 1:42 AM in response to ramjr0516

    As k Shaffer said, it could be a HD problem. Try booting from the install DVD and repairing the HD and look at the SMART status in Disk Utility. If not "verified" then you have a disk problem.

    Also sun Apple Diagnostics

    Using Apple Diagnostics - Apple Support

    Also. if you have an external HD yo can erase boot from the install DVD and instal the OD on the external HD and then boot from that HD. It will be slow but that will help determine if you have a HD problem.

     

    Yu can replace the HD and if necessary memory yourself. It is not that hard. I did it on my early 2009 Mini

    http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/mac_mini_2009/

  • by ramjr0516,

    ramjr0516 ramjr0516 May 19, 2015 10:41 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 19, 2015 10:41 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Taking your points in order:

     

    Regarding a dead/dying battery, I would think there would be more issues than just a shutdown/restart failure.  However, when I have the time, I will look into replacing the battery, since it is getting on in years.

     

    I did take a look at the Console log and found a number of interesting/strange things.  Most, I think, are not related to this problem.  One may be, since it involves packages:

      PackageKit: *** Missing bundle identifier: /Library/Receipts/Office2008_en_word.pkg

    There are 36 more with the same basic message, but different MS Word related files.

     

    If anyone can tell me what to do about this, I'll try it out and see if it changes anything.

     

    Other messages that I saw and that may be related (removed date/time to shorten lines):

     

    com.apple.launchd[1]    (com.apple.SystemStarter) Failed to count the number of files in "/System/Library/StartupItems": No such file or directory

      Repeated 36 times at least.

    These may or may not be related:

     

    com.apple.launchd[1]    (com.apple.xprotectupdater[32]) Exited with exit code: 252

    com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[93]    (com.apple.ReportCrash) Falling back to default Mach exception handler. Could not find: com.apple.ReportCrash.Self

    com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[93]    (com.apple.Kerberos.renew.plist[120]) Exited with exit code: 1

    com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[93]    (com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-@me.com-SharedServices[124]) Exited with exit code: 1

    com.apple.Finder[99]    module initializer in main thread?: 1

  • by ramjr0516,

    ramjr0516 ramjr0516 May 19, 2015 10:45 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 19, 2015 10:45 PM in response to lllaass

    I have booted from the install CD and run both the permissions check and the disk fix.  There were no issues with the disk, but there quite a few permissions issues, which were fixed.

     

    I still need to look into the other things mentioned, particularly the diagnostics.

     

    Thanks.

  • by ramjr0516,

    ramjr0516 ramjr0516 May 21, 2015 5:36 PM in response to ramjr0516
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 21, 2015 5:36 PM in response to ramjr0516

    I could not find diagnostics anywhere.  I tried downloading third party diagnostic tools, but the ones I tried did not change anything.

     

    I have decided my best course of action may be to purchase an install DVD, backup the system, and install from scratch.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass May 22, 2015 1:55 AM in response to ramjr0516
    Level 10 (190,740 points)
    Apple Watch
    May 22, 2015 1:55 AM in response to ramjr0516

    You can purchase a SL install DVD here:

    http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard