So much for "plug and play"
February 2, 2006 3:08 PM Subscribe
Help! My new Mac Mini refuses to start!
It was the local CompuSmart's last Mac Mini, their demo model. They formatted the hard drive and reinstalled Tiger before they sent me home with it.
On its first boot at home, it hung on the first screen it displayed, the grey Apple logo on a white background. There was no progress indicator, and no sound coming from the unit other than its fan, so I rebooted with the OSX setup CD in.
This time I got a grey screen immediately upon reset, in the centre of which was a purple folder; flashing on the folder were a Picasso-esque face (the Finder icon?) and a question mark. I cannot eject the CD from the drive: the keyboard is unresponsive, as is holding down the mouse button during a reset as per the manual.
1) What on earth is wrong with my Mac? Is it something I can fix myself?
2) Can I take this to an Apple Store for service, or do I have to go back to CompuSmart? (They broke my computer and lied to me about the wireless router I also purchased; I'd rather not.)
I'd call AppleCare, but their hours of operation and my work schedule are badly misaligned. Until I can, your advice, suggestions, and diagnoses would be much appreciated. Thanks.
It was the local CompuSmart's last Mac Mini, their demo model. They formatted the hard drive and reinstalled Tiger before they sent me home with it.
On its first boot at home, it hung on the first screen it displayed, the grey Apple logo on a white background. There was no progress indicator, and no sound coming from the unit other than its fan, so I rebooted with the OSX setup CD in.
This time I got a grey screen immediately upon reset, in the centre of which was a purple folder; flashing on the folder were a Picasso-esque face (the Finder icon?) and a question mark. I cannot eject the CD from the drive: the keyboard is unresponsive, as is holding down the mouse button during a reset as per the manual.
1) What on earth is wrong with my Mac? Is it something I can fix myself?
2) Can I take this to an Apple Store for service, or do I have to go back to CompuSmart? (They broke my computer and lied to me about the wireless router I also purchased; I'd rather not.)
I'd call AppleCare, but their hours of operation and my work schedule are badly misaligned. Until I can, your advice, suggestions, and diagnoses would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Best answer: oh, it was their demo model. So the Apple Store probably won't touch it. Go to CS and get your money back.
posted by unSane at 3:18 PM on February 2, 2006
posted by unSane at 3:18 PM on February 2, 2006
1) The folder icon you're getting means that your Mini is having trouble finding or starting from a Mac OS system folder. It could be that the restore they did wasn't working, or didn't finish properly.
Try holding down C immediately after you switch the Mini on, until the whirling circle of bars graphic appears on the screen. This instructs your Mini to boot from the CD.
Once booted to your Restore Disc, go to the Installer menu in the top left, when it appears, and go into Disk Utility. From here, you can format the Mini's hard disk, preferably using the option that allows you to format to zeros (writing zero to each sector of the disc) to eliminate any data-level errors on the disc. Once it's formatted (zeroing will take some time), quit the Disk Utility and continue using the Installer to restore your Mini's software.
If, once you've done all that and restored the software from the Restore Disc, you get the same hang, I'd wager that it's a problem with the hard disk itself. Warrany time.
2) Your AppleCare warrany covers you for a year from date of purchase. However, because your Mac is a display model, it may not be valid. Call Apple to find out.
If you take it back to CompuSmart who, with a name like that, sound like a bunch of fetid PC users, will try (fail) to repair it themselves, then either send it back to Apple on your behalf (if it's still covered) or just refund you.
I used to sell and repair Macs for a living, and still find myself doing it today. If you get stuck, my email's and IM's are in my profile.
Good luck!
posted by armoured-ant at 3:25 PM on February 2, 2006
Try holding down C immediately after you switch the Mini on, until the whirling circle of bars graphic appears on the screen. This instructs your Mini to boot from the CD.
Once booted to your Restore Disc, go to the Installer menu in the top left, when it appears, and go into Disk Utility. From here, you can format the Mini's hard disk, preferably using the option that allows you to format to zeros (writing zero to each sector of the disc) to eliminate any data-level errors on the disc. Once it's formatted (zeroing will take some time), quit the Disk Utility and continue using the Installer to restore your Mini's software.
If, once you've done all that and restored the software from the Restore Disc, you get the same hang, I'd wager that it's a problem with the hard disk itself. Warrany time.
2) Your AppleCare warrany covers you for a year from date of purchase. However, because your Mac is a display model, it may not be valid. Call Apple to find out.
If you take it back to CompuSmart who, with a name like that, sound like a bunch of fetid PC users, will try (fail) to repair it themselves, then either send it back to Apple on your behalf (if it's still covered) or just refund you.
I used to sell and repair Macs for a living, and still find myself doing it today. If you get stuck, my email's and IM's are in my profile.
Good luck!
posted by armoured-ant at 3:25 PM on February 2, 2006
Sounds like they screwed something up and didn't bother telling you about it. You might try starting up with the OS X CD inserted, while holding down the "C" key. That should force it to start from the CD—if it can't do that, there's something wrong with your hardware or your disc, or both.
posted by designbot at 3:27 PM on February 2, 2006
posted by designbot at 3:27 PM on February 2, 2006
Addendum:
i) If holding down the mouse button while booting up isn't ejecting your restore CD, try holding down the eject button instead, or both. I've had different results depending on hardware versions.
ii) Apple delimit unregistered Macs' warranties by serial number, estimating that a Mac will be sold x number of months after the date of manufacture. Once you're in contact with Apple, you would not be lying to tell them that you bought a clearance model (rather than a display model). They may ask for a copy of your receipt to verify purchase date. As long as this isn't marked 'B-Stock' or 'Ex-Display', you could get it repaired under warranty, for free. You have nothing to lose.
posted by armoured-ant at 3:30 PM on February 2, 2006
i) If holding down the mouse button while booting up isn't ejecting your restore CD, try holding down the eject button instead, or both. I've had different results depending on hardware versions.
ii) Apple delimit unregistered Macs' warranties by serial number, estimating that a Mac will be sold x number of months after the date of manufacture. Once you're in contact with Apple, you would not be lying to tell them that you bought a clearance model (rather than a display model). They may ask for a copy of your receipt to verify purchase date. As long as this isn't marked 'B-Stock' or 'Ex-Display', you could get it repaired under warranty, for free. You have nothing to lose.
posted by armoured-ant at 3:30 PM on February 2, 2006
The only thing I can imagine that might be wrong (that you could fix) was an unformatted drive. Did you hold down 'C' during start up to try and make it boot from CD? If not, try that with your Tiger install DVD. You can also hold down the "Option" key to get a list of boot devices.
If neither of those get you to a CD boot that allows you to install OS X, the machine is broken and should go back.
So the only way it's not hardware is if they lied about installing OS X on the drive.
posted by teece at 3:31 PM on February 2, 2006
If neither of those get you to a CD boot that allows you to install OS X, the machine is broken and should go back.
So the only way it's not hardware is if they lied about installing OS X on the drive.
posted by teece at 3:31 PM on February 2, 2006
On the right side of Apple's support page is a coverage checker; all you need is the serial number. Using it may shed some light on the best route to go.
posted by Remy at 4:02 PM on February 2, 2006
posted by Remy at 4:02 PM on February 2, 2006
If the "c" trick doesn't work, something that might is the PMU reset.
Shut the machine down by holding down the power button for 10 seconds. Unplug the machine for at least 10 seconds. Hold down the power button and plug it back in. Then release press the power button as usual.
posted by adamrice at 4:33 PM on February 2, 2006
Shut the machine down by holding down the power button for 10 seconds. Unplug the machine for at least 10 seconds. Hold down the power button and plug it back in. Then release press the power button as usual.
posted by adamrice at 4:33 PM on February 2, 2006
Best answer: Oh, and after all this...don't buy a floor model of anything.
posted by Chuck Cheeze at 4:56 PM on February 2, 2006
posted by Chuck Cheeze at 4:56 PM on February 2, 2006
Response by poster: Holding down "C" didn't boot from CD. None of the (very kind) suggestions here worked, actually. So I took it back to CompuSmart, got my refund, filed a complaint with the manager, and took my money to the Apple Store, where I walked out with an identical unit—which is what I'm typing this on. Thank you all.
posted by S.C. at 7:35 PM on February 2, 2006
posted by S.C. at 7:35 PM on February 2, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by unSane at 3:17 PM on February 2, 2006