Mac Mini won't boot after chime

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Level 1

45 points

Mac Mini won't boot after chime

When I power the late-2012 Mini on, I hear the chime, then . . . nothing. I've tried booting with CMD-R to get to Recovery, CMD-Option-R and Shift-CMD-Option-R to get to Internet Recovery, and Option to get to startup manager (even if I could get to Startup Manager, I have no external disk with macOS installed). With all of those keyboard options, the screen flashes "Entering Standby" and goes black.

The keyboard is the Apple bluetooth model that came with the machine. Batteries are new. The computer was functioning perfectly normally on its most recent previous boot.

Would this total failure to boot into normal mode or ANY optional mode suggest that the motherboard is faulty?

iMac with Retina 5K display, macOS High Sierra (10.13.5)

Posted on Jun 23, 2018 9:35 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Tesserax

Level 10

158,202 points

Jun 23, 2018 11:02 AM in response to milleron

Please try the following, in order. Stop at the step where the issue is resolved:

Reset your Mac's SMC.
- Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac- Apple Support
- Fans, keyboard backlight, status indicator, battery indicator, display backlight, power button, close/open the lid, sleep or shut down, battery doesn't charge, MagSafe indicator light incorrect status.
- Hold down the <shift><control><option> keys, and then, press the power button. Hold all of them for, at least, 10 seconds.
Reset your Mac's NVRAM or PRAM.
- How to reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
- Resets sound volume, display resolution, startup-disk selection, time zone, & kernel panic information.
- <option><command><P><R>
Boot up your Mac in Safe Mode.
Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up- Apple Support
Boot up your Mac in Recovery or Internet Recovery Mode.
- About macOS Recovery- Apple Support
- When at the initial Recovery Mode screen, select the Disk Utility option.
- Run Disk Utility > First Aid to verify the startup disk's integrity.
Run the Apple Hardware Test (AHT) to uncover any hardware issues with your Mac.
- Use Apple Diagnostics or Apple Hardware Test- Apple Support
- About the "Apple Hardware Test does not support this machine" message- Apple Support
- How to Use Apple Hardware Test to Diagnose Mac Problems- OSXDaily
Make a Genius Bar appointment at your local Apple Store.
- Check Your Service and Support Coverage- Apple Support
- For getting the right support, here's a genius idea- Apple
- To contact Apple Support directly.
- You can only make 1-week ahead appointments either via the web link above or AppleCare phone support. The appointment timeframe is longer if you go in-person to an Apple Store.

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Answer 2

Tesserax

Level 10

158,202 points

Jun 24, 2018 9:59 AM in response to milleron

Do you have a USB keyboard handy that you can try instead of your Bluetooth one? If so, then you could go through the steps I provided to see if they can help you resolve your mini's boot up issues.

Optionally, since you configured this mini to boot up without user input, you could try using either the Screen Sharing or Remote Management options to access it ... if you previously configured the desktop for either for just this scenario where you cannot use a keyboard.

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Answer 3

milleron Author

Level 1

45 points

Jun 24, 2018 9:40 AM in response to Tesserax

I can't do any of that, other than disconnect temporarily from external power which I've already done, because my Mini won't accept any Bluetooth keyboard input. Perhaps you should read posts before replying to them with boilerplate answers? Just a thought. If you are a bot, then I apologize.

I'm getting a USB keyboard today, but I don't expect it to help because this Mini is set to boot completely without any user input, and it doesn't give a display on a DP-attached monitor or on the home network.

Again, I'd ask if anyone more knowledgable than I would either attribute this failure to boot to any environment (Recovery, Safe, Diagnostic) to a motherboard-component failure OR be able to think of an alternative explanation. I ask because if that's clearly the answer, I won't bother with the long trip to the Genius Bar (the computer is too old to make a motherboard replacement a viable option).

Thanks

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Answer 4

milleron Author

Level 1

45 points

Jun 24, 2018 12:55 PM in response to Tesserax

My reply indicates that I'm getting a USB keyboard today.

I cannot use screen sharing because my Mini will not boot, and as I wrote it does not show up on my home network.

Once more, do you even read what posters wrote before entering your answers?

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Answer 5

Tesserax

Level 10

158,202 points

Jun 24, 2018 1:05 PM in response to milleron

Once more, do you even read what posters wrote before entering your answers?

I do, and I did for all of your posts. I try to provide the best options available based on what is posted as I can only go on what is provided by the OP. I'm sorry that you feel that I haven't given your issues the proper review or that my offering are not useful for you. You are not talking directly to Apple representatives here. As you should know we are all fellow Apple-product users, like yourself and some of us volunteer our time to try to help. It's up to you to use what is being suggested or you can certainly opt to pay Apple instead for dedicated support. Good luck!

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Answer 6

milleron Author

Level 1

45 points

Jun 25, 2018 6:12 AM in response to Tesserax

Tesserax, I must believe you when you said you read the questions, but it's not at all apparent that you do because you go ahead and make a lot of suggestions (actually most of them) that have very clearly been rendered inappropriate by details in the original post. It just seems like it would save you a lot of time and effort to reply to the possibilities that remain rather than all the possibilities that have already been completely ruled out by the OP. I do realize that I am not corresponding with Apple and that people who do respond in this forum are volunteers and fellow users like me. This ain't my first rodeo, so to speak, but the folks who give answers have at least some obligation to make them thoughtful and to the point. Otherwise, they're not helpful, just "wasting bandwidth." Case in point: why ask if I have a USB keyboard when I've just explained that I was obtaining one that day? Why suggest screen sharing when I've clearly explained that my Mini is not seen on the home network? Does that indicate that you read the questions or are you just so interested in making thousands of responses that you no longer have the time?

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Mac Mini won't boot after chime

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