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Updating a 2018 Intel Mac mini from Catalina to Ventura

micpoc

micpoc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 3, 2015
20
1
New Orleans
Background: Since purchasing my mini in 2019, I have had a problem that others here have reported, namely, issues with whatever monitor I use (I have tried three in total) not recognizing the computer. I have done most of the suggested fixes, but the problem seems to be related to something in the graphics area. When booting the computer, if I turn on my monitor first, then turn on the mini, my monitor displays a “no input signal found” type of message and I have to force shut down the computer; similarly, when the computer goes to sleep, it will not wake. To deal with these issues, I have found that first turning on the mini, THEN turning on the monitor about 2–3 seconds later gets me a boot screen; on the waking issue, I simply have my computer set to not sleep, using a screen saver instead.

My current dilemma: I wish to update 10.15.7 to the current OS. The problem is how to handle the re-booting part of the OS upgrade. Since it has clearly been quite a while since I have upgraded a Mac, I do not recall if the part where the computer reboots during the installation can be paused. I do not want to screw up the update by getting into another “force quit” situation. Any ideas? (If this post would be better handled in the macOS forum, I can move it.)
 
You have a classic HDMI handshake issue. Sometimes it is hardware and other times it can be drivers related. First things first, have you tried a different monitor and are the results the same? Is this a 4K monitor? You can do a few test to narrow down the culprit. If this is a 4K monitor, make sure you are using a quality cable that can output in 4K with the monitor‘s refresh rate.

Does the monitor have a display port? If so plug it into the TB port on the back of the Mini.
 
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Heat_Fan89 said:
First things first, have you tried a different monitor and are the results the same?
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Yes, as stated above, I have tried three different monitors in total; I only own one, others were borrowed. Same results with every one.

Heat_Fan89 said:
Is this a 4K monitor? You can do a few test to narrow down the culprit. If this is a 4K monitor, make sure you are using a quality cable that can output in 4K with the monitor‘s refresh rate.
Click to expand...
Yes, it is a Philips 276E8VJSB 27" monitor. I have tried with multiple cables, including the Belkin one that Apple sells and recommends (though I do not recall right now if that is the one currently attached). What tests are you referring to?

Heat_Fan89 said:
Does the monitor have a display port? If so plug it into the TB port on the back of the Mini.
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It does have a display port. I attempted so many different cable options that, frankly, I do not recall if that one was tried.
 
micpoc said:
Yes, as stated above, I have tried three different monitors in total; I only own one, others were borrowed. Same results with every one.


Yes, it is a Philips 276E8VJSB 27" monitor. I have tried with multiple cables, including the Belkin one that Apple sells and recommends (though I do not recall right now if that is the one currently attached). What tests are you referring to?


It does have a display port. I attempted so many different cable options that, frankly, I do not recall if that one was tried.
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Test=things to try. I have a 27" Philips 27E81 4K monitor and I have it connected to two Mini's (2018 and M2). The 2018 is connected to the DP and the M2 is connected via HDMI. The HDMI cable I was using was causing the video to intermittently cut in/out. I tried another cable and that fixed that particular problem. I would suggest using a DP cable first to eliminate an HDMI Handshake issue from being the problem. HDMI can be quirky at times.

I then encountered another HDMI problem when upgrading from Monterey to Ventura. I lost my HDMI signal. I fixed that doing this.

 
Heat_Fan89 said:
Test=things to try. I have a 27" Philips 27E81 4K monitor and I have it connected to two Mini's (2018 and M2). The 2018 is connected to the DP and the M2 is connected via HDMI. The HDMI cable I was using was causing the video to intermittently cut in/out. I tried another cable and that fixed that particular problem. I would suggest using a DP cable first to eliminate an HDMI Handshake issue from being the problem. HDMI can be quirky at times.

I then encountered another HDMI problem when upgrading from Monterey to Ventura. I lost my HDMI signal. I fixed that doing this.

Click to expand...
OK. So, you mean a Thunderbolt to Display Port cable? Do you know a specific brand that I should try? I have never encountered the intermittent problem you mention.
 
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When you get the cable tomorrow, try the trick I posted in the comments by selecting 1080P with the DP cable. Reboot the Mac, unplug the DP cable then connect the HDMI cable and see if you get a signal. If you do, then select a higher resolution and see if you still have an HDMI signal. My theory is that there is a refresh rate/handshake problem that doesn't allow the Mac to send a video signal to the monitor.
 
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Heat_Fan89 said:
When you get the cable tomorrow, try the trick I posted in the comments by selecting 1080P with the DP cable. Reboot the Mac, unplug the DP cable then connect the HDMI cable and see if you get a signal. If you do, then select a higher resolution and see if you still have an HDMI signal. My theory is that there is a refresh rate/handshake problem that doesn't allow the Mac to send a video signal to the monitor.
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Select 1080p where? Do not see anything in System Preferences > Displays
 
If you want to upgrade, my advice is simple:

Just do it.

If the display doesn't automatically "come back up" after a reboot, unplug/replug the connecting cable. That will almost certainly "bring it back".

2018 Minis (I'm typing on one now) can be very "picky" when it comes to displays/cables/connection schemes. What works for one display may NOT work with another.
 
micpoc said:
Select 1080p where? Do not see anything in System Preferences > Displays
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Yes, that's where you have the option to scale the different resolutions. Force it to 1080P, then reboot the Mac. Then unplug the DP cable, then plug in the HDMI cable. If you get a signal, then go back and change the resolution to your choice. I set my Philips to 2K as 4K is too small and 1080P is too big.
 
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Heat_Fan89 said:
Yes, that's where you have the option to scale the different resolutions. Force it to 1080P, then reboot the Mac. Then unplug the DP cable, then plug in the HDMI cable. If you get a signal, then go back and change the resolution to your choice. I set my Philips to 2K as 4K is too small and 1080P is too big.
Click to expand...
Actually, it's already set at 1920 x 1080.
 
Fishrrman said:
If you want to upgrade, my advice is simple:

Just do it.

If the display doesn't automatically "come back up" after a reboot, unplug/replug the connecting cable. That will almost certainly "bring it back".

2018 Minis (I'm typing on one now) can be very "picky" when it comes to displays/cables/connection schemes. What works for one display may NOT work with another.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion. I have done the unplug/replug thing in the past; made no difference.
 
micpoc said:
Thanks for the suggestion. I have done the unplug/replug thing in the past; made no difference.
Click to expand...
No, you'll need the DP cable to get a signal first. Then reboot the Mac, then unplug the DP cable then plug the HDMI cable. I think there is a refresh rate issue and the Mac won't send a video signal. By switching to DP, it is a faster connection so a video signal to monitor handshake is not a problem.
 
Heat_Fan89 said:
No, you'll need the DP cable to get a signal first. Then reboot the Mac, then unplug the DP cable then plug the HDMI cable. I think there is a refresh rate issue and the Mac won't send a video signal. By switching to DP, it is a faster connection so a video signal to monitor handshake is not a problem.
Click to expand...
OK; but if the DP cable works—i.e., if the monitor and the mini see each other no problem with the DP cable when booting—why go back to the HDMI cable?
 
FWIW, with my 2018 Mac Mini connected to an old Dell 5K monitor (UP2715K) via two DisplayPorts through a Caldigit Thunderbolt dock, I have these two issues:

(1) Computer will never boot up in 5K mode. I have an AB switch on one of the DisplayPorts, so I switch off one DisplayPort when restarting. It boots into 2560x1440, and once I’m at the desktop I can switch the DisplayPort back in to get to 5K.

(2) More to your problem, about once a week the monitor won’t turn on after having turned off. I keep my Mac on all the time, so it’s the display that’s asleep and not the Mac. Usually a press of a keyboard key or the jiggle of the mouse will cause the display to turn on.

What’s required to fix this is to disconnect the monitor from the wall, wait a couple of seconds, and plug it back in. Simply turning the monitor on and off is insufficient.

I have a remote control outlet plug adapter that sits between the monitor and the wall outlet, so that I can press a button on the remote to do this instead of having to physically remove the monitor’s plug from the wall.
 
One more note… before I realized the problem as to not being able to boot into 5K, when I had to reboot I plugged in a cheap portable 1080p HDMI monitor (you can get these on Amazon for $100-200), and once I got to the desktop with the 5K monitor recognized I would disconnect the 1080p monitor.

This has been going on since I got my Mini, so with whatever version of MacOS it came with. Right now I’m at Monterey.
 
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I found (with a 2018 Mini) that using HDMI (Mini) to HDMI (Viewsonic display) could be problematic.

When I switched to HDMI (Mini) to DVI (display), the problems cleared up...
 
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micpoc said:
OK; but if the DP cable works—i.e., if the monitor and the mini see each other no problem with the DP cable when booting—why go back to the HDMI cable?
Click to expand...
You don't but it's a way to show that it was an HDMI Handshake problem. You can then go back to using the DP.
 
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Heat_Fan89 said:
You don't but it's a way to show that it was an HDMI Handshake problem. You can then go back to using the DP.
Click to expand...
Well, IF it works 🤞, I will probably do the os update first, as that is my real priority. Over time, I've sort of gotten used to how to finesse the graphics issue; I don't even think about it anymore, other than when the idea of updating comes up.

Shouldn't there be some kind of class action suit about this? Seems like a LOT of people have this issue with the minis, even going into the early M1s that came out right after I got this one. At the very least, Apple should have a troubleshooting plan for it.
 
micpoc said:
Well, IF it works 🤞, I will probably do the os update first, as that is my real priority. Over time, I've sort of gotten used to how to finesse the graphics issue; I don't even think about it anymore, other than when the idea of updating comes up.

Shouldn't there be some kind of class action suit about this? Seems like a LOT of people have this issue with the minis, even going into the early M1s that came out right after I got this one. At the very least, Apple should have a troubleshooting plan for it.
Click to expand...
It took several years of ownership before the problem appeared for me. So the warranty had long expired. Even so, I doubt this is a problem affecting many. We are a small group in a sea of fish. We might think just because 20-50 reported the problem on this website doesn't necessarily mean it's a HUGE problem. I corrected the problem on my 2018 Mini within an hour thru a process of elimination.

I doubt a C.A.L. would be successful. The BT issue on these Mini's are more of a problem but there is a workaround and the HDMI handshake issue can be resolved in nearly every case. So it's not like the computer failed beyond repair.
 
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I take it the DP cable you were suppose to receive today did fix your video problem since we haven’t gotten any further updates?
 
No, actually; it arrived very late last night. I will probably be doing it tomorrow now, as I have a busy schedule today.
 
Heat_Fan89 said:
I take it the DP cable you were suppose to receive today did fix your video problem since we haven’t gotten any further updates?
Click to expand...
Update: DP cable worked great, and the system is now running Ventura!

Funny thing is, I KNOW I tried the DP port before with this issue, but I must have used a DP/HDMI cable, perhaps with an adapter, rather than a DP/TB cable... made all the difference.

Have not tried the cable swap yet, as I am getting myself oriented with Ventura. Thanks for the help, Heat_Fan89; much appreciated.
 
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micpoc said:
Update: DP cable worked great, and the system is now running Ventura!

Funny thing is, I KNOW I tried the DP port before with this issue, but I must have used a DP/HDMI cable, perhaps with an adapter, rather than a DP/TB cable... made all the difference.

Have not tried the cable swap yet, as I am getting myself oriented with Ventura. Thanks for the help, Heat_Fan89; much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Good job. when you get a chance, plug in the HDMI cable and see if it also has video. You can always go back using the DP cable. Actually DP is the better way to go but it will rule out having a dead HDMI.
 
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