Mac Mini OSX install issues

[Jackintosh]

My late 2012 (2.3 i7) Mac Mini hard drive failed. So I installed a new Samsung 850 EVO 1TB SSD. That went well, although it was a little tight.

After properly formatting the new SSD in recovery mode, started the MacOSX install via Ethernet connection. It starts a Mavericks install surprisingly.

Well, the install takes 45 minutes and when counting down to zero time left, it then starts all over again for another 45 minutes. Then again another 45 minutes and seems to repeat nonstop. No error messages.

Should I just let this go overnight? Is this normal? Anyone else experience this on a fresh OSX install?

 

[DeltaMac]

That does not sound normal.

Make sure nothing else is attached (printer, external drive, just keyboard and mouse, and display)
Boot to internet recovery. Erase your hard drive again.
Shut down your Mac, so power is completely off.
Unplug power, hold the power button for 5 seconds, then plug power cord back in.
Reset PRAM on next boot by holding Option-Command-P-R
You will hear the boot chime sound. Keep holding the same 4 keys until you hear the chime 2 more times, then release, continuing to hold Option-Command-R to boot to internet recovery again.
Try your OS X install now.
Keep in mind that it will download the system files (might take 45 minutes, depending on your connection) then reboots to finish installing the system, which might take about that same amount of time - but an SSD should finish more quickly. The install might force a reboot once during that install (so you might see a second reboot during the install.
THAT should be it. Let it complete. eventually, you should see system user setup screens, where it will ask if you want to restore from a backup, or from another Mac, etc - or just takes you through the new user setup, if you don't need to restore from a backup.
Anyway, the normal process would be
Download files, restarts, then installs those downloaded files, might restart again, completes the install, could be one more restart, but I don't think it does.
Might take 1.5 hours - tops.
I often will find something else to do, leave the house for a couple of hours. Your Mac doesn't need your help just to install the system. Should be at the system user setup screens after that time.

 

[MacUser2525]

After properly formatting the new SSD in recovery mode, started the MacOSX install via Ethernet connection. It starts a Mavericks install surprisingly.

You are doing an Internet recovery install Apple limits that to the original OS that was installed on your machine at time of purchase. As has been mentioned that you describe is not normal at all, if you have access to another Mac download a more modern OS and make usb installer for it.

 

[Jackintosh]

That does not sound normal.

Make sure nothing else is attached (printer, external drive, just keyboard and mouse, and display)
Boot to internet recovery. Erase your hard drive again.
Shut down your Mac, so power is completely off.
Unplug power, hold the power button for 5 seconds, then plug power cord back in.
Reset PRAM on next boot by holding Option-Command-P-R
You will hear the boot chime sound. Keep holding the same 4 keys until you hear the chime 2 more times, then release, continuing to hold Option-Command-R to boot to internet recovery again.
Try your OS X install now.
Keep in mind that it will download the system files (might take 45 minutes, depending on your connection) then reboots to finish installing the system, which might take about that same amount of time - but an SSD should finish more quickly. The install might force a reboot once during that install (so you might see a second reboot during the install.
THAT should be it. Let it complete. eventually, you should see system user setup screens, where it will ask if you want to restore from a backup, or from another Mac, etc - or just takes you through the new user setup, if you don't need to restore from a backup.
Anyway, the normal process would be
Download files, restarts, then installs those downloaded files, might restart again, completes the install, could be one more restart, but I don't think it does.
Might take 1.5 hours - tops.
I often will find something else to do, leave the house for a couple of hours. Your Mac doesn't need your help just to install the system. Should be at the system user setup screens after that time.

I think you got it, thanks much. I had a MS wireless mouse and Canon scanner attached to the Mini. The install log complained about problems in formatting (cocoa) as the last error message. I disconnected everything except the Apple keyboard and mouse. Giving it a go now.

Realizing absolutely nothing should be connected during fresh OS X install except bare essentials (mouse, keyboard, and monitor). Will get back on results.
[doublepost=1478752108][/doublepost]

You are doing an Internet recovery install Apple limits that to the original OS that was installed on your machine at time of purchase. As has been mentioned that you describe is not normal at all, if you have access to another Mac download a more modern OS and make usb installer for it.

Yes, that makes sense, thanks. I believe Mavericks was the original OS for late 2012 Minis.

 

[DeltaMac]

Actually, Mountain Lion came with the Late 2012 mini originally.
You can both install and boot with Mountain Lion.
My 2012 mini, which I bought new a couple of months before the current 2014 model was released, did come with Mavericks installed, but Mountain Lion works just fine, too.
(Internet recovery offers Mavericks for me, too.)

 

[Jackintosh]

Still a no go with same symptoms. Will take it into the Apple Store tomorrow. Thanks for the assistance though. Very strange... the SSD is recognized, formats fine, and verifies. So it doesn't seem to be hardware.

 

[DeltaMac]

hmm... Two posts barely more than an hour apart...
How long did you let the install run, before you gave up on it?

But, I suspect it is hardware.
Try reseating the RAM, or try different RAM sticks.

...I installed a new Samsung 850 EVO 1TB SSD. That went well, although it was a little tight.

What was tight? The space for the drive, or the positioning of the cable?
The SATA ribbon cable can be quite fragile in normal handling. If nothing else helps, you should try replacing that SATA cable.

 

[Jackintosh]

Apple Store installed Sierra with no issues. Hardware looks fine with their Mac Inspector. My fan connector was not properly seated when they opened it up (no wonder the unit was running hot).

Everything now running fine. It might have been my network connection. They said Mavericks download from their end might be related to my earlier issues as well.

Thanks for all assistance.