Mac Mini crashes, won't restart...

[njgnjg]

System: Mac Mini 1.25 GHz, 256 MB, OS 10.3.9. About 16 months old.

Peripherals: LaCie Mini external HD, Brother HL-2040 laser printer, GNet BB0060 ADSL modem.

Problem:

1. System crashes (i.e., cursor won't move, can't relaunch Finder, can't shut down or restart, must force shutdown with on/off button) after an hour or two (some less). Will not restart right away, but have to wait several hours.

When I try to restart, I get a grey screen (no Apple logo or whirling thingy), and nothing happens.

I've tried: not much, cos I'm not very nerdish, but I have tried zapping PRAM. I've also tried diagnosing with Norton Utilities, but only get a message that I have a "major problem" that should needs me to run the emergency disk. Which brings me to problem 2.

2. The CD drive isn't working--i.e., when I offer it a CD, it doesn't pull it in. (I don't have the emergency disk anymore, in any case.) This also means I can't reload the system software, which is my best guess at the solution to the problem.

So a few questions, plus one bottom line question:

1. Why the crashing?
2. What solutions can I try, before reloading the system?
3. What is the problem with the CD drive? Is it related or unrelated to the crashing problem?
4. Possible solutions to the CD drive problem?

And the botton line: How can I reload the *&*#%! system software if the CD drive isn't working?!

Thank you, a million times.

Nick

 

[powermac]

Without the orignal CD/DVD install disk, I am afraid most of your available tools to diagnose are hindered.

1. Why the crashing?
Disconnect the printer, external HD, and modem from the computer. Also, if you are comfortable with it, check to see if anything is lose inside your Mini, for example, airport card, memory chips, and you CD drive & HD cables. If you have added any memory yourself since you purchased the system, remove those as well. In short, return the system as it came from the factory.

2. What solutions can I try, before reloading the system?
You could try this:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

These are things you could try before bringing the Mini in for a tech to take a look at.

 

[eric2006]

You're out of warranty, (unless you bought AppleCare) so you'll have to pay for the repairs yourself. A similar problem required a new HD and logic board. Getting it repaired by Apple will cost about as much as a mini. You can bring it in to the "Genius" or AASP and they will probably be able to diagnose the bad part. From there, you could look for a deal on the broken part (eBay..), or sell the mini for parts/repair (eBay) and buy a new one (eBay / Apple Certified Refurbished).