Mac mini won't load

[patricem]

MY Mac mini will not load. It starts and I hear the chime but that's it. The apple hardware test shows the 4MEM/60/40000000 error code which leads to a memory issue? I pulled out the ram and reinserted it. I am thinking it's probably a hard drive fail? Will not boot into safe mode. Have my external hard drive hooked up, hold option when starting, but it goes right into disk utility when I click to start using external. Why is that? Could it be a ram issue then? Was working perfect then suddenly just a circle with line through it, or the dreaded blinking ?. Any ideas or help tips? TY

 

[AFEPPL]

MY Mac mini will not load. It starts and I hear the chime but that's it. The apple hardware test shows the 4MEM/60/40000000 error code which leads to a memory issue? I pulled out the ram and reinserted it. I am thinking it's probably a hard drive fail? Will not boot into safe mode. Have my external hard drive hooked up, hold option when starting, but it goes right into disk utility when I click to start using external. Why is that? Could it be a ram issue then? Was working perfect then suddenly just a circle with line through it, or the dreaded blinking ?. Any ideas or help tips? TY

Failed memory module.

 

[patricem]

Failed memory module.

Meaning? Could you expand on that? Bad ram? I have 2 8gb sticks in there. TY

 

[AFEPPL]

Yes, a bad stick. Try removing/replacing them.
Do you have spares? (match pairs is the apple recommendation).

 

[patricem]

Yes, a bad stick. Try removing/replacing them.
Do you have spares? (match pairs is the apple recommendation).

I don't have any extra new ram. I did try removing, rearranging the 2 I have but so far no changes. I only took out put back , I can keep fiddling with it. Does ram suddenly go bad like this?

 

[Bart Kela]

Everything can go bad at any given moment. Your testicles, the radiator hoses in your car, the electrical wiring in your house, the battery in your electric toothbrush, your front doorknob lock.

Nothing lasts forever.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I don't have any extra new ram. I did try removing, rearranging the 2 I have but so far no changes. I only took out put back , I can keep fiddling with it. Does ram suddenly go bad like this?"

If it's a bad RAM DIMM (or slot), you're going to have to find this by "a process of elimination"

How to proceed (yes, it's going to involve time and trouble):
1. Take BOTH DIMMs out
2. Mark or label them #1 and #2
3. Put #1 back into the upper slot (closest to you with the bottom cover off).
4. Boot up.
5. Do you get a good boot? Does it run now?

Next:
1. Power down.
2. Remove DIMM #1 and replace it with DIMM #2 (again, topmost slot)
3. Boot up.
4. Do you get a good boot? Does it run now?

Then, you'll have to move DIMM #2 to the "bottom slot" and try it that way, then repeat with #1.

Keep some notes, too, so you don't start going round in circles.
If you come to the conclusion that it's a bad RAM -slot-, just put 8gb into the good slot and be happy.