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2018 Mini Boot Issues

AZhappyjack

AZhappyjack

Suspended
Original poster
Jul 3, 2011
10,183
23,660
Happy Jack, AZ
I have been experiencing boot issues with my 2018 Mini. The Mini seems to boot fine, but the monitor (LG HDR 4K monitor) reports no signal, and goes into sleep mode. If I power it down/restart it enough times, it finally boots into Password Recovery mode, which I can exit, the it boots as normal. WTF, Apple?

Am I the only one experiencing this boot/no boot scenario? Curious what it going on and how to resolve it. I've had the Mini for about 8 months, and this seems to be an ongoing issue from shortly after getting it.

It's running Mojave (current: macOS 10.14.6).
 
How is the display currently connected?
(which port on the Mini, and which port on the display?)

What OTHER possible display inputs do you have on the monitor?
 
Unplugging the connector from the back of the Mac and back in works for one of my monitors connected by the HDMI port - it won't come to life otherwise. After that it's fine through sleep - it's only a cold boot that affects it.
 
Do you have the display set for auto-detect input? Try switching it to manual >> HDMI (I was having an issue somewhat related, and I believe that resolved it).
 
OP:

DT's suggestion above is a good one.

Also -- if the display "stays black" during bootup, try this:
Reach around to the back.
UNPLUG the HDMI connector from the Mini, then plug it back in.
Does this change anything?
 
Fishrrman said:
OP:

DT's suggestion above is a good one.

Also -- if the display "stays black" during bootup, try this:
Reach around to the back.
UNPLUG the HDMI connector from the Mini, then plug it back in.
Does this change anything?
Click to expand...


No. I have tried all of these "tricks" and suggestions... it is maddeningly frustrating.

the display is set to HDMI (HDMI 1).
 
OP wrote (in #5 above):
"HDMI to HDMI. I don't have any other adaptors/connectors"

If HDMI is the only port available on the display, I can see these paths forward:
- Try a different HDMI cable. I'd suggest a "high speed" HDMI 2.0 cable, marked and sold specifically as such (if you're not using one already)
- Try a USBc (Mac end) to HDMI 2.0 cable/adapter. No promises.
- Try a DIFFERENT display (keep reading).

There seems to be some "deep down" flaw/bug/something else in the Mini's UHD 630 graphics implementation (or perhaps it's something else buried within the Mac OS) that is causing the "black screen on boot" problem with the 2018 Mini.

Apple hasn't solved it yet, and I'm thinking that they can't yet find "the source" of the problem. That's my supposition because if they had been able to locate it, they would have fixed it by now.

Typically, when booted cold (or sometimes re-booted) the Mini/display behave thus:
1. Power button pressed, display illuminates, progress bar is displayed as OS begins to load
2. Suddenly, display "goes black". Communication seems to have been lost between display and Mini (BUT... the OS CONTINUES TO LOAD on the Mini)
3. Display suddenly "re-awakens", progress bar is nearly finished or login screen appears directly.

This can vary with the make/model of display.
It can vary with the connection used to the display (HDMI, DVI, displayport, etc.).
It can vary with the CABLE used between the Mini and the display.

As you can see, there are many MANY variables that are coming into play, which makes the problem difficult to pin down between "one Mini and a display" and "another Mini and a different display".

I'm using a Viewsonic 27" 1080p display with my 2018 Mini.
Using an HDMI-to-HDMI connection (with the only cable I tried), I sometimes would get the "black boot" and no recovery.
BUT
When I switched to an HDMI-to-DVI cable, the problem was "mostly resolved" (my display ALWAYS "goes black" for a few seconds, but then it ALWAYS "comes back").

Again, I don't believe there's "an actual solution" from Apple yet.
The only course of action is to "work around" the problem by trying different cables, connections, and displays (if nothing else works).
 
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Fishrrman said:
OP wrote (in #5 above):
"HDMI to HDMI. I don't have any other adaptors/connectors"

If HDMI is the only port available on the display, I can see these paths forward:
- Try a different HDMI cable. I'd suggest a "high speed" HDMI 2.0 cable, marked and sold specifically as such (if you're not using one already)
- Try a USBc (Mac end) to HDMI 2.0 cable/adapter. No promises.
- Try a DIFFERENT display (keep reading).

There seems to be some "deep down" flaw/bug/something else in the Mini's UHD 630 graphics implementation (or perhaps it's something else buried within the Mac OS) that is causing the "black screen on boot" problem with the 2018 Mini.

Apple hasn't solved it yet, and I'm thinking that they can't yet find "the source" of the problem. That's my supposition because if they had been able to locate it, they would have fixed it by now.

Typically, when booted cold (or sometimes re-booted) the Mini/display behave thus:
1. Power button pressed, display illuminates, progress bar is displayed as OS begins to load
2. Suddenly, display "goes black". Communication seems to have been lost between display and Mini (BUT... the OS CONTINUES TO LOAD on the Mini)
3. Display suddenly "re-awakens", progress bar is nearly finished or login screen appears directly.

This can vary with the make/model of display.
It can vary with the connection used to the display (HDMI, DVI, displayport, etc.).
It can vary with the CABLE used between the Mini and the display.

As you can see, there are many MANY variables that are coming into play, which makes the problem difficult to pin down between "one Mini and a display" and "another Mini and a different display".

I'm using a Viewsonic 27" 1080p display with my 2018 Mini.
Using an HDMI-to-HDMI connection (with the only cable I tried), I sometimes would get the "black boot" and no recovery.
BUT
When I switched to an HDMI-to-DVI cable, the problem was "mostly resolved" (my display ALWAYS "goes black" for a few seconds, but then it ALWAYS "comes back").

Again, I don't believe there's "an actual solution" from Apple yet.
The only course of action is to "work around" the problem by trying different cables, connections, and displays (if nothing else works).
Click to expand...

I appreciate the information and thanks for putting the effort into this. It is extremely frustrating... and I have gotten to the point that I actively avoid things that will force a reboot... My monitor does have a DisplayPort connector, but I haven't found a USB-C / Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable... and some of the cables than I've seen on Amazon have questionable reviews "burnt USB-C end" of the cable, etc.

I have tried several different HDMI cables (all are HDMI 2.0 "high speed" cables)... and even tried connecting the HDMI cable to the Mini via two different brands of USB-C / Thunderbolt "hub".

I guess I will just have to stand by while Apple tries to sort this out. (I hope they are trying to sort this out.) Not sure if the issue is, as you say, related specifically to the UHD 630 graphics component, but not willing to drop the money to get an external GPU just to fix something that should work "out of the box".

Again, thanks.
 
"My monitor does have a DisplayPort connector, but I haven't found a USB-C / Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable..."

I suggest you buy one.
Even Apple's.
The ONLY way to get a suitable workaround is to swap connections/components until you find "the combination that works"...
 
Fishrrman said:
"My monitor does have a DisplayPort connector, but I haven't found a USB-C / Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable..."

I suggest you buy one.
Even Apple's.
The ONLY way to get a suitable workaround is to swap connections/components until you find "the combination that works"...
Click to expand...

Actually, while poking around on the internet, I found an interesting suggestion to turn off FileVault. Since this Mini is only used as my Final Cut Pro editing computer, I saw no reason to obsess over turning off FileVault... I did so earlier this morning... and after installing today's "supplemental update" to Mojave, the Mini re-booted without any incident. So, for grins, I re-booted the Mini three more times - each without incident.

Now, I will contact Apple Support and report this finding... wonder what about accessing the volume with the encryption key would/could cause the re-boot crapola...

Obviously, will report back if I learn anything new or if the issue returns.

Thanks again for all of the input.
 
dwfaust wrote:
"and after installing today's "supplemental update" to Mojave, the Mini re-booted without any incident. So, for grins, I re-booted the Mini three more times - each without incident."

Just wondering -- does "without incident" mean that:
- the display never "goes black" during the boot
or
- does it "go black" and then "come back"...?
 
Fishrrman said:
dwfaust wrote:
"and after installing today's "supplemental update" to Mojave, the Mini re-booted without any incident. So, for grins, I re-booted the Mini three more times - each without incident."

Just wondering -- does "without incident" mean that:
- the display never "goes black" during the boot
or
- does it "go black" and then "come back"...?
Click to expand...

It does not go black.

I go to Apple > Restart... and the computer shuts down, the screen goes dark and I get the warning that the signal is lost (expected outcome, as the computer is shutting down). Within about 2 seconds the Apple logo appears and the progress bar appears and scrolls from left to right. As soon as the progress bar completes, the login screen appears, and I can log in.
 
I'm having similar issue with my 2012 Mini, where if I restart it won't turn on again. But if I turn it off and then press the power button it will turn on. Will try turning off filevault when I get home tonight, cheers for the tip
 
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