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BootROM Macmini7,1 Late 2014.

paalb

paalb

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 17, 2019
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@tsialex At work I support a lot of graphic professionals who use macminis late 2014, Macmini7,1. Are the BootROM on these machines less likely to brick than the macpro5,1? The reason I ask is that I have to reset NVRAM every time to get these to work with “alt” boot to pick external USB disks with Big Sur. For some reason the same disk are not showing up in System Preferences > Startup Disk. I am testing deployment of new software with external disks.
 
MP5,1 are bricking from a diverse combination of factors, including age itself. Mac minis don't have all the problems that affect a MP5,1, no modularity, but some of the same design decisions are at play and will cause problems over time.

You can try a deep NVRAM reset to see if improves the boot picker drive identification.
 
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tsialex said:
MP5,1 are bricking from a diverse combination of factors, including age itself. Mac minis don't have all the problems that affect a MP5,1, no modularity, but some of the same design decisions are at play and will cause problems over time.

You can try a deep NVRAM reset to see if improves the boot picker drive identification.
Click to expand...
How do you do "deep NVRAM reset"?
 
Install a wired keyboard that works for NVRAM resets, not all work, press CMD-Option-P-R and keep pressed until you hear the 5th chime - you need to reset the NVRAM at least four times consecutively.
 
tsialex said:
Install a wired keyboard that works for NVRAM resets, not all work, press CMD-Option-P-R and keep pressed until you hear the 5th chime - you need to reset the NVRAM at least four times consecutively.
Click to expand...
Thanks, this I did not know. Is this from cold boot? I have used 3 chimes for nearly 30 years now :)
 
paalb said:
@tsialex At work I support a lot of graphic professionals who use macminis late 2014, Macmini7,1. Are the BootROM on these machines less likely to brick than the macpro5,1? The reason I ask is that I have to reset NVRAM every time to get these to work with “alt” boot to pick external USB disks with Big Sur. For some reason the same disk are not showing up in System Preferences > Startup Disk. I am testing deployment of new software with external disks.
Click to expand...
Are you sure, that everything is fine with the external disks, or the external cases, maybe the USB cables?
But of course, the problem can be with the Mac minis itself.
 
opeter said:
Are you sure, that everything is fine with the external disks, or the external cases, maybe the USB cables?
But of course, the problem can be with the Mac minis itself.
Click to expand...
Doing a NVRAM reset and holding down alt immediately after the last chime I get to choose it as boot disk. After that it works without any problems.
 
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