Mac Mini (mid 2011) keeps restarting

[alehandroGR]

Hi everyone

I have a mac mini mid-2011 (i5 2.5, 6GB RAM, SSD, 10.13.6) that I use as a HTPC (PMS, OpenPHT).

Few months ago it started doing the following: while booting, it would get to the middle of the progress bar and reboot again, at least few times till it would boot properly. After that I could use it and watch movies and everything. Every now and then though, it would hang while idle and I could hear the fan running like full speed and had to hard-shut down it.

Few days ago it started hanging even while I was watching movies and would keep rebooting (like above...middle of the progress bar etc).

So, yesterday I decided to take a look. I boot in safe mode (will boot in safe mode every time without any problems):
I ran tests with Disk Utility on the SDD, nothing found
I made a bootable USB with memtest86, nothing found
I boot into Diagnostics and ran normal and deep test, nothing found
I checked all the logs in the console, nothing found

The only "clue" I found (maybe useless) is the code 128 as a "Previous shutdown cause" during the last months, in all relevant Log entries.

The very last thing I noticed is that, it won't shutdown. When I try to (UI or even terminal) it restarts. I have to shut it down using the power button.

I would appreciate any guidance, tips or ideas to try and test further what's the cause.
Thank you!

 

[opeter]

I would suggest to do one of the following things:
- in any case, I would first clean the fan (you have compressed air or something?), just to be sure, there is no overheating
- do you have a chance to swap the RAM (1 RAM module is enough) only for testing purpose ?
- test with another SSD (you can clone the system with help of TimeMachine, SuperDuper, CarbonCopyCloner etc.)

Or maybe there is something faulty on the logic board or there is a problem with the power supply (PSU).

 

[alehandroGR]

Thanks for the reply.

I removed the fan already and tried to clean it few days ago...along with the rest of the unit
I also swapped the RAM and tried with just one or the other. Unless there is a problem in both dimms or the controller...

I will try an HDD (don't have a spare SSD). I assume if the SSD is the problem, it would be fine but slower.

Is there a away to test the PSU or check the logic board? Any tools to measure and log power supply?

 

[opeter]

Is there a away to test the PSU or check the logic board? Any tools to measure and log power supply?

I don't think you can do that without the right equipement and you would also need some service manual or similar, to know what the right data/measurements should be.

 

[alehandroGR]

Any other tool that could be useful for health-checking? The safe-boot always works (boot and usage). A faulty PSU or an SSD would cause issues even then probably.

 

[alehandroGR]

I just cloned the SSD to another HDD and it had the exact same behavior....only way slower

 

[opeter]

I just cloned the SSD to another HDD and it had the exact same behavior....only way slower

If that is the case, then the problem is with the logic board and/or with one (or more) integrated component(s).

Or it could be the PSU. To test the PSU, you would need to have another one at hand and use that one for a couple of hours or so, just to be sure...

 

[alehandroGR]

Took it to a service guy...he said it's the graphic card...RIP...

 

[Fishrrman]

After 11 years, time for a replacement.

If you need "used/Intel", the 2018 Minis are very nice (I'm using one now).

If you're thinking "new", can you hold off buying until November?
New Minis with the m2 CPU are "coming very soon".

 

[alehandroGR]

I'll try to find what you are suggesting....from the price range I'm seeing...maybe slightly older...