Mini Mac won't boot - what OS is needed?

Burpee · 11-30-2009, 02:34 PM

I'm a PC - but I play a MAC help "guy" as far my relatives are concerned. So I will do the best I can to describe the problem scenario.

I was given a dead "mini-mac" 1.25 G4 with 512MB and 40 GB disk. I get no other clues as to "what happened." The machine boots with the "chime" sound - then display the center logo square - it turns black the machine hangs.

I searched the Net and got enough info to use the "hold mouse button" trick to remove a game CD from the box. I also tried various boot key combinations.

In verbose mode - the machine mentions a journal file needing "resizing".. The a few lines later says "panic" "this is where I hang."

I've tried to boot the machine to a MAC OSX 10.2 disk, it displays a normnal-looking MAC OSX disc icon in the center, and half-circle arrow and a horizontal arrow, nothing happens if I click on the disk, and if I click on the horizontal arrow the machine hangs..... the other one it exits..

Will a mini-mac load 10.2, or does it need a special OS version? Is there any kind of free "rescue" utility disk. The 10.2 utility disk hangs as well.....

I suppose - the owners need to find the original OS disks? Not likely :-(

Any other ideas?

Las_Vegas · 11-30-2009, 04:53 PM

Hmmm... None of us are MACs or Macs for that matter. We're proud to be Mac Users. I'd hate to have to identify myself as the computer I use. That's just for those two guys in the Mac commercials and everyone in MS commercials.

You can remove a CD/DVD either by holding the Mouse at startup or start with the Option (alt) key down and press the Eject/F12 button when the boot loader appears.

Mac OS X 10.2 is too old for the Mini. You should get a retail copy of 10.3 or newer (up to 10.5.x). The Circle-Slash symbol indicates that the version you're booting is not compatible.

You might try Safe Mode by holding the Shift key through the boot process. If this succeeds, you will need the Administrator Password to login. At this point, you can try to test the drive with Disk Utility in the Utilities folder. If this finds a problem, I would go to Safari, download and install AppleJack, read the instructions and follow them to try to fix your problem.

You didn't mention (perhaps don't know) the version of OS X on the computer. I'm assuming it's 10.3 or later (obviously). Try following the diagnostic procedures outlined in this Apple Article.

Burpee · 12-02-2009, 09:46 PM

Thanks, I'll check it out.

Burpee · 12-13-2009, 09:19 AM

I downloaded Applejack - but there does not appear to be anyway to make a boot disk from the dmg file. Again, what i am asking about it a free utility that can repair a whatever OS comes with a MAC mini. I know that 10.2 install disk won't work, nor will the disk utility that ships with 10.2 work.

The mini MAC disk must still work -because it is capable of displaying a "journal file" mis-match error when booting to verbose mode......

Is there anyway to "break in to" the verbose mode start process and redirect to a text-based utility to repair the OS before the "panic" message - or is there not enough OS loading to allow for that?

hayne · 12-13-2009, 09:27 AM

You can repair the filesystem by restarting in "single-user mode" and running 'fsck' ('fsck' is what Applejack uses). This is described in the bottom part of this Apple document: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
It sounds scary, but isn't really that hard - there are 3 steps (ABC):

A) Restart in single-user mode. You do this by restarting your Mac and then holding down the Command (Apple) key and the S key immediately after you hear the chime. Keep holding down both Command and S until you see some text start to appear.

B) You should end up with a text prompt - it is waiting for you to type a command. The command you should enter is:

fsck -fy

(There is a space after the 'k')
Press Return after typing this command.
It will then start doing the filesystem repair and issue various progress messages along the way. This will take at least several minutes.
Eventually it will end up with a message that either says something about the disk having been modified, or that the disk appears to be okay.
If you get the former, repeat the same command (retype 'fsck -fy'). Keep repeating until it says the disk appears to be okay.

C) Type in the command:

reboot

This should (after a minute or so) bring you back to the normal Mac startup sequence - i.e. you should be back to normal.

Tell us what happened with this operation - did it fix something? Did it finish by saying that the disk is okay?

Burpee · 12-18-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burpee


	Is there anyway to "break in to" the verbose mode start process and redirect to a text-based utility to repair the OS before the "panic" message - or is there not enough OS loading to allow for that?

The command interpreter is "hanging" with a "kernel panic" message after about ten seconds (one screen full of boot text) - hence, my previous comment about "pausing or breaking into" or otherwise stopping the boot process - and "getting to any working command line or shell utility...... Then, of course, I could try the command line.

The "real" problem is that for some reason, it is beyond the capability of some people to store or safe-keep software and or documentation for their toys and tools..... Thanks anyway.

trevor · 12-18-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burpee


	The "real" problem is that for some reason, it is beyond the capability of some people to store or safe-keep software and or documentation for their toys and tools..... Thanks anyway.

Yes, I completely sympathize--the real problem is very frustrating. But since those same people need to fix their computer, and they can't seem to store their original discs, they now need to pay money to get the right Install Disc to perform that fix. In other words, they are paying out of pocket for their own inability to store their discs. Karma?

In any event, if you're getting a kernel panic while booting into single user mode, and want to rule out the possibility that it is due to a problem with their software (which is not by any stretch a sure thing) then those people (who own this computer) will need to buy the right Install disc.

The right Install disc will be black colored (with an X on it, the X looking different in the various incarnations of OS X), and will be at least version 10.3, and less than or equal to version 10.5.8. Don't get a gray colored disc unless it is for this exact version of the Mac Mini G4/ 1.25 GHz.

Once you have that Install disc, this all will get MUCH easier.

Trevor

Burpee · 02-20-2010, 09:08 AM

This is an old thread - but at least it has a happy ending - a relative shipped a copy of MAC OSX needed to reload the Mac mini. The disk first aid failed so it required reformatting.

Now my question is about the best method of administering the machine without being nearby. Sine the machine will be used by children how should I go about leaving the account security?

Currently the machine is flawless and completely updated with all know java, security and iphone apps. Is there a typical method to create "user" accounts that will not require administer intervention for most situations?

Any link would be appreciated..... Thanks for all the help.

11-30-2009, 02:34 PM	#1
Burpee Prospect Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 20	Mini Mac won't boot - what OS is needed? I'm a PC - but I play a MAC help "guy" as far my relatives are concerned. So I will do the best I can to describe the problem scenario. I was given a dead "mini-mac" 1.25 G4 with 512MB and 40 GB disk. I get no other clues as to "what happened." The machine boots with the "chime" sound - then display the center logo square - it turns black the machine hangs. I searched the Net and got enough info to use the "hold mouse button" trick to remove a game CD from the box. I also tried various boot key combinations. In verbose mode - the machine mentions a journal file needing "resizing".. The a few lines later says "panic" "this is where I hang." I've tried to boot the machine to a MAC OSX 10.2 disk, it displays a normnal-looking MAC OSX disc icon in the center, and half-circle arrow and a horizontal arrow, nothing happens if I click on the disk, and if I click on the horizontal arrow the machine hangs..... the other one it exits.. Will a mini-mac load 10.2, or does it need a special OS version? Is there any kind of free "rescue" utility disk. The 10.2 utility disk hangs as well..... I suppose - the owners need to find the original OS disks? Not likely :-( Any other ideas?

11-30-2009, 04:53 PM	#2
Las_Vegas League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 5,875	Hmmm... None of us are MACs or Macs for that matter. We're proud to be Mac Users. I'd hate to have to identify myself as the computer I use. That's just for those two guys in the Mac commercials and everyone in MS commercials. You can remove a CD/DVD either by holding the Mouse at startup or start with the Option (alt) key down and press the Eject/F12 button when the boot loader appears. Mac OS X 10.2 is too old for the Mini. You should get a retail copy of 10.3 or newer (up to 10.5.x). The Circle-Slash symbol indicates that the version you're booting is not compatible. You might try Safe Mode by holding the Shift key through the boot process. If this succeeds, you will need the Administrator Password to login. At this point, you can try to test the drive with Disk Utility in the Utilities folder. If this finds a problem, I would go to Safari, download and install AppleJack, read the instructions and follow them to try to fix your problem. You didn't mention (perhaps don't know) the version of OS X on the computer. I'm assuming it's 10.3 or later (obviously). Try following the diagnostic procedures outlined in this Apple Article. __________________ Las_Vegas -- Ts'i mahnu uterna ot twan ot geifur hingts uto. -- Sometimes I wonder… Why is that Frisbee getting Larger? …and then it hits me. -- Disposable thumbs make me specialer than most animals…

12-13-2009, 09:27 AM	#5
hayne Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 31,941	You can repair the filesystem by restarting in "single-user mode" and running 'fsck' ('fsck' is what Applejack uses). This is described in the bottom part of this Apple document: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214 It sounds scary, but isn't really that hard - there are 3 steps (ABC): A) Restart in single-user mode. You do this by restarting your Mac and then holding down the Command (Apple) key and the S key immediately after you hear the chime. Keep holding down both Command and S until you see some text start to appear. B) You should end up with a text prompt - it is waiting for you to type a command. The command you should enter is: fsck -fy (There is a space after the 'k') Press Return after typing this command. It will then start doing the filesystem repair and issue various progress messages along the way. This will take at least several minutes. Eventually it will end up with a message that either says something about the disk having been modified, or that the disk appears to be okay. If you get the former, repeat the same command (retype 'fsck -fy'). Keep repeating until it says the disk appears to be okay. C) Type in the command: reboot This should (after a minute or so) bring you back to the normal Mac startup sequence - i.e. you should be back to normal. Tell us what happened with this operation - did it fix something? Did it finish by saying that the disk is okay? __________________ hayne.net/macosx.html

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

12-02-2009, 09:46 PM	#3
Burpee Prospect Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 20	Thanks, I'll check it out.

12-13-2009, 09:19 AM	#4
Burpee Prospect Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 20	I downloaded Applejack - but there does not appear to be anyway to make a boot disk from the dmg file. Again, what i am asking about it a free utility that can repair a whatever OS comes with a MAC mini. I know that 10.2 install disk won't work, nor will the disk utility that ships with 10.2 work. The mini MAC disk must still work -because it is capable of displaying a "journal file" mis-match error when booting to verbose mode...... Is there anyway to "break in to" the verbose mode start process and redirect to a text-based utility to repair the OS before the "panic" message - or is there not enough OS loading to allow for that?

02-20-2010, 09:08 AM	#8
Burpee Prospect Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 20	This is an old thread - but at least it has a happy ending - a relative shipped a copy of MAC OSX needed to reload the Mac mini. The disk first aid failed so it required reformatting. Now my question is about the best method of administering the machine without being nearby. Sine the machine will be used by children how should I go about leaving the account security? Currently the machine is flawless and completely updated with all know java, security and iphone apps. Is there a typical method to create "user" accounts that will not require administer intervention for most situations? Any link would be appreciated..... Thanks for all the help.