Hi Richie,
Some quick questions: Did the problem restarting your Mac Mini begin
when you applied the recent Security Update (2008-005)? Try
restarting your machine in Safe Mode by holding down the Shift key
when you reboot. If you haven't booted into safe mode before, be
advised that you may have to hold down the Shift key for a LONG time
before you hear your machine is booting up -- maybe a minute or
more. When your computer starts up in Safe Mode a number of checks
are done and caches cleaned out during the startup, including a
directory check (like running Disk Utility's repair disk) and by-
passing caches that speed your startup. On my laptop, AirPort is
disabled when I start up in Safe Mode and various cleaned out files
are put into the trash (in Tiger). Sometimes just restarting in Safe
Mode and then restarting regularly can fix problems.
Here are the Apple Support Documents:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455
(Starting Up in Safe Mode)
<begin excerpt>
To start up into Safe Mode (to "Safe Boot"), do this:
1. Be sure the computer is shut down.
2. Press the power button.
3. Immediately after you hear the startup tone, press and hold the
Shift key.
Tip: The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the
startup tone but not before.
4. Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple and progress
indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
During the startup in Mac OS X 10.2 through 10.3.9, you will see
"Safe Boot" on the Mac OS X startup screen.
During the startup in Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you will see "Safe
Boot" on the login window, which appears even if you normally log in
automatically.
To leave Safe Mode in any version of Mac OS X, restart the computer
normally, without holding any keys during startup.
<end excerpt>
and here is the Apple Support Document about Safe Mode:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564
(What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?)
<begin excerpt>
Summary
Safe Boot is a special way to start Mac OS X 10.2 or later when
troubleshooting. Safe Mode is the state Mac OS X is in after a Safe
Boot.
Starting up into Safe Mode does three things to simplify the startup
and operation of your computer:
• It forces a directory check of the startup volume.
• It loads only required kernel extensions (some of the items in /
System/Library/Extensions).
• In Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier, it runs only Apple-installed startup
items (some of the items in /Library/StartupItems and /System/Library/
StartupItems - and different than login items).
• Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger only: It disables all fonts other than those
in /System/Library/Fonts .
• Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger only: It moves to the Trash all font caches
normally stored in /Library/Caches/com.apple.ATS/(uid)/ , where (uid)
is a user ID number such as 501.
• Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger only: It disables all startup items and any
Login Items.
Taken together, these changes can work around issues caused by
software or directory damage on the startup volume.
Some features don't work in Safe Mode
Safe Mode can be useful for troubleshooting. However, certain Mac OS
X features do not work when you are started up in Safe Mode. For
example, you can't use DVD Player, capture video in iMovie, use an
AirPort card, use audio input or output devices, or use an internal
or external USB modem.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see these related articles:
107393: Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode
106464: Your Mac won't start up in Mac OS X
<end excerpt>
If starting in safe mode and then restarting doesn't work, then try
deleting special startup items and startup programs, and clearing out
caches and disconnecting external devices. Startup failures after a
security update can be related to third party programs or installs
that you run that have been caught up in the security update. If all
else fails, you can resinstall from your system install discs.
HTH.
Cheers,
Esther
On Aug 6, 2008, at 2:27 AM, Richie Gardenhire wrote:
Thank you. I may just reinstall everything with the CD I bought
last year, shortly after Lwopard's release. I probably need to do
a clean install on it anyway, since I have a lot of things just
sitting there, and my philosophy in life is, if I haven't used it
in two years or more, and it's just sitting there, get rid of it;
that goes for software, for me.
Richie Gardenhire, Anchorage, Alaska.
On Aug 6, 2008, at 4:23 AM, David Poehlman wrote:
Hi Richie,
ou need to put in your install disk and repair permissions.
Beyond that, I
don' know what might fix the issue.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richie Gardenhire" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 8:07 AM
Subject: Problem with Mac Mini
Hello, I have a two-year-old Mac Mini that, when I start the machine,
it keeps restarting. I have checked all connections; they are fine.
I checked all outlets; they seem to be working. I even did a firmware
update by holding down the on/off switch, till I hear the beep.
Short
of reinstalling the software, is there anything else I have missed?
It was working two days ago, so I don't know what happened; I'm very
careful around the work area.
Richie Gardenhire, Anchorage, Alaska.
