Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
I tried to upgrade a Mac mini (Mid 2010) from Yosemite to El Capitan using Screen Sharing (yes, I know...).
The computer cannot boot anymore. I always get the message "Try reinstalling...".
The recovery mode (cmd+r) disk utility cannot repair the disk, the Macintosh HD seems to be unmounted and cannot be mount.
I don't have the mini with me, I trying to fix this mess with a user over the phone...
Mac mini
A major OSX updates stress the HD and cause a marginal HD to fail. That seems to be the case here.
If they have a backup they can try reformatting the HD and then try reinstalling the OS via recovery mode.
Try doing a disk repair on the drive itself, not the Macintosh HD volume
listed under it. It is possible the partition table may have become corrupted.
As for installing using Screen Sharing, FWIW, went well for my 2010 Mini which
I run as a headless server and Screen Sharing is the only way I can access.
The user is telling me that he is not seeing the Macintosh HD volume, only the drive itself.
Repair is not working on the drive nor the mounting.
I have a Time Machine backup of the faulty Mac mini with me, so this is not a big deal if the drive data is lost.
That would indicate either a problem with the disk or its connection to the logic board or maybe a problem with the logic board.
I would start with makigns ure the connections are fulluly connected, included the connection of the cable to the logi board. Next would be to try replacing the disk
I got my hands on the mini and I see the HD and the partition in Disk Utility.
S.O.S. is working on the HD but not on the partition (return code 8).
I cannot delete the HD and the partition. I got the message error "Impossible to unmount the disk".
Did you boot to Recovery?
OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support
You have to do that to repair the startup disk
Did you boot to Recovery?
OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support
You have to do that to repair the startup disk
Yes, I was using the recovery mode.
I have done some progress by using a bootable installer on a USB key with El Capitan.
I have been able to delete the Mac mini physical drive and the partition.
But when I try to install the OS, I get the error "cannot verify or repair the file system, try to reboot"...
That would indicate either a corrupted download or you have a hardware problem with the Mac that is corrupting files.
Try running Apple Hardware test
I tried to boot from a Maverick installation disk to install the OS and got the error "Your hard disk is not journaled".
Started the Disk Utility and tried to run the First Aid. But I'm still unable to do the delete process completely.
Now, I can't go to the Apple Hardware Test, all I got at the start up is a blinking question mark folder.
Can I assume my hard disk is dead and go buy an SSD?
Thank you for your help.
What do you man by "But I'm still unable to do the delete process completely."?
You said "I tried to boot from a Maverick installation disk to install the OS and got the error "Your hard disk is not journaled".
- Are booting from USB install media?
- What happens if you format the startup as journaled?
In the recovery mode, in disk utility, I try to erase (format) the the hd but I get an error before the process is completed.
I have a Mavericks installation CD. There is an internal SuperDrive on the mini.
I'm always using Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for the format.
Last test I did last night was a recovery from internet. In disk utility I see the HD and the partition but I cannot verify the disk, the progress bar doesn't seems to move...
Sorry if sometimes I'm using S.O.S. instead of First Aid, delete instead of erase. My OS is in french and I'm translating the names for the forum.
Finally, I've replaced the HD with a SSD and everything works fine now.
The defective HD is a Seagate. I've placed it in a USB enclosure and the same problems recur.
Thank you all for your help, I've learned some things at the same time.
Mac mini (Mid 2010) Upgrade issues to El Capitan from Yosemite
