Mac Mini - Apple Hardware Test

[arty]

I'm trying to get my Intel Mini (1.66Ghz Core Duo) to boot into the Apple Hardware Test as it's been crashing a lot recently and I want to run a few checks on it before upgrading to Leopard.

I've tried holding down the D key when rebooting but it doesn't seem to want to load into it. I've tried both a dodgy old PC keyboard and also my proper Apple one, but neither work. C also does not work (i.e. it won't boot from the Mac Mini disc in the drive either). Does anyone have any suggestions for things I can try? I won't even be able to install Leopard if I can't get it to boot from the DVD drive

The drive is definitely working fine as I can load files from the disc when it's booted up. Thanks for any help.

arty

EDIT - Now I have a different problem - it can't see the disc in there at all. It just stopped seeing it after I rebooted once. Is there any way I can force it to be ejected?

 

[Jimbo7]

Power on with either the eject key on the keyboard, or the left mouse button held down.

A few more options here:

http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20041011075232575

As a last resort, there might be an eject button on the front of the drive mechanism. Sometimes you can get to it through the slot with an unfolded paper clip. (Also, there may be pads for a surface mount style button, but no button installed - shorting the pads together usually simulates a button press).

If not you might have to dismantle the Mini, for which you need a thin putty knife or similar (guides available on the web). Once you have the lid off, if there's no button to push you could try taking the drive out and putting it in another machine, or an external drive caddy (you'll probably need a converter widget to connect to it with a standard IDE cable).

Jim

 

[Jimbo7]

I've tried holding down the D key when rebooting but it doesn't seem to want to load into it. I've tried both a dodgy old PC keyboard and also my proper Apple one, but neither work. C also does not work (i.e. it won't boot from the Mac Mini disc in the drive either). Does anyone have any suggestions for things I can try? I won't even be able to install Leopard if I can't get it to boot from the DVD drive

Not sure what holding the D key down is supposed to do...? Normally the hardware test s/w comes on a CD.

Edited to add: Ah, I see. They've integrated the test with the install disc now. Sounds like your optical drive may be playing up

Holding C down will only work if there's a bootable disc in there of course. Try powering on with the option key held down - it should show you an icon for each bootable device. If you don't see a CD, either a bootable cd isn't present, or it's not seeing it... (You can't run the hardware tests that way though)

Jim

 

[Jimbo7]

As a last resort, there might be an eject button on the front of the drive mechanism. Sometimes you can get to it through the slot with an unfolded paper clip. (Also, there may be pads for a surface mount style button, but no button installed - shorting the pads together usually simulates a button press).

You can see where the eject button is (or should be) here:

http://www.applefritter.com/files/apart.jpg

The button sits on the orangey ribbon that's on the front left of the drive, below the slot. If there's no button you have to short the two pairs of solder pads together briefly...

Jim

 

[arty]

Thanks guys, though when I turned it on this morning it picked up the disc fine. Strange. I still can't get it to go into the AHT, but on the plus side I've managed to install Leopard with no problems at all. Hopefully nothing's going to fail - I've done a HDD verification and it passed, so that's given me slightly more confidence than I had. We'll see how it goes

arty

 

[Jimbo7]

Make sure you're using the original install disc - the one that came in the box with the machine. A Leopard upgrade or retail pack disc probably won't have the AHT on it.

Jim

 

[arty]

Make sure you're using the original install disc - the one that came in the box with the machine. A Leopard upgrade or retail pack disc probably won't have the AHT on it.

Jim

Yep, I was. Seems fine since I formatted - before it was sporadically crashing in Front Row. Fingers crossed it's now totally sorted.

arty