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User profile for user: Leidon
Leidon Author
User level: Level 1
145 points

Yikes! My mac mini is displaying pixel botches on screen.

Yikes! My mac mini is acting strange. Pixel blotches of color across the screen and making a buzzing noise. This happens randomly. I have taken a photo of what is going on on my screen (Benq).


Not sure this is the right discussion group to put this in.


I ran hardware test the other day, and it showed everything was fine. I have however added memory about a month ago.


Not sure what else to check. Is it the computer or the monitor? I did find the console that shows my system message, but not sure what to look for or which log I should look at. I saved the log from today (which the recent weird activity took place around 11 am.)


When this weird stuff happens, I shut it down and restart. Sometimes it may not happen right away, sometimes its several days later. It does not matter what I"m doing for it to happen. I have been online searching, I have been on facebook, I have been in Photoshop, I have been making an imovie.


If I can figure out how to post the photo of what showed up, I will.


My Imac is:

Mid 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Core i5

Intel HD GHraphics 3000 384 MB

OS X Lion 10.7.5


I'm going to work so I will check back in late tonight when I get home. Hopefully someone can help. Thanks so much.

User uploaded fileUser uploaded file

Posted on Oct 6, 2015 11:26 AM

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16 replies
User profile for user: K Shaffer
K Shaffer
User level: Level 7
34,984 points

Feb 25, 2016 10:14 PM in response to Leidon

You can access a computer as an external hard drive if the unit

can start up in Target Disk Mode and be seen by the healthy Mac

who would be the host. The ailing Mac is seen as a Hard drive.


The connection may be a simple USB, however adapters to use

other ports (Thunderbolt, FW, USB, etc) may work. In my oldest

PPC Macs, the FireWire port was the better choice when available

if not the only choice due to limitations in earlier USB speed.


Not sure if this helps, with newer Macs; temporary at best I'd wager:

• How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode - Apple Support

• Intel-based Mac may become unresponsive in target disk mode


You'd probably do better to get an external enclosure for the HDD

and move it from the Mini... Or just get a fairly good self-powered

backup external storage drive from a reputable vendor such as

OWC macsales for more versatile to use w/ Macs. Example:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB


Perhaps there are reman parts available, an alternative known to those

whose business is to repair boards. Maybe inquire of wegenermedia.com?


An option, consider donating the Mini to science; or sell via craigslist ad

as a running parts machine, so as to not get repercussions...


Good luck 🙂

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Yikes! My mac mini is displaying pixel botches on screen.

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