User profile for user: S.A_
S.A_ Author
User level: Level 1
40 points

Mac mini stuck on boot

Mac Mini fails to start up on MacOS Sierra on whatever mode, recovery, safe, normal - all not working. Stuck on boot screen with progress bar full. Photo at the bottom (created in Pixelmator).


I have ordered a Mac Mini 2 days ago (22nd March) and it has arrived. After setting it up, I used my Windows 10 Disk to use the computer on Windows. Then I rebooted it several times and even plugged it out and back in to restart Windows when it crashes. I disconnected the drive and tried to boot it up from MacOS, but I had a weird error saying 'No bootable device -- Please connect a bootable device'. It turned out that the Mac was trying to load from Windows, which was disconnected. After restarting with ALT pressed down, I chose MacOS (the only disk) from the menu and started. The bar was going slower than when I first started it. I went away and when I came back the Mac was still loading. The bar was full, but it never went showed the login screen. I tried to restart the computer in Recovery mode (MacOS Utilities) and Safe mode, and I ended with the same result. I tried using my laptop to connect via SSH (ssh user@XXX.XXX.X.XXX) with my username and password, but I kept getting an error 'Connection refused'. The computer boots up from the Windows 10 disk (Windows 10 Workspace, also known as Windows to Go), but it never starts up properly from MacOS. I can't restore it: 1. I don't have an Installation DVD, Mac was shipped from the Apple Store. 2. Even if I had an Installation DVD, I couldn't put it in, there is no CD/DVD-ROM.


Please, can someone help, as I am planning to make a server out of the Mac! Picture:User uploaded file

Mac mini (Late 2014), macOS Sierra (10.12.3), No DVD/CD Drive.

Posted on Mar 24, 2017 10:16 AM

Reply
8 replies
User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
158,172 points

Mar 24, 2017 1:10 PM in response to S.A_

Mac Mini fails to start up on MacOS Sierra on whatever mode, recovery, safe, normal - all not working. Stuck on boot screen with progress bar full.

During the boot up process where the screen with the Apple Logo and Progress Indictor are displayed, your Mac just successfully located the System Folder on its startup disk. The bar indicates the progress of your Mac reading files from this folder. If all is successful in doing so, your Mac will progress to the Login Window.


... so in your case, something is either missing or corrupted in this folder that is preventing your Mac from getting to the Login Window screen.

I have ordered a Mac Mini 2 days ago (22nd March) and it has arrived. After setting it up, I used my Windows 10 Disk to use the computer on Windows.

Are you referring to configuring your new mini or the old one here? Regardless, is what you are doing here setting up the mini for BootCamp to run Windows 10? ... or are you saying that you are trying to boot up your Mac with a Windows 10 installation disk?


Since you already tried both Safe and Recovery modes, have you tried Target Disk mode yet since you now have a second Mac? This would allow your new mini to "see" the old mini's drive as an external drive so that you can run the Disk Utility against it.

Reply
User profile for user: S.A_
S.A_ Author
User level: Level 1
40 points

Mar 24, 2017 1:30 PM in response to Tesserax

I only have 1 mac mini. But I do have an iMac.


I can't use Target Disk mode because I don't have a FireWire port on either of the macs.


I wasn't using BootCamp at all. I used a feature in Windows 10 Enterprise, called Windows To Go to create a Windows To Go workspace on my 1TB Seagate drive. The Mac was working before I started the Windows on it just fine. But after trying to go back to go to MacOS, my Mac never wanted to boot up.


I am currently in a process of creating a MacOS Sierra Installation USB (install from USB) and I think that might help.

Reply
User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
158,172 points

Mar 24, 2017 1:54 PM in response to S.A_

I only have 1 mac mini. But I do have an iMac.

Hmm, I must have read the following incorrectly:


"Mac Mini fails to start up on MacOS Sierra on whatever mode, recovery, safe, normal - all not working ...


... I have ordered a Mac Mini 2 days ago (22nd March) and it has arrived."


So, somehow I got that you have two Mac minis from that.

I can't use Target Disk mode because I don't have a FireWire port on either of the macs.

FWIW, the modes also works with Thunderbolt ports. I do know (as I have the same Mac mini model as you) that it comes with two of these ports. It was worth a try anyway.

I wasn't using BootCamp at all. I used a feature in Windows 10 Enterprise, called Windows To Go to create a Windows To Go workspace on my 1TB Seagate drive.

Ah, I see. Great! Thanks, I wasn't aware of this so I will give it a review to get "up to speed" in case it comes up in the future here at the ASC.


What I have gleaned so far is that "Windows To Go workspace that can be booted from a USB-connected external drive on PCs that meet the Windows 7 or later certification requirements, regardless of the operating system running on the PC." However, when selecting the link, only Windows OS's are listed as certified ... so I don't think it was meant to be used for Macs ... but I really don't have much background to support that statement.


The fact that your Mac was working fine BEFORE you used Windows To Go may indicate that my concerns is correct and that it somehow "messed up" your Mac's startup files. It may even have corrupted any partitions, including the recovery one, on your mini.

Reply
User profile for user: S.A_
S.A_ Author
User level: Level 1
40 points

Mar 25, 2017 2:03 AM in response to Tesserax

Thunderbolt? Well, I booted my MacBook in Target Disk Mode, but it's useless since I don't have a thunderbolt cable.


Creating a bootable MacOS Installation USB is useless, too. It gets stuck on full progress bar.

(I used createinstallmedia in terminal)


I am wondering what does the Wi-Fi menu on the 'Select OS' screen actually supposed to do? So far I tried to use it:

1. I picked my Wi-Fi from the menu.

2. I entered the password and hit enter.

3. I get thrown back to the screen and the menu says I am connected to Wi-Fi.

4. Nothing happens.

Is something actually supposed to happen?

Reply
User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
158,172 points

Mar 25, 2017 9:48 AM in response to S.A_

Thunderbolt? Well, I booted my MacBook in Target Disk Mode, but it's useless since I don't have a thunderbolt cable.

Yes, having a Thunderbolt cable would be critical for this to have worked.


Sorry, at this point, I'm not sure what attempting to use Windows To Go may have done to your Mac's system files. I would suggest that you make a Genius Bar appointment at your local Apple Store to have them take a look ... and, hopefully, resolve it for you.

Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Mac mini stuck on boot

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up