Vnimam
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Bricked MacMini after Windows 10 Upgrade overwrote Bootcamp

I foolishly agreed to allow Microsoft to update my Windows 7 OS on my bootcamp'ed MacMini. Well, as you can guess, it aggressively destroyed the bootcamp partition, and now receive the ""No Bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key" prompt on boot. OK, I'm savvy enough to understand that it trashed my bootcamp and that I should have upgraded through bootcamp, and not just blindly trust Microsoft to do the right thing. Shame on me (trust me, I am feeling it).

 

The problem is, and what I need help with, is that it appears to have thoroughly bricked my macMini.

 

  • The Mac Mini is not showing any ability to start into Internet Recovery mode by holding down Command R or Command Option R.
  • By using my old OS X Snow Leopard Install DVD, I can boot into the system recovery mode, but when running the Disk Utility, it hangs while trying to determine the current disks/partitions. Whatever Win10 did to the partition forces it to hang in the Mac Disk Utility.
  • Alright, I'll just wipe everything and reinstall MacOS. Alas, no - no disks are appearing as available for installation when attempting to reinstall.
  • OK, I moved back to Windows 7 and booted into its DVD recovery disk. When attempting a system repair, I could see a 30MB X: drive (presumably the small stub partition for BootCamp), but it was otherwise unusable and no other partitions could be found.
  • OK, scrap everything and reinstall Windows 7... well, again it shows only one Disk, with 0 MB free size and space.
  • And for the record, the disk is in fine shape and has never shown signs of aging or failure.

 

At this point I am stuck - whatever Windows 10 upgrade did to the disk successfully made it unrecognizable to Windows 7 and Mac OS X alike. My MacMini is now bricked. Does anyone have ideas on where to go next?

 

A Huge thanks to those who respond. - Vnimam

Mac mini (Mid 2010), Other OS

Posted on Sep 16, 2015 11:49 AM

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Q: Bricked MacMini after Windows 10 Upgrade overwrote Bootcamp

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  • Helpful answers

  • by chattphotos,

    chattphotos chattphotos Sep 16, 2015 12:24 PM in response to Vnimam
    Level 4 (2,417 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 16, 2015 12:24 PM in response to Vnimam

    Have you tried holding the option key at power-on to see if you can choose a partition to boot from?

    Target disk mode to another Mac for retrieving your data?

     

    If nothing shows, I would chalk it up to a hard drive failure (bad sectors usually cause this issue)

     

    I am experienced with data recovery should you need any assistance.

     

    I would also recommend upgrading to an OWC or Crucial SSD for a performance boost.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Sep 16, 2015 12:25 PM in response to Vnimam
    Level 10 (188,027 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 16, 2015 12:25 PM in response to Vnimam

    Do you have another Mac?

    Did you previously update the firmware for Internet Recovery?

    Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery - Apple Support

    If not then no Internet Recovery

     

    You can connect an external USB drive and try installing OSX on that and then see if that installation can "fix" the internal disk.

  • by Vnimam,

    Vnimam Vnimam Sep 16, 2015 3:18 PM in response to chattphotos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 16, 2015 3:18 PM in response to chattphotos

    Chattphotos - I appreciate your willingness to help. To your questions:

     

    • Holding down the option key only gives a small prompt for a network SSID (and after joining does do anything further). It does not show any drives above, unless I boot with the OS X Install DVD.
    • The Target disk mode just passes to the "No Bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key" prompt

     

    I agree it appears that the drive is just completely appearing to be dead, but it is curious that the Win10 installation is what killed it. Up until then it has been great and never shown errors, even during my frequent scans.

     

    My next step after reflection will be to create a Win10 Recovery disk and see if that will recognize the drive. The Win7 recovery disk does not recognize it after the Win10 upgrade, including in diskpart.exe. If that also fails to recognize it, then alas, time to replace the drive and start completely from scratch.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 16, 2015 3:24 PM in response to Vnimam
    Level 7 (23,633 points)
    Safari
    Sep 16, 2015 3:24 PM in response to Vnimam

    Your 2010 MacMini is not officially supported on W10 according to Use Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp - Apple Support .

     

    Mac computers that support Windows 10

     

    The following Mac models support 64-bit versions of Windows 10 when installed using Boot Camp. Use About This Mac to see which Mac you have, then check this list to see if it supports Windows 10.

    • MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
    • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
    • MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
    • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014)
    • MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)
    • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)
    • MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013)
    • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013)
    • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012)
    • MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012)
    • MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)
    • MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
    • MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)
    • MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)
    • MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014)
    • MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014)
    • MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013)
    • MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013)
    • MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012)
    • MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2012)
    • MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
    • iMac (Retina 5k, 27-inch, Mid 2015)
    • iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)
    • iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014)
    • iMac (27-inch, Late 2013)
    • iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)
    • iMac (27-inch, Late 2012)
    • iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012)
    • Mac mini (Late 2014)
    • Mac mini Server (Late 2012)
    • Mac mini (Late 2012)
    • Mac Pro (Late 2013)

  • by Vnimam,

    Vnimam Vnimam Sep 16, 2015 3:27 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 16, 2015 3:27 PM in response to lllaass

    lllaass - Also really appreciate your help.

     

    I do have another Mac (I've got 4 PCs and 3 Macs) - although MacBook Pro. All macs are running Bootcamp. Were you thinking something here?

     

    On the Internet Recovery - nope, I've never updated the firmware. To be honest, after installing bootcamp 4 years ago on the MacMini, I forgot about it and always booted into Windows (hence my stupidity in just allowing Win10 to upgrade itself without first thinking of bootcamp).

     

    Unfortunately, without a bootable MacMini, I can't figure out a way to upgrade the EFI BIOS referenced in the link you provided (thanks)

     

    After I try to force a recovery disk through Win10, though, I'll definitely pursue your suggestion of using an external USB drive to hold a OS X installation. Hopefully that will get through the Disk Utility hang up to find the disk again. Great Suggestion.

     

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Sep 16, 2015 3:33 PM in response to Vnimam
    Level 10 (188,027 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 16, 2015 3:33 PM in response to Vnimam

    On the other other Mac download the OSX installer for the OS version that was on the problem Mac. Make a bootable USB install media using

    DiskMaker X

    The try booting from that USB media and see if it can find the internal disk.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 16, 2015 3:39 PM in response to Vnimam
    Level 7 (23,633 points)
    Safari
    Sep 16, 2015 3:39 PM in response to Vnimam

    On a 2010 Mac W7 is installed using a Hybrid MBR. W10 upgrade writes EFI information to Macs during the upgrade in the EFI partition of the Mac. There are a few cases of Microsoft EFI causing problems for Apple EFI which renders a Mac almost useless.

     

    Have you tried a SMC Reset/NVRAM Reset?

  • by Vnimam,

    Vnimam Vnimam Oct 7, 2015 9:59 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 9:59 AM in response to Loner T

    Finally had a chance to return to this issue, after getting the necessary stuff to make a Win10 recovery disk.

     

    Alas, though, the Win10 recovery disk had no better luck finding the main drive anymore - it shows up as existing inside diskpart but with 0GB available/total. No partitions can be found.

     

    ALso successfully zapped the NVRAM and did a SMC reset. Besides now giving me a flashing folder with a question mark (didn't before), all other symptoms are the same, and no change in the disk being visible.

     

    With this, I'm going to have to resign to the obvious that the Win10 upgrade over boot camp bricked the disk. My next step is to purchase and install a new drive, after which I'll attempt to install a fresh Mac OS to it. If I'm not successful, I'll respond on this thread for others to know (Can't imagine it failing that bad).

     

    All of the responses were very helpful - I wish I could mark them all as correct.

     

    For anyone out there, beware of Win10 upgrades without going through a boot camp endorsed method.