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Mac Mini doesn't like restarts?

A

AzNTypeR

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 28, 2013
25
2
Hi,

I've only noticed this now, after it has happened a couple of times.

My Mac Mini will refuse to display anything on my monitor after a restart, it just stays black. Before, I managed to get it to start up properly after Resetting the NRAM/PRAM/Whatever it is called, and by pulling out the plug and reinserting it.

However, like last time, the solutions that I have used do NOT work when I update my Mac. Before, it happened on the first day that I got it, when I updated it to 10.9, from 10.8. Today, I checked the App Store and found a security update, so I clicked it. Little did I know, that it made me install 10.9.2, so I had to restart it.

Now, I'm just sitting and staring at my monitor's black screen.

Is this a normal problem, for it to not like restarts.

I also forgot to mention that it's just the screen, I can hear the start-up chime perfectly.
 
The first time it happened, you should have setup screen share with your iPad to ensure that the Mac Mini is not at fault. How old is your monitor? Have you disconnected the monitor and turn it on by itself to ensure you got blue screen? A newly Mac Mini shouldn't have graphic failure so soon.
 
nollimac said:
The first time it happened, you should have setup screen share with your iPad to ensure that the Mac Mini is not at fault. How old is your monitor? Have you disconnected the monitor and turn it on by itself to ensure you got blue screen? A newly Mac Mini shouldn't have graphic failure so soon.
Click to expand...

The first time? That was on the first day before I even set up anything! I immediately installed the 10.9 update, so I didn't have time to set it up.

It's a few years old, and I have previously tried unplugging the Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter that I bought with it, and had no luck. I never turn my monitor off, it's always on with the light flashing that there isn't a signal available. Blue screen?

I purchased this in Dec '13 directly from Apple. Don't tell me that I've bought a lemon!
 
Well, it's finally booted up and finished the installation.


If it happens again, and I bring it in, would that void the rest of the warranty that I have left on it, as I purchased Apple Care on top!
 
Which monitor do you have?
Are you using Apple's mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter, or a non-Apple adapter?
Does your monitor have alternate connections, such as HDMI or DVI?
 
Okay thanks.

I'm not sure what it is, and I'm using the Official one from the Apple Store.
Nope, VGA only.
 
EricandSuebee said:
How old is your monitor? Most modern monitors now a days have a couple different connections to enable you to view it either, VGA, HDMI or DVI.
Click to expand...

It has got to be at least 5 years old, maybe 10 years old even!

I'm pretty sure that it only does VGA.
 
The last VGA monitor from Apple was a CRT display (Studio Display), in a 17-inch size on a wide tripod, or a 21-inch, 77 pound (35 kg) monster. I bet that the video card in the mini doesn't provide video too reliably to a CRT display, and the minimal power available within the mini is likely the issue.
 
DeltaMac said:
The last VGA monitor from Apple was a CRT display (Studio Display), in a 17-inch size on a wide tripod, or a 21-inch, 77 pound (35 kg) monster. I bet that the video card in the mini doesn't provide video too reliably to a CRT display, and the minimal power available within the mini is likely the issue.
Click to expand...

That doesn't many any sense, the GPU doesn't provide power to the display. It only provides the signal, which in the case of VGA is an analog signal so the adapter is having to do D->A conversion. The OP's problem could be any number of things and really the only way to troubleshoot is by process of elimination; Try a different display, cable and/or adaptor.

It doesn't take "power" to drive a VGA display. :confused:
 
At bootup, the Mac needs to "sense" what type of display is connected, via the sensing pins.

Perhaps one of the sensing pins is making marginal contact.

If you haven't tried it, you might "break and then re-make" all your video cable connections, both at the "Mac end", and at the "display end".

This may help, or it may not...
 
I mean its a CRT monitor, it's way past it's serviceable usage now a days, just get yourself a new monitor, you'll save on energy/electricity and you'll get a much vivid picture as well.
 
Issue happened again, after it crashed.

I decided this time to unplug my 'Mini and connect it via HDMI to my TV.

Low and behold, it worked! So, I plugged it back into my VGA Monitor, and it didn't work, so I found a spare VGA Cord, and it still didn't work. I decided that it was time for my 10 Year Old Monitor tomorrow (according to the back of it, it was made in April '04) to retire. It now lives in the box of my new Monitor, a HP Pavilion 22xi.

Now, if any of the ports break, I should be fine, as it has HDMI, VGA and D-Sub!

Highly recommend it - only downside is that it doesn't have any speakers!
 
Same issue with 2011 mini

I've got the same (or similar) issue with my 2011. In my case I've got 2 monitors, both 20" Dell LCDs. One is hooked up via HDMI to DVI and the other using the Thunderbolt to VGA adapter. When I restart neither monitor displays anything as though the machine is asleep - usually I need to hit CMD-CTRL-eject and the monitors spring to life and all is good until the next time I resort which isn't very often.

Another oddity is that if I boot and have an external drive plugged in the machine won't finish booting. If I unplug the drive it finishes booting and all is fine, I can then plug the drive back in and have no issues. Does it any external HDD (USB sticks are fine, just HDDs cause the issue).

None of this is really a huge issue, but can be annoying.
 
I have a 2006 Mac mini that refuses to boot with a dvi cable but works fine when I use a VGA and the adaptor
 
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