So I crashed my Mini

[crjackson]

I am a long time winblowz user and I finally decided it was time to purchase a mac after I can't count how many years of hating it and dissing it. I used to do maintenance on apples at school, crashing them constantly. I even got physically hurt by one once, sliced my pinky open, lets just say I was cursed when it came to apples...

So, i finally see they have an affordable mac for sale, (core solo) $599+ student discount mac mini, i figure why not, if I like it I could always get the macbook which is faster, being that I need a new laptop for school...

So I order it, spend my money... The keyboard arrives in a week and the Mini arrives a few days later. Talk about a tease!!! getting very anxious so I may play with my new toy!

So I set it up while at work, installing some software I know i'll want, like aim, msn and firefox. And so doing the important updates that apple recommends. (dont blame the msn)

after 3 hours of having it on... While some stuff was installing, I checked out the widgets and then... FREEZE... reboot it... nothing... OSX loads, gets to the finder and FREEZES. No matter how I boot, in the safe mode thing, bypassing startup items etc, NOTHING. Completely kapoot...

So, my friend who is a mac user and savvy too helps me do a re-image on the tiny beast. yay everything is back up and running... So i bring it home about 2 hours later, turn it on, install the updates again, uh oh there was an error in the updates and it has to reboot?... ok, i clicked restart... then the fun begins!... it just sits on the screen with the "spinning wheel"....

joy. call up apple support in the morning, walk me through yet another re-image... finally get the computer up and running and start the updates, by this time they let me go since they didn't want to wait for the updates. I did the updates without running or doing anything in the process, haven't talked to them since and its been about 2.5 weeks now and everything is running great...

weird. I'm still weary of this thing though, i'm constantly backing up my imported images and documents, just waiting for a crash, but hasnt happened yet.

Anyone else experience something like this, on a brand new apple? I'm cursed, but I think it has been lifted.

Was kinda funny though, after the first crash i went to go on the internet to look for help on our mac at work and I crashed safari!! My coworker just shook his head and told me to back away.

 

[mad jew]

That's not cool. Keep everything backed up (as you are) and take note of what you're doing just before these crashes. Do you have third party RAM? That can be a pretty common cause for seemingly random freezes.

 

[crjackson]

nope nothing added, this puppy was brand new out of the box! I have a feeling its because of the updates... I had some weird messages while doing them both times.

Before the first crash there was something jumping up and down in the dock, nothing would open when i clicked it so i just forced quit it... the second time there was something wrong with the updates (didnt make note of it) and it said I had to reboot and thats when it crashed.

So my third time installing updates I just let it do its own thing. and so far so good

 

[mad jew]

Okay, well good luck with it.

 

[crjackson]

thanks! hopefully i wont need luck and it will just continue to work how it is supposed to

 

[dr_lha]

My experience with a Core Solo mini has been flawless, so I'm afraid you're just unlucky!

 

[gloss]

I have a friend who is a dedicated PC user, and he has the ability to cause my flawless OS to freeze up just by standing in the same room.

I command the same power over Windows.

Some people just have these auras.

 

[Subiklim]

I thought you were talking about the car. In which case I would be heartbroken.


I rather like mine.

 

[gloss]

Lucky bastid.

 

[bankshot]

For most general crashes or freezes that can't be attributed to software bugs, I would first suspect memory. In your case, I would definitely test your memory to see if there's any problem with it. It's a little strange that the machine is working now, but like you, I would be paranoid after the initial problems. I always hate it when a problem just goes away without explanation, because how do I know it won't ever come back?

If it does ever come back, I would call Apple and push for an exchange.

 

[crjackson]

I thought you were talking about the car. In which case I would be heartbroken.


I rather like mine.

In the year that I did own my MINI, I did happen to almost lose the bumper on a huge bump, the back rear wheel light caught on fire and... hrmm something else happened, but thankfully I did not crash it ahh i miss my old baby, silver with a black roof and bonnet stripes. sigh

 

[Subiklim]

Hah! So you actually do own a mini. I scrapped the bottom many-a-time, but when I threw the winter tires on it (as pictured) it got even worse and I dented the trim below the bumper. Gotta get that fixed sometime.

Why did you get rid of yours?

 

[crjackson]

going back to school, not working fulltime anymore and could not afford the rest of the payments I had

 

[wxboss]

Did you run the Apple Hardware Test (extended option).

Also, go into Disk Utility and Verify/Repair Permissions.

If you are getting an OS update along with program updates, install the OS update seperately from the rest.

 

[crjackson]

Did you run the Apple Hardware Test (extended option).

Also, go into Disk Utility and Verify/Repair Permissions.

If you are getting an OS update along with program updates, install the OS update seperately from the rest.

yeah they ran me through all of the tests and everything while it was crashed. Nothing came out abnormal. Kinda odd. I've learned my lesson with updates I have a feeling it had to do with those, since i just let them install without doing anything in the background, the computer has been running just fine.

 

[wxboss]

yeah they ran me through all of the tests and everything while it was crashed. Nothing came out abnormal. Kinda odd. I've learned my lesson with updates I have a feeling it had to do with those, since i just let them install without doing anything in the background, the computer has been running just fine.

Glad to hear you're back up and running .

 

[Collin973]

I do love those minis (mac and Mini's). I almost bought a used Mini a couple of years ago when my jetta go wrecked. Now, i'm looking at buy a used mac mini. How do you guys like yours? pretty sweet for a little box right?