Mac Mini Upgrade Nightmare

[nollimac]

So my Samsung 840 pro 128GB finally came in, and I decided to spent 30mins to upgrade. Well it not only took over an hour but also created a nightmare. Why...I noticed in putting the fan back in that one of the wire had broken...in the corner where the wires make the almost ninety-degree turn. Now, I bought the Mac Mini about the first week of December...so would it still covered under warranty?

 

[AnalyzeThis]

So my Samsung 840 pro 128GB finally came in, and I decided to spent 30mins to upgrade. Well it not only took over an hour but also created a nightmare. Why...I noticed in putting the fan back in that one of the wire had broken...in the corner where the wires make the almost ninety-degree turn. Now, I bought the Mac Mini about the first week of December...so would it still covered under warranty?

Sure it will, unless you made it obvious you attempted SSD upgrade. I would just fix the wire myself. Apple would replace everything permanently attached to this wire. They are not "sophisticated" enough to fix the wire itself.

 

[nollimac]

Sure it will, unless you made it obvious you attempted SSD upgrade. I would just fix the wire myself. Apple would replace everything permanently attached to this wire. They are not "sophisticated" enough to fix the wire itself.

I thought of doing that however, the wire is very, very small and thin. On Ebay, fans are about $20. I'll call Apple in the morning to see what they say.

 

[paulrbeers]

So my Samsung 840 pro 128GB finally came in, and I decided to spent 30mins to upgrade. Well it not only took over an hour but also created a nightmare. Why...I noticed in putting the fan back in that one of the wire had broken...in the corner where the wires make the almost ninety-degree turn. Now, I bought the Mac Mini about the first week of December...so would it still covered under warranty?

So you broke the fan doing an upgrade that technically isn't user serviceable and want to know if it is covered under warranty?

So the fan wires didn't just magically break on their own and/or wasn't a manufacturing defect....

Not sure if this is a serious question?

 

[nollimac]

So you broke the fan doing an upgrade that technically isn't user serviceable and want to know if it is covered under warranty?

So the fan wires didn't just magically break on their own and/or wasn't a manufacturing defect....

Not sure if this is a serious question?

It would hurt to ask doesn't it!

 

[blanka]

Next time, leave the fan in place. You only need to remove the Airport cover grill. That's all.
I think a replacement fan will be not that bad to buy as part. So even if they don't cover it under warranty, the price will be acceptable.
It is:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CPU-Coo...t-Mac-Mini-A1347-2010-2011-2012-/231071899093

 

[nollimac]

Next time, leave the fan in place. You only need to remove the Airport cover grill. That's all.
I think a replacement fan will be not that bad to buy as part. So even if they don't cover it under warranty, the price will be acceptable.
It is:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CPU-Coo...t-Mac-Mini-A1347-2010-2011-2012-/231071899093

Thank you Blanka...actually that's the one I am looking at and have asked the seller if I paid this morning whether he or she could ship today.

I realized that while I was struggling with aligning the antenna/airport cover grill (you can't do one side before the other else one will never get the other aligned to fit the screw), I accidentally hit the fan that was sitting on my work table that fell to the floor. I didn't think of any problem; however, the corner where the wires run might have taken the hit on the tile that cut one wire.

I have been upgrading and repairing my Apple laptops, desktops since my first Power Mac 7200 in 1996 and this my first incident. I was really looking forward to setting up my first server over the weekend.

Maybe I should not have watched that OWC video if I didn't need to remove the fan. All the DIY guide suggests removing the fan though.

 

[nollimac]

I wanted to utilize this weekend to install the 16GB of Crucial memory that's sitting on my desk, install Mavericks and migrate stuff from the original hard drive. If I keep the Mini upside down with the bottom cover off and placed a USB double fan across the bottom...that should be okay to do the above right?

I have already placed the original drive in a G-Technology mini enclosure and will attach to the Mac Mini via FireWire.

 

[Fishrrman]

This thread is yet one more example (of numerous threads posted in this forum) as to why I chose to install and run my own SSD _externally_.

Quick, easy, cheaper.
And -- the warranty stays intact.

 

[goldenmh]

Fishrrman

Can you refresh my memory on your setup mini model and what your using externally how hooked up?
Thanks.

 

[nollimac]

This thread is yet one more example (of numerous threads posted in this forum) as to why I chose to install and run my own SSD _externally_.

Quick, easy, cheaper.
And -- the warranty stays intact.

Thank you for your concern...actually, it's perfectly okay to install a SSD in the Mini. My case was just an accident, and accidents do happen...good or bad. What I would recommend to others is keep every part above the Mac Mini on the work area and don't pick up until one has completed the previous task...don't place any part close to one's elbow at the edge of the work table.

Luckily, the fan is only $18 paid for by my "free" Ebay Bucks and it's on its way to me. I call the local Apple Store and was told they would have to order it anyway.

 

[wetcanvas]

if you had apple do it there is no telling what they would replace. On my macbook air my camera broke and they replaced the entire screen and lid as one big piece. that just seemed strange to me. 500 dollars worth of parts for a 10 dollar camera.

 

[nollimac]

Drop Top (Bottom) Mac Mni

So, I decided to install Mavericks on the Samsung 840 Pro, install 16GB Crucial memory and erase the original hard drive and use it as Time Machine back up until my 10TB G-Raid Pro is ready. Of course, the Mac Mini is up side down with bottom cover off and a twin USB fan across the bottom...all is good.

The Mac Mini replacement fan ordered and should receive it by Tuesday. I had also called my local Apple Store which stated that because I did the upgrade, the warranty might not apply however, I would have to take the Mac Mini in for an evaluation and they would need to order a fan. I told them I'll just take the responsibility even though it was an accident.

I might just configure Server in the morning.

 

[Fishrrman]

[[ Can you refresh my memory on your setup mini model and what your using externally how hooked up? ]]

Plugable.com "lay-flat" USB3/SATA docking station, with Intel 520 series SSD drive.

Just put drive into dock, plug dock into USB port, use CCC to clone contents of internal drive to SSD, and go.

No need to buy additional cables or tools. "Connect and go". Runs great.

 

[nollimac]

[[ Can you refresh my memory on your setup mini model and what your using externally how hooked up? ]]

Plugable.com "lay-flat" USB3/SATA docking station, with Intel 520 series SSD drive.

Just put drive into dock, plug dock into USB port, use CCC to clone contents of internal drive to SSD, and go.

No need to buy additional cables or tools. "Connect and go". Runs great.

I am using the late 2012 Mac Mini dual core i5 with a 128GB Samsung 840 Pro and 16GB Crucial Memory. Externally, I have a daisy chained two G-Technology Mini enclosure with 500GB and 160GB hard drive, as well as, a LaCie Rugged 250GB to the Firewire. Then, I have a 10TB G-Raid Pro connected to Thunderbolt. Of course, the Mac Mini is headless and controlled with my MacBook Pro. All I need now is an EDID emulator so I can connect the Mac Mini to the HDMI switcher for on-demand streaming. The HDMI switcher share an LED projector with two Apple TV (gen 1 & 3), as well as, a digital TV box for local channels.

 

[CrazyNurse]

Oh, no.

Just tell everyone to follow this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkbekb8yKhc

By far, the easiest way to do it. No geeky, pompous, techno babble. Just quick and straight forward.

His video should be a sticky on this board.

 

[fhall1]

Oh, no.

Just tell everyone to follow this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkbekb8yKhc

By far, the easiest way to do it. No geeky, pompous, techno babble. Just quick and straight forward.

His video should be a sticky on this board.

The only thing bugging me about that video is why did he remove the case screw on the left in the video? It didn't block anything or loosen anything he had to move....just seems like he could have left it alone.

 

[CrazyNurse]

The only thing bugging me about that video is why did he remove the case screw on the left in the video? It didn't block anything or loosen anything he had to move....just seems like he could have left it alone.

Me, too. I just left it.

Pretty straight forward though, no?

 

[nollimac]

So, I replaced the fan...here it is! Notice the replacement fan's motor is bigger than the original.

 

[Neiloid]

So, I replaced the fan...here it is! Notice the replacement fan's motor is bigger than the original.

Good to see you are up and running again. Is the new fan any quieter or more efficient at cooling than the one it replaces?

 

[Edde1]

This thread is yet one more example (of numerous threads posted in this forum) as to why I chose to install and run my own SSD _externally_.

Quick, easy, cheaper.
And -- the warranty stays intact.

What enclousure do you use for your SSD? Im searching on ebay for one but there is 1000 different models.

 

[Crosscreek]

What enclousure do you use for your SSD? Im searching on ebay for one but there is 1000 different models.

OWC has quality enclosures. They are a little more expensive but they back up their product.

 

[Jambalaya]

I would be interested to know your setup, how much do you have on the SSD and what do you keep externally, how big are those devices and what's the usage (eg photos X, movies Y, music Z). I ask as personally I thought 128 would be too small so when I switched my old 160gb HDD I went to WD black 750.

 

[Fishrrman]

Edde1 asked:
[[ What enclousure do you use for your SSD? Im searching on ebay for one but there is 1000 different models. ]]

Either of these will work (no financial interest, just a paying customer):
http://plugable.com/products/USB3-SATA-U3
or
http://plugable.com/products/USB3-SATA-UASP1

I actually use the lay-flat dock in an out-of-the-way spot on the desk.

They also offer a snazzy dual dock:
http://plugable.com/products/pss-dd1
BUT -- the product notes say nothing about UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol).
The first two docks have this feature (for faster speeds)

 

[nollimac]

I would be interested to know your setup, how much do you have on the SSD and what do you keep externally, how big are those devices and what's the usage (eg photos X, movies Y, music Z). I ask as personally I thought 128 would be too small so when I switched my old 160gb HDD I went to WD black 750.

The SSD has 128GB for just the Mavericks OS, Server 3.0, and Apple Office(Keynote, Pages, numbers) will be adding Plex and XBMC. Externally, I have a 10TB G-Raid Pro for movies, photos, and maybe music, connected via thunderbolt. It's a server and HTPC.