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RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 09:38AM
So, the Mojave boot stick I got from Robert worked! My Redragon keyboard worked too - I just hadn’t tapped the MAC/WIN buttons to make it map the keys correctly for a Mac keyboard.

So, I have it booted from the thumb drive and have disk utility open and running, however, I am encountering some spinning wheels in Disk Utility saying “Loading Disks.” I am wondering if it’s trying to make sense of my mini’s damaged drive causing the spinning wheel….? Right now I have it on and running but am letting it sit a while while it tries to load the disks in Disk Utility. Or should I reboot it and do something else? I was hoping that booting off the thumb drive would let me boot into Mojave and then allow me to nuke/pave my mini’s internal drive - then reinstall macOS on the mini and restore/migrate from my last Time Machine backup. Or should I do it a different way? I need a little Forum muscle! Thanks all

EDIT: When I boot from the thumb drive and it shows MacOS Installer, Mac Fusion Drive, Boot Stick can I just choose MacOS installer to have it reinstall the macOS on my mini’s Fusion Drive?

Here are some rough cam shots of the screens I am seeing:













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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2024 09:56AM by Jerry®.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 09:58AM
It’s been “Loading Disks” for almost 30 mins now……what should I do?


img hosting



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Robert M
Date: February 15, 2024 10:09AM
HI everyone,

I think another way of looking at this is to try and prevent the machine from even trying to mount the internal drive. Is there a way to do this upon startup? If so, Jerry could boot to the desktop, power up disk utility, and, while the internal drive is connected but not mounted, nuke it.

Robert
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 10:22AM
Now I’m getting a spinning beach ball outside of Disk Utility:






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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: PeterW
Date: February 15, 2024 11:07AM
Yeah, your internal drive is toast. It is after all 12 years old. What it’s doing is filling the SATA channel with garbage when the computer tries to read from it leading to all the beach balls. Feel competent enough to remove it from your mini because it’s going to have to come out.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Fritz
Date: February 15, 2024 11:13AM
what PeterW writ.

OWC vid for drive replace.



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: fauch
Date: February 15, 2024 11:18AM
Mac OS has always been extremely sensitive to I/O errors. It borks the entire system. The HD may be toast. Maybe you can format it using the command line without having to load disc utility.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 11:24AM
Quote
PeterW
Yeah, your internal drive is toast. It is after all 12 years old. What it’s doing is filling the SATA channel with garbage when the computer tries to read from it leading to all the beach balls. Feel competent enough to remove it from your mini because it’s going to have to come out.


So, it’s currently booted into web recovery mode but if my internal drive is toast even a web internet recovery job wont fix anything - correct? I assume when you say my drive is "toast" that it wont even be able to be nuked and repaved?

What I am mostly worried about is that a LOT of important stuff (almost a TB worth) is sitting in the external drive as a TIme Machine backup and I really dont want to lose all my stuff. So, if I put a new drive into my mini, I should be able to restore from my Time Machine back up - correct?



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 11:28AM
Quote
fauch
Mac OS has always been extremely sensitive to I/O errors. It borks the entire system. The HD may be toast. Maybe you can format it using the command line without having to load disc utility.

So far the only thing it will do is startup in web recovery mode and I am still waiting to see if that eventually fixes it. But as Peter said, my drive is most likely toast which I am assuming means that I can’t even nuke/repave it and need to replace the mini’s drive completely.



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 11:35AM
Can I replace my 2012’s Fusion Drive with a 1TB SSD? If so, can someone link a compatible option?



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Fritz
Date: February 15, 2024 11:41AM
[eshop.macsales.com]



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Robert M
Date: February 15, 2024 11:50AM
Jerry,

I'm not convinced the drive has to be replaced. Remember, it got skewed when you shut down the machine during while in the process of installing the OS. That can easily hose a drive software/formatting-wise but it won't necessarily kill it hardware-wise. In situation like this, you might be able to reformat the drive and have it back to proper working order.

I think the key is to get the machine booted off the stick but, in the process, ensure it doesn't try to mount the internal drive. Unfortunately, from what I saw, you need to have the drive mounted before you can use Terminal to do the commands that will prevent it from mounting.

This is not to say the drive hasn't reached its end of life. It definitely might be hosed beyond repair. Hard to say, though. I looked at the vid and it seems messing with the drive is a nuisance. Far from insurmountable but a nuisance. Just need the correct tools and a little bit of patience.

If you're careful, you can go as far as disconnecting the power connector of the drive, which will disable it and then put everything back together and close the machine. I wouldn't bother with putting in another internal drive. Just go external and call it done. An external will cost between $60 and $100. Use it with the Mini and, when the mini is gone, continue using it with a newer machine.

That's if you can't find a way to nuke and pave the original drive.

Robert
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Fritz
Date: February 15, 2024 11:56AM
I would think that you could run DU and reformat from the boot stick to test the theory. Should only take a minute or 2 if it accepts the drive.,



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 11:58AM
Quote
Fritz
I would think that you could run DU and reformat from the boot stick to test the theory. Should only take a minute or 2 if it accepts the drive.,

I can boot it from the boot stick but I get spinning beachballs after opening Disk Utility. Left it like that for a while but it never completed…or showed my Fusion Drive or any drive for that matter.



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Fritz
Date: February 15, 2024 12:08PM
another thought. hasn't been used in a while right?
oxidation may have occurred on the SATA connector within.
If you follow the vid above, you can unplug and replug the drive.
If oxi has occurred, that may clean it up.
On if you have spray 90% iso or other electronics cleaner spray .... in addition.

I have a Seagate ext 2G spinner that exhibited death. Pulled the drive and put in another enclosure. Turns out the bridgeboard (controller) had died.
A variation on the same idea.



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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2024 12:10PM by Fritz.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Black
Date: February 15, 2024 12:23PM
I've seen this before, would guess many of us have. As long as the internal can be seen it will likely lock up the whole system, won't matter where DU is booted from. I think the harness has to be physically disconnected from the toxic drive. I personally found it really hard to get in and out of my Mac mini for hard drive replacement and ended up trashing the IR harness in the process.

I've never been anywhere near an OS newer than Sierra, but it seems there is a time when the computer is booted successfully? At that point can you try setting the prefs to show all drives on the desktop, then try to unmount the internal from the desktop?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2024 12:25PM by Black.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 12:27PM
Quote
Black
I've seen this before, would guess many of us have. As long as the internal can be seen it will likely lock up the whole system, won't matter where DU is booted from. I think the harness has to be physically disconnected from the toxic drive. I personally found it really hard to get in and out of my Mac mini for hard drive replacement and ended up trashing the IR harness in the process.

I've never been anywhere near an OS newer than Sierra, but it seems there is a time when the computer is booted successfully? At that point can you try setting the prefs to show all drives on the desktop, then try to unmount the internal from the desktop?


Well, now here’s something weird. I plugged in my Time Machine backup drive, rebooted holding down the OPTION key and it showed my Time Machine drive as one of the bootable drives option. So, I clicked on it and I am waiting to see what happens…….



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: clay
Date: February 15, 2024 12:27PM
Quote
fauch
Maybe you can format it using the command line without having to load disc utility.

this is the route I'd probably try, assuming the existing drive(s) can't be removed or disconnected.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 12:32PM
Quote
Jerry®
Quote
Black
I've seen this before, would guess many of us have. As long as the internal can be seen it will likely lock up the whole system, won't matter where DU is booted from. I think the harness has to be physically disconnected from the toxic drive. I personally found it really hard to get in and out of my Mac mini for hard drive replacement and ended up trashing the IR harness in the process.

I've never been anywhere near an OS newer than Sierra, but it seems there is a time when the computer is booted successfully? At that point can you try setting the prefs to show all drives on the desktop, then try to unmount the internal from the desktop?


Well, now here’s something weird. I plugged in my Time Machine backup drive, rebooted holding down the OPTION key and it showed my Time Machine drive as one of the bootable drives option. So, I clicked on it and I am waiting to see what happens…….

When starting up holding OPTION with my TIme Machine backup drive attached it gave me the option to boot recovery from the Time Machine drive and is currently doing this:





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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Black
Date: February 15, 2024 12:36PM
I doubt it will progress beyond that point but happy to be wrong. Do you own a set of computer tools?
Quote
Jerry®
Quote
Jerry®
Quote
Black
I've seen this before, would guess many of us have. As long as the internal can be seen it will likely lock up the whole system, won't matter where DU is booted from. I think the harness has to be physically disconnected from the toxic drive. I personally found it really hard to get in and out of my Mac mini for hard drive replacement and ended up trashing the IR harness in the process.

I've never been anywhere near an OS newer than Sierra, but it seems there is a time when the computer is booted successfully? At that point can you try setting the prefs to show all drives on the desktop, then try to unmount the internal from the desktop?




Well, now here’s something weird. I plugged in my Time Machine backup drive, rebooted holding down the OPTION key and it showed my Time Machine drive as one of the bootable drives option. So, I clicked on it and I am waiting to see what happens…….

When starting up holding OPTION with my TIme Machine backup drive attached it gave me the option to boot recovery from the Time Machine drive and is currently doing this:




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2024 12:36PM by Black.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 12:56PM
It’s letting me run macOS Recovery and disk utility when I boot from my Time Machine backup but hasn’t shown up in Disk Utility yet. If I boot up in recovery mode and it shows my Fusion Drive as one of the drives - wouldnt that mean that my Fusion Drive is ok??



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 01:04PM
Quote
Black
I doubt it will progress beyond that point but happy to be wrong. Do you own a set of computer tools?
Quote
Jerry®
Quote
Jerry®
Quote
Black
I've seen this before, would guess many of us have. As long as the internal can be seen it will likely lock up the whole system, won't matter where DU is booted from. I think the harness has to be physically disconnected from the toxic drive. I personally found it really hard to get in and out of my Mac mini for hard drive replacement and ended up trashing the IR harness in the process.

I've never been anywhere near an OS newer than Sierra, but it seems there is a time when the computer is booted successfully? At that point can you try setting the prefs to show all drives on the desktop, then try to unmount the internal from the desktop?




Well, now here’s something weird. I plugged in my Time Machine backup drive, rebooted holding down the OPTION key and it showed my Time Machine drive as one of the bootable drives option. So, I clicked on it and I am waiting to see what happens…….

When starting up holding OPTION with my TIme Machine backup drive attached it gave me the option to boot recovery from the Time Machine drive and is currently doing this:





It's currently letting me run macOS Recovery and Disk utility from the Time Machine backup but it's still loooking for the drives...... and yes I do have a set of computer tools.



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: hal
Date: February 15, 2024 01:24PM
Yank the internal drives!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I've said that several times in previous threads. One or both of them (a fusion drive is 2 drives fused) is toast. Even if they could somehow be resurrected - they are ANCIENT.

You should do this:

remove the internal drives

install a new ssd

boot from installer drive

Install fresh OS

import from time machine

done
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Black
Date: February 15, 2024 01:31PM
Quote
Jerry®
Can I replace my 2012’s Fusion Drive with a 1TB SSD? If so, can someone link a compatible option?

Any of these will work- just avoid the little NVMe sticks.
[www.amazon.com]

Do you own a T6 an d T8 torx wrench?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2024 01:37PM by Black.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: clay
Date: February 15, 2024 01:51PM
Quote
hal
Yank the internal drives!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I've said that several times in previous threads. One or both of them (a fusion drive is 2 drives fused) is toast. Even if they could somehow be resurrected - they are ANCIENT.

You should do this:

remove the internal drives

install a new ssd

boot from installer drive

Install fresh OS

import from time machine

done

yup. the voice of wisdom.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 15, 2024 02:03PM
Quote
Black
Quote
Jerry®
Can I replace my 2012’s Fusion Drive with a 1TB SSD? If so, can someone link a compatible option?

Any of these will work- just avoid the little NVMe sticks.
[www.amazon.com]

Do you own a T6 an d T8 torx wrench?


This is what I have







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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Robert M
Date: February 15, 2024 02:04PM
Jerry,

I would just disconnect power to the internal fusion drive. That way, it’ll be there but not powering up. Instead of putting in a new internal SSD, go external. The cost will be similar and it’ll be easy to continue to use the drive in the future.

Something like this:

< [www.amazon.com];

You can easily build a frankendrive by installing an internal SSD of any type into an external enclosure. All of my desktops run off external drives. Three use USB drives. One uses a Thunderbolt drive. All are NVME internal drives in enclosures.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2024 02:10PM by Robert M.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: hal
Date: February 15, 2024 02:14PM
BAD ADVICE imo

Once you're inside the mini, installing a drive is easy. I don't just see why you would want to have dead internal drives while your boot drive is hanging off the back taking up a valuable USB port. Thunderbolt would be as good as the internal, but that begins to cost a bit.

btw, the drive that robert linked is not compatible with your computer anyway

Quote
Robert M
Jerry,

I would just disconnect power to the internal fusion drive. That way, it’ll be there but not powering up. Instead of putting in a new internal SSD, go external. The cost will be similar and it’ll be easy to continue to use the drive in the future.

Something like this:

< [www.amazon.com];

You can easily build a frankendrive by installing an internal SSD of any type into an external enclosure. All of my desktops run of external drives. Three use USB drives. One uses a Thunderbolt drive.

Robert
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: PeterW
Date: February 15, 2024 02:29PM
Yeah, the drive is actually compatible. But that’s not here nor there. Step one is get rid of the existing hard drive.
Once it’s gone, you can either get an internal drive like black suggested or the external like Robert M posted. But get the internal disconnected first.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Robert M
Date: February 15, 2024 02:29PM
Hal,

We’ll have to agree to disagree. I’ve run desktops off externals for years now. The drive from amazon in my previous is compatible. Just use a USB-C to USB A cable or a USB-C to USB A adapter. It probably comes with a cable with USB-C on one end and USB-C and a USB A adapter on the other. It's pretty common now.

BTW, that was just one example. I’d bulld a drive from an NVME stick and a box. It’ll cost a little more but the drive will have increased longevity and be faster with newer machines. Here are some examples:

[www.amazon.com]

[www.amazon.com]

Drop a stick like one of those (or another NVME model) into a box like this:

[www.amazon.com]

[www.amazon.com]

Use the drive with the Mini. When the mini is replaced, continue using the drive with a newer machine.

FWIW, I just used an adapter to install a KingSpec mSATA stick into an Early 2013 MBPr. First time using a stick from Kingspec. Can't complain so far. Got a 2TB stick for about $80.

Key, though, is at the least opening the Mini and disconnecting its internal drive to ensure it no longer causes problems. Once that is done, Jerry can decide whether or not to replace it or leave there and go with an external.

IF Jerry doesn't have the proper kit, one along these lines will work:

[www.amazon.com]

I'd also invest in a magnetic mat like this:

[www.amazon.com]

I use the kit and mat anytime I work on electronics. Broke them out to install the new SSD into the MBPr a couple of weeks ago. Well worth the bucks!

Robert



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2024 03:08PM by Robert M.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Black
Date: February 15, 2024 03:04PM
Quote
hal
btw, the drive that robert linked is not compatible with your computer anyway
Is it backwards compatible with a USB C to A adapter?
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Robert M
Date: February 15, 2024 03:10PM
Black,

Yes. An enclosure like the one in my earlier link is backwards compatible with the appropriate cable and/or cable with adapter. Two of my machines have 2.5" enclosures with USB-C as their boot drives. One is a 2014 iMac 27" 5K. The other is a 2013 iMac 20.1". Just used the appropriate cable to connect the drives to their USB 3 ports. The boxes came with the necessary cable.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2024 03:18PM by Robert M.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Black
Date: February 15, 2024 03:15PM
I have an unused 500 GB Samsung SSD I can send you... looks like it was my boot drive until 2017 or so.
There's a 1 TB Crucial for $70 in stock at Best Buy in Davenport, also a 1 TB Samsung for $75.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: RAMd®d
Date: February 15, 2024 05:29PM
DU is perplexed because it detects a drive but can't seem to mount it.

So the mini is dead in the water, at this point.

There are two possibilities:

• corrupted OS won't allow the drive to mount.
•severe directory damage won't allow the drive to mount
•there is mechanical damage that won't allow the drive to mount

It would seem fixes are:

•repair OS damage
•repair the directory damage
•cut power to the drive and boot from an external
•remove and replace the drive

I don't know what kind of Geek-Fu would be needed to repair directory damage if the drive won't mount.

That's happened to me a few times, but in every case, after a long bout of beach balling, DU finally mounted, sometimes taking overnight to do so.

Once that happened I'd run DU then DW (DiskWarrior) and eventually all was right with the world.

Barring that, then it would be barring the internal drive.

This demands a level of competency and confidence not to mention having the necessary tools to open and R&R.

I've studied the OWC video regarding adding a drive to my 2012 mini and I won't ever be replacing the internal drive

But I might consider disconnecting a wire, cable, or connector, then running an external, like for ever.






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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Robert M
Date: February 15, 2024 05:42PM
RAM,

It isn't a corrupted OS since Jerry was booting off the Mojave boot stick I created for him. It's something with the drive itself. I'm inclined to think it is corrupted due to the failed OS install from way back when. Directory damage or something even lower level is fouled up. That are physical failure.

Either way, I think time would be best served opening the case, disconnecting power to the drive and closing it. It's definitely doable with the correct tools. Once that's done, go the external route and use Migration Assistant to restore from the Time Machine backup.

Robert
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Black
Date: February 15, 2024 05:45PM
Quote
RAMd®d
DU is perplexed because it detects a drive but can't seem to mount it.

So the mini is dead in the water, at this point.

There are two possibilities:

• corrupted OS won't allow the drive to mount.
•severe directory damage won't allow the drive to mount
•there is mechanical damage that won't allow the drive to mount

It would seem fixes are:

•repair OS damage
•repair the directory damage
•cut power to the drive and boot from an external
•remove and replace the drive

I don't know what kind of Geek-Fu would be needed to repair directory damage if the drive won't mount.

That's happened to me a few times, but in every case, after a long bout of beach balling, DU finally mounted, sometimes taking overnight to do so.

Once that happened I'd run DU then DW (DiskWarrior) and eventually all was right with the world.

Barring that, then it would be barring the internal drive.

This demands a level of competency and confidence not to mention having the necessary tools to open and R&R.

I've studied the OWC video regarding adding a drive to my 2012 mini and I won't ever be replacing the internal drive

But I might consider disconnecting a wire, cable, or connector, then running an external, like for ever.
Problem is, there is one harness for data and power, and disconnecting it requires basically the same steps as replacing a drive. Having survived this procedure with some wounds, I would not bother getting all the way in to disconnect the cable without swapping the hard drive at that time.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Fritz
Date: February 15, 2024 06:16PM
15 votes for replace.
it's not that hard. gather tools.
preview the vid a few times.
pick a quiet well lit area with no furry beats nearby.
go slow, vid at hand on phone or other.
SSD for sure.

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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: rich in distress
Date: February 15, 2024 06:30PM
16!!…. but who’s counting….

Did it once, had a blast. Would do it again.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Tiangou
Date: February 15, 2024 07:26PM
If you want a definitive answer, you can run a SMART check on the internal SSH and hard drive that together make up the Fusion drive.

While booted from the USB drive and connected to your home network, download and run SMART Utility.

It will provide you with a pass/fail message for each internal drive. It doesn't poll the same way that the Disk Utility does, so it *probably* won't stall when it examines those drives.



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Harbourmaster
Date: February 15, 2024 08:44PM
Could have yanked the internals and replaced them with an SSD... reloaded the OS AND recovered everything else from the TM drive in the amount of time you have wasted futzing with this thing Jerry.

JUST replace the drive and be done!



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Black
Date: February 15, 2024 11:12PM
Quote
Harbourmaster
JUST replace the drive and be done!
Let's not force Jerry to have to keep reminding us that he doesn't have extra money laying around for such purchases.
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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 16, 2024 08:30AM
Huge thanks to everyone for the tips! I'm holding off on any major upgrades for my Mac Mini since I'm eyeing (or will be eyeing whenever I can save up the money) an M-series Mac later on. But a quick SSD swap (seems like they go for around $65 for 1TB) feels like a good option, mainly to get my stuff back from Time Machine. I have years of stuff (almost a full TB) on the Time Machine backup including rare music, music I’ve composed, important documents, etc that I do NOT want to lose. So, If I can swap out the Fusion Drive for an SSD or use an inexpensive external SSD as a boot drive - maybe I can keep it running as my main machine while using my Wndows PC Laptop for gaming because I know that my 2012 mini even with an new internal SSD will NOT let me game.

Question I have at this point, if I recover my Time Machine backup, how can I ever make everything on it compatible with an M series Mac when I finally get one? Maybe that needs to be saved for a future thread?

And yea, it’s true i don’t have a lot of money as I currently live off disability benefits which barely get me through the month to begin with. But, my birthday is this Sunday (the 18th) and would be thrilled to receive a 1TB SSD I can put in the mini!!! Hint hint!! LOL!!

Again - thanks to everyone for your advice and help in my mini resurrection. I am truly grateful!!!!!



Master Tinkerer Jerry®

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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 16, 2024 08:30AM
Quote
Black
Quote
Harbourmaster
JUST replace the drive and be done!
Let's not force Jerry to have to keep reminding us that he doesn't have extra money laying around for such purchases.



Facts!!!! LOL!!



Master Tinkerer Jerry®

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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 16, 2024 08:31AM
Quote
Harbourmaster
Could have yanked the internals and replaced them with an SSD... reloaded the OS AND recovered everything else from the TM drive in the amount of time you have wasted futzing with this thing Jerry.

JUST replace the drive and be done!

Yeah that’s what I’ll probably end up doing.



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 16, 2024 08:32AM
Quote
Tiangou
If you want a definitive answer, you can run a SMART check on the internal SSH and hard drive that together make up the Fusion drive.

While booted from the USB drive and connected to your home network, download and run SMART Utility.

It will provide you with a pass/fail message for each internal drive. It doesn't poll the same way that the Disk Utility does, so it *probably* won't stall when it examines those drives.

OHH yeah!! I forgot about SMART Utility. That’s how I found my iMac’s internal drive was dead. So I will try that and see what, if anything, happens. Thanks!!!



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 16, 2024 08:32AM
Quote
Fritz
15 votes for replace.
it's not that hard. gather tools.
preview the vid a few times.
pick a quiet well lit area with no furry beats nearby.
go slow, vid at hand on phone or other.
SSD for sure.

“Don't be a luddy-duddy! Don't be a mooncalf! Don't be a jabbernowl! You're not those, are you?” WC Fields

Yeah I agree!!



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 16, 2024 08:33AM
Quote
RAMd®d
DU is perplexed because it detects a drive but can't seem to mount it.

So the mini is dead in the water, at this point.

There are two possibilities:

• corrupted OS won't allow the drive to mount.
•severe directory damage won't allow the drive to mount
•there is mechanical damage that won't allow the drive to mount

It would seem fixes are:

•repair OS damage
•repair the directory damage
•cut power to the drive and boot from an external
•remove and replace the drive

I don't know what kind of Geek-Fu would be needed to repair directory damage if the drive won't mount.

That's happened to me a few times, but in every case, after a long bout of beach balling, DU finally mounted, sometimes taking overnight to do so.

Once that happened I'd run DU then DW (DiskWarrior) and eventually all was right with the world.

Barring that, then it would be barring the internal drive.

This demands a level of competency and confidence not to mention having the necessary tools to open and R&R.

I've studied the OWC video regarding adding a drive to my 2012 mini and I won't ever be replacing the internal drive

But I might consider disconnecting a wire, cable, or connector, then running an external, like for ever.


Maybe I will try this and let it sit overnight…….



Master Tinkerer Jerry®

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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 16, 2024 08:36AM
Quote
Black
I have an unused 500 GB Samsung SSD I can send you... looks like it was my boot drive until 2017 or so.
There's a 1 TB Crucial for $70 in stock at Best Buy in Davenport, also a 1 TB Samsung for $75.

500GB is better than nothing right? But my Time Machine backup is almost a full TB. What about this drive?


[a.co]



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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Jerry®
Date: February 16, 2024 08:39AM
Quote
Robert M
Hal,

We’ll have to agree to disagree. I’ve run desktops off externals for years now. The drive from amazon in my previous is compatible. Just use a USB-C to USB A cable or a USB-C to USB A adapter. It probably comes with a cable with USB-C on one end and USB-C and a USB A adapter on the other. It's pretty common now.

BTW, that was just one example. I’d bulld a drive from an NVME stick and a box. It’ll cost a little more but the drive will have increased longevity and be faster with newer machines. Here are some examples:

[www.amazon.com]

[www.amazon.com]

Drop a stick like one of those (or another NVME model) into a box like this:

[www.amazon.com]

[www.amazon.com]

Use the drive with the Mini. When the mini is replaced, continue using the drive with a newer machine.

FWIW, I just used an adapter to install a KingSpec mSATA stick into an Early 2013 MBPr. First time using a stick from Kingspec. Can't complain so far. Got a 2TB stick for about $80.

Key, though, is at the least opening the Mini and disconnecting its internal drive to ensure it no longer causes problems. Once that is done, Jerry can decide whether or not to replace it or leave there and go with an external.

IF Jerry doesn't have the proper kit, one along these lines will work:

[www.amazon.com]

I'd also invest in a magnetic mat like this:

[www.amazon.com]

I use the kit and mat anytime I work on electronics. Broke them out to install the new SSD into the MBPr a couple of weeks ago. Well worth the bucks!

Robert


So, if I got an NVMe stick drive and an enclosure I could use it to boot off of and to transfer my Time Machine backup to? And then say I get an m1 or m2 mini, I could then use it as extra external storage space?



Master Tinkerer Jerry®

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Re: RE: Return of the Mini……?
Posted by: Robert M
Date: February 16, 2024 09:19AM
Jerry,

Absolutely.

Robert
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