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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Mac Mini Boot Problem

gsharkeysj - Aug 8, 2005 - 11:07 am

I am using a new Mac Mini running Mac OS X Tiger. While using an Epsonn scanner via Firewire, myt screen froze. Usual 'force quit' procedures failed. I shut off the box (only option at that point). None of the solutions recommended by Apple work.

I cannot get the system to boot from the original CD, for example. If I try starting while pressing the option key, I get a blue screen with a back button and a 'continue' button, but I do not get the promised choice of start-up disks to choose from.

[NB: I have a faulty but manageable G4 Powerbook running Mac OS 9.1. (dead screen, I use an old PC monitor)]

I have a Maxtor One-Touch 160 GB external HD. that I just hooke dup a few days ago. I loaded the Mac OS X and OS 9 fCDs that cam ewith my Mini onto this. But I don't think I succeeded in making a 'bootable' HD.

Any suggestions? I'm ready to weep.

Note: I am writing from Kathmandu Nepal. The authroized service dealers here destroyed my G4 screen while trying to make a minor repair. Oops. Tough luck. So please don't refer me to the Apple Store.

DeltaMac - Aug 8, 2005 - 11:15 am

What is the result if you boot (with the OS X installer disk in the drive) while holding the letter 'C' ? This process should boot from the disk, and get to the installer screens.
If you can get to the installer - click on the Utilities menu, and choose Disk Utility. Select your hard drive volume, and click on repair disk.

If you get your system running again - be sure to try the Epson web site for possible updates to your scanner software. Even a brand-new one may have updates to download. Tiger is so recent, that some hardware companies are still catching up.
Let me know how it goes
- Dale

gsharkeysj - Aug 8, 2005 - 9:36 pm

Dale,

Thanks. I suspect you are right about the scanner driver problem. I had read that USB works fine, but the firewire update isn't ready. (I remembered reading this when the problem arose, Sigh....)

Neither the 'c' key nor the option key trick works. I am even having trouble putting the Mac Mini into target disk mode.

Greg

DeltaMac - Aug 8, 2005 - 10:03 pm

What happens when you hold the Option key after pressing power?

try Open Firmware -hold Option-apple-o-f (that's the letters oh and eff)
You should get dark text on a light grey screen.
Type reset-nvram, then press enter - you should get an 'ok'
then Type reset-all, and press enter, Your system should reboot.

Hold the Option key, and you should get the boot option screen.
Or, if your OS X install CD is in the drive, hold the 'C' and that should boot.

Hope this helps you...
- Dale

gsharkeysj - Aug 10, 2005 - 12:19 am

Thanks again. When I hold down the 'c' key, I end up with a blue screen that contains two buttons. The one on the left apparently a 'back' button (curled arrow), the one on the right a 'continue' button (straight arrow pointing right). When the screen first appears there is a wristwatch icon/cursor that responds to the mouse for a few -- while the watch hand spins. When the hand stops, the mouse can no longer move the icon. There is nothing else on the blue screen (e.g., the promised choice of start-up disks).

Thie same occurs even after following the open firmware sequence you oultined. (The reset nvram procedure worked up to the blue screen.)

DeltaMac - Aug 10, 2005 - 8:15 pm

I think your hard drive has failed...

Are you using a non-Apple keybard? You should only be able to see the option-boot screen when using the Option key to boot. The C key should do nothing like that, it simply forces a CD with booting software to boot. This assumes that you are using a bootable CD that will boot your Mac mini. Are you trying to use the installer disk that shipped with the Mac mini - or a different disk (maybe from another Mac)?

- Dale