Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

High Sierra killed memory slot

B

bened

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 16, 2008
29
3
Tokyo
Hi,

I upgraded my Mac mini 2011 to High Sierra. I did not wanted to restart, gave three beeps indicating a memory failure. I swapped the two memory modules and Mac mini restarted and finished High Sierra install. But it no longer recognizes memory in the second slot. Only slot 1 works fine, both memory cards are ok. I tried reseating the cards several times but it does not change anything.

Does anyone has any advice how to fix the problem? (Mac Mini has one SSD and one HDD installed, I used two OWC memory cards, 16 GB total. Now I use 8 GB in one slot.)

Thanks
bened
 
Problems with macOS Sierra? This fix may help you (this is for Sierra, and not High Sierra, but you may wish to check it anyway) ... also try EtreCheck

According to what users say, what a wonderful operating system this High Sierra must be! (I really can't wait to try it myself, and see what it will kill in my Mac):

High Sierra killed memory slot
Apple has killed RAID booting with High Sierra
high sierra killed finder
High Sierra Has Killed my SSD
File Sharing in macOS High Sierra kills macOS Server
Sierra Killing battery life?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: macsforme, Synchro3 and AleRod
OP asks:
"Does anyone has any advice how to fix the problem?"

Did you try zapping the PRAM?
Put LoSierra back onto it, and see if the problem goes away.

I'm wondering if this has something to do with [what others are reporting as] the "silent firmware update" that occurs during the HiSierra installation process?
 
leo-tech said:
Problems with macOS Sierra? This fix may help you (this is for Sierra, and not High Sierra, but you may wish to check it anyway) ... also try EtreCheck

According to what users say, what a wonderful operating system this High Sierra must be! (I really can't wait to try it myself, and see what it will kill in my Mac):

High Sierra killed memory slot
Apple has killed RAID booting with High Sierra
high sierra killed finder
High Sierra Has Killed my SSD
File Sharing in macOS High Sierra kills macOS Server
Sierra Killing battery life?
Click to expand...


Add High Sierra bricked my Mac Pro :(.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AleRod
bened said:
Does anyone has any advice how to fix the problem? (Mac Mini has one SSD and one HDD installed, I used two OWC memory cards, 16 GB total. Now I use 8 GB in one slot.)
Click to expand...

What's the suspected issue here? Is High Sierra is checking the hardware as a security feature and limiting the maximum RAM to 8GB or is it checking the brand of RAM via RAM manufacturer code? Or did it find 8GB of the RAM to be faulty?

I have a 2011 2.3Ghz base Mini with 16GB Crucial RAM running Sierra that I haven't installed High Sierra on yet. I'm hoping if this issue doesn't effect all 2011 Minis or if it's an issue that effects certain brands of RAM.

My Macbook Pro i5 2.5Ghz 2012 with 16GB Crucial RAM seems to be running High Sierra ok. It did lock up once after installation during my first restart which required a power cycle but it seems to have been running solid from then on.
[doublepost=1506529186][/doublepost]
Plutonius said:
Add High Sierra bricked my Mac Pro :(.
Click to expand...

It's called an Apple inspired hardware upgrade. The new Mac Pros are coming soon. :apple: o_O
 
Last edited:
Well if it's breaking Apple hardware to thwart Hackintoshes it has failed. I easily updated and fresh installed High Sierra with no issues.
Apple has also taken away older releases of OS X from purchase tab in the Apple Store App so you no longer can use an older version unless you save the installers.
 
Crosscreek said:
Well if it's breaking Apple hardware to thwart Hackintoshes it has failed. I easily updated and fresh installed High Sierra with no issues.
Apple has also taken away older releases of OS X from purchase tab in the Apple Store App so you no longer can use an older version unless you save the installers.
Click to expand...
They might be fixing hardware to OEM specs in an attempt to deter users from upgrading older or used hardware and/or to try to thwart Hackintosh builds. In the long run this might be an effective strategy for them since new systems for the past few years have their hardware mostly locked down from user upgrades and changes. We see Microsoft doing the same thing with Windows 10 only (Windows 7 can't be installed) allowed to install on machines with the latest Intel and AMD processors.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Crosscreek
Thanks for all answers.

I tried the NVRAM and SMC reset, but as soon as I put both memory cards into the Mac Mini it starts only with three beeps, indicating memory problems. So NVRAM reset is only possible with one memory card, but it did not that changed anything.

SMC firmware is version 1.75f0.

As the SSD is reformatted to the new file system I can't easily switch back to Sierra. I will try to restart from an external disk and see if that changes something.

I don't know what to suspect is wrong. These are two OMC-memory modules, 8 Gb each, working without no problems since now. Both modules are ok, I tried that. But after High Sierra installation the Mac Mini only recognizes one module and it must be in the lower slot.
 
bened said:
Thanks for all answers.

I tried the NVRAM and SMC reset, but as soon as I put both memory cards into the Mac Mini it starts only with three beeps, indicating memory problems. So NVRAM reset is only possible with one memory card, but it did not that changed anything.

SMC firmware is version 1.75f0.

As the SSD is reformatted to the new file system I can't easily switch back to Sierra. I will try to restart from an external disk and see if that changes something.

I don't know what to suspect is wrong. These are two OMC-memory modules, 8 Gb each, working without no problems since now. Both modules are ok, I tried that. But after High Sierra installation the Mac Mini only recognizes one module and it must be in the lower slot.
Click to expand...
I cannot help with much here but I know that APFS can be easily reverted to AFS using disk utility. Instead of using Erase, just select Partition and change format there. Done it twice with no issues.
 
Sedulous said:
I cannot help with much here but I know that APFS can be easily reverted to AFS using disk utility. Instead of using Erase, just select Partition and change format there. Done it twice with no issues.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I did not know that. So I might go back easily to Sierra and see if it is a hardware failure. Thanks again.
 
I might be wrong on this, but I believe that the Mini's firmware gets upgraded along with the OS. Could this somehow be the source of the trouble? In any case...

...Do you have the factory-original RAM?
If so, put that back in.

If you don't have the factory-original RAM, try some RAM -other than- OWC's.
I'd suggest either Crucial-brand RAM or RAM ordered from here:
https://www.datamemorysystems.com/apple-mac-mini-memory-upgrades/

If you come to the conclusion that just the -one- DIMM slot is bad, then perhaps the best solution (easiest, cheapest) might be to put an 8gb DIMM into the -good- DIMM slot, and leave the other one "empty".

Of course that limits you to 8gb, but sometimes one just has to do, what one has to do...
 
Fishrrman said:
I might be wrong on this, but I believe that the Mini's firmware gets upgraded along with the OS. Could this somehow be the source of the trouble? In any case...
Click to expand...

Might be. Unfortunately I don't know the firmware version from before the update and can't compare.

Fishrrman said:
...Do you have the factory-original RAM?
If so, put that back in.
Click to expand...

Still looking for the original RAM. I have non used it for five years or so. It must be somewhere ...

Fishrrman said:
If you come to the conclusion that just the -one- DIMM slot is bad, then perhaps the best solution (easiest, cheapest) might be to put an 8gb DIMM into the -good- DIMM slot, and leave the other one "empty".
Of course that limits you to 8gb, but sometimes one just has to do, what one has to do...
Click to expand...

Most probably that will be the final solution.

I tested today with a clean install of Sierra and the same problem exists. So it seems to be a hardware defect or dependent on the firmware but not on the OS.
 
Crosscreek said:
Well if it's breaking Apple hardware to thwart Hackintoshes it has failed. I easily updated and fresh installed High Sierra with no issues.
Apple has also taken away older releases of OS X from purchase tab in the Apple Store App so you no longer can use an older version unless you save the installers.
Click to expand...

On my 2012 Mini running El Capitan (as well as my 2012 MBP running Sierra), the older OS's I "purchased" are still available for download (Lion, Yosemite, El Capitan). However, I don't see Sierra as being available for download. There may be issues with older installers and current working installers in the future due to certificate issues. I think I've encountered this issue with older installers I had but I just downloaded a new copy.
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/03/03/older-os-x-installers-broken-by-certificate/

UPDATE: I noticed that in the Sierra forum, there are several threads on Sierra no longer showing up.
 
Last edited:
SoCalReviews said:
What's the suspected issue here? Is High Sierra is checking the hardware as a security feature and limiting the maximum RAM to 8GB or is it checking the brand of RAM via RAM manufacturer code? Or did it find 8GB of the RAM to be faulty?

I have a 2011 2.3Ghz base Mini with 16GB Crucial RAM running Sierra that I haven't installed High Sierra on yet. I'm hoping if this issue doesn't effect all 2011 Minis or if it's an issue that effects certain brands of RAM.

2 x 8gb crucial sticks I'm my late 2012 no issues whatsoever.
Click to expand...
 

Are there any updates on this issue after the High Sierra update on a 2011 Mini... where only 8GB of OWC brand memory was showing as active despite having 16GB of OWC memory installed?

Is this issue memory specific relating to the firmware update... or was it related to a hardware memory slot failure or something else?

I have 16GB Crucial memory installed on my 2011 Mini running Sierra but I want to upgrade it to High Sierra. I'm hoping this isn't a general firmware problem effecting all 2011 Minis with 16GB installed.
 
Last edited:
Crosscreek said:
Apple has also taken away older releases of OS X from purchase tab in the Apple Store App so you no longer can use an older version unless you save the installers.
Click to expand...

Wait a minute, back in July this year Apple relented and restored the ability to get older installers on the Purchased tab. Are you saying they took it away again more recently, or are you working on pre-July information?
 
Neither I could install High Sierra on an external USB drive (tried it on a Mac Mini 2012 and a MacBook Pro 2012). It will break during install.

If I remember correctly this was no problem with older OS'.

If I install High Sierra internally via SATA and then put it in an USB drive no problem.
 
Synchro3 said:
Neither I could install High Sierra on an external USB drive (tried it on a Mac Mini 2012 and a MacBook Pro 2012). It will break during install.

If I remember correctly this was no problem with older OS'.

If I install High Sierra internally via SATA and then put it in an USB drive no problem.
Click to expand...
I installed (clean installation on new SSDs) High Sierra from a USB without issues. Downloaded the OS and then transferred (don't remember the exact procedure as I was just following instructions) to the usb stick.
 
No problem with going from El Capitan -> High Sierra on a 2012 i7 with 16 GB of Kingston RAM.
Also converted the 500GB Crucial SSD to APFS.

photoanalysisd worked through the night, though and I've still got mds* processes taking up most of the CPU time. Looks like I'm going to disable the power-save mode again until it has indexed all and everything.

Finally also pulled the trigger on that OmniGraffle upgrade (v5 does not work with HS), after upgrading VMWare Fusion about a week before the Black Friday Sales started....
 
Trusteft said:
I installed (clean installation on new SSDs) High Sierra from a USB without issues. Downloaded the OS and then transferred (don't remember the exact procedure as I was just following instructions) to the usb stick.
Click to expand...

I meant installing the full OS operable on a external USB harddisk, not installing just the installer on a USB Stick.
 
Synchro3 said:
I meant installing the full OS operable on a external USB harddisk, not installing just the installer on a USB Stick.
Click to expand...
You mean using the USB stick as the OS drive? (C: drive) ?
IF yes, then no, I haven't tried that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back