Flashing question mark

[SpecifiedUserName]

Hi there, apologies if this is in the wrong subsection! I have a problem with my Mac Mini. Upon switching on the computer I get the flashing question mark icon. I have followed instructions online and don't seem to be getting anywhere...I think I might need a new SSD? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks muchly! Below are some relevant screenshots.

 

[adam9c1]

It appears that your computer is not seeing the local drive.
What model mini?

 

[SpecifiedUserName]

It appears that your computer is not seeing the local drive.
What model mini?

Thanks for the swift reply Adam! its a Model A1347

 

[Partron22]

2012.
It's seeing 1.33GB of some sort of drive, and it's full.
What's it say when you click on "disk1" in Disk utility?
You may have more unformatted space there.

 

[SpecifiedUserName]

With regards to 'disk1', I include a screenshot below. Its now showing up the SATA drive. Curiously it isnt showing up on startup disk though.

 

[Partron22]

240.06GB. It says unformatted. Looks like you may have tried to install to recovery partition?
I'd erase and format GUID HFS+ etc, and see if that 240GB shows as a partition for your install.

 

[Fishrrman]

I can think of no better illustration for which to make the following statement:

This is what having a bootable cloned backup close-at-hand is all about.

OP:
What kind of drive was inside BEFORE the problem?
Did it ever have bootcamp on it?

 

[SpecifiedUserName]

T

240.06GB. It says unformatted. Looks like you may have tried to install to recovery partition?
I'd erase and format GUID HFS+ etc, and see if that 240GB shows as a partition for your install.

thanks for the reply. However everything is greyed out when I click on the ssd...

This all happened right after the computer froze and had to be rebooted. Not sure how relevant that might be.
[doublepost=1553956123][/doublepost]

I can think of no better illustration for which to make the following statement:

This is what having a bootable cloned backup close-at-hand is all about.

OP:
What kind of drive was inside BEFORE the problem?
Did it ever have bootcamp on it?

I have had the SSD in there for about 6 months with no issues. Before then it was the regular 54,000 rpm drive. Bootcamp has never been on it.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I have had the SSD in there for about 6 months with no issues."

I have had at least one SSD "go dark" on me.
No warnings, no nothing.
It just "disappeared" and would not show up with any kind of utility.
Nothing could "see it" or "bring it back" to life.

Could this have happened to you?

One other thought:
Could it be a loose connection or failed connecting cable?

 

[SpecifiedUserName]

It could indeed! I suppose it could, maybe opening up the machine may be in order.

 

[SpecifiedUserName]

I ended up getting a new SSD. That fixed the problem unsurprisingly. Thanks for all the advice anyway

 

[Partron22]

I ended up getting a new SSD.

I don't actually "like" your post, but now I'll know what to do when it happens to me.