thbod
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Mac mini starts only once

Hi,

 

I have an old Mac Mini from 2006 with the following config : 1,66Ghz Intel Core Duo, running Snow Leopard 10.6

 

Since a few months, it runs only one time. I explain. If I shut it down, when restarting, I have the blue screen with the grey wheel. I tried a lot of things : disk utilities, change the hard drive, fsck, verbose, single user, ...

I also thought it was something wrong with the last update of 10.6 so I didn't upgrade it but no, same problem

 

The only solution working it to each time reinstall Snow Leopard 10.6 from an external drive, then it works perfectly ... until next shut down.

 

Does anybody have any idea on how to find (and solve) this problem ?

 

Thanks a lot !

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Sep 25, 2016 4:28 AM

by Drew Reece,Apple recommended
Drew Reece Drew Reece
Level 5 (7,793 points)
Notebooks
A:

If you reinstalled via the Apple installer the new disk should be OK. Sometimes people can have funny ideas about 'reinstalling' that do not mean what we assume it means . You may also want to test with no third party applications installed if you reinstalled any.

 

Also consider that things like SATA cables can fail, causing odd read/ write errors. To rule that out you may need to boot from an external disk (unmount the internal after it boots or remove it when testing from the external).

 

Run AHT in extended & normal mode. Also enable the loop feature (cmd+L) to put the Mac through many cycles. Some errors only show up after the Mac warms up. Just note any error codes that appear. There is no official Apple docs on the codes, so you may have to search if any appear.

Posted on Sep 26, 2016 12:18 PM

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thbod

Q: Mac mini starts only once

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 25, 2016 12:46 PM in response to thbod
    Level 10 (123,860 points)
    Sep 25, 2016 12:46 PM in response to thbod

    Sounds like something is corrupting some files whilst running, RAM? HDD?

     

      1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.

       2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at the top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)

          *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*

       3. Click the Erase tab.

       4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.

       5. Select your Mac OS X volume.

       6. Highlight the drive, select Partition Tab, then Format type... MacOS Extended Journalled, select the Security Options button, choose Zero Out Data, Erase, one pass... after completion hopefully you'll be able to get a good install.

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Sep 25, 2016 1:01 PM in response to thbod
    Level 5 (7,793 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 25, 2016 1:01 PM in response to thbod

    How are you reinstalling from the external drive?

    If the external is bootable & has a full OS does the Mini run OK from that & shutdowns correctly?

     

    Is the installation you restore 'clean' or does it have other third party software installed & setup?

     

    Do you have the original grey install disks? One of the disks have Apple Hardware Test instructions printed in tiny text on one disk (probably hold D on startup with disk inserted). That can be used to check the RAM & hardware are general as they should be. Otherwise try rember to check just the RAM.

    Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support

    http://www.kelleycomputing.net/rember/

     

    You could also try safe mode to see if the Mac starts & shuts down correctly without third party extensions running. Just bear in mind that many features will be disabled & performance can be poor…

    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple ...

  • by thbod,

    thbod thbod Sep 26, 2016 12:01 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 26, 2016 12:01 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Thank you both for your answers.

     

    Concerning the full erase with 0, I think it would have been a great idea if I didn't change the hard drive already, what do you think. I started from nothing, didn't restore any backup on this hard drive so ...

     

    I think it is more an hardware issue, maybe RAM or something else ... I'll try to find the grey disc and start on it to run an apple hardware test.

  • by Drew Reece,Apple recommended

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Sep 26, 2016 12:18 PM in response to thbod
    Level 5 (7,793 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 26, 2016 12:18 PM in response to thbod

    If you reinstalled via the Apple installer the new disk should be OK. Sometimes people can have funny ideas about 'reinstalling' that do not mean what we assume it means . You may also want to test with no third party applications installed if you reinstalled any.

     

    Also consider that things like SATA cables can fail, causing odd read/ write errors. To rule that out you may need to boot from an external disk (unmount the internal after it boots or remove it when testing from the external).

     

    Run AHT in extended & normal mode. Also enable the loop feature (cmd+L) to put the Mac through many cycles. Some errors only show up after the Mac warms up. Just note any error codes that appear. There is no official Apple docs on the codes, so you may have to search if any appear.