User Guide

28 - Mac mini Troubleshooting
Symptom Charts
System hangs during normal startup process
1. Boot from the Mac mini Mac OS X Install DVD that came with the computer and see if
the hard drive mounts on the desktop.
2. Run Apple Hardware Test (AHT), located on the install DVD.
3. Run Disk Utility and correct any directory and permissions issues.
4. Verify that the hard drive is connected to the interconnect board.
5. Try a known-good hard drive.
6. Erase and reformat the original drive.
7. Try a known-good interconnect board.
8. Replace hard drive.
9. Replace interconnect board.
10. Replace logic board.
Flashing question mark appears on the screen
1. Boot from the Mac mini Mac OS X Install DVD that came with the computer and see if
the hard drive mounts on the desktop.
2. Run Apple Hardware Test (AHT), located on the install DVD.
3. Run Disk Utility and correct any directory and permissions issues.
4. Verify that the hard drive is connected to the interconnect board.
5. Try a known-good hard drive.
6. Try a known-good interconnect board.
7. Replace hard drive.
8. Replace interconnect board.
9. Replace logic board.