Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Cospefogo · Mar 3, 2010, 06:24 AM

Gentlemen,

Few days ago my wife was browsing the internet and she resolved to clean the desk/table under her Mac Mini. After (maybe during) doing so the OS X completely frozen. We supposed it was because she (although gently) moved the computer while it was turned on, working. I told her to not make this ever again...

Then we did reboot, and after that, there was no OS X to be found... Just the creepy interrogation "engraved on a folder" mark. Then I did put the Leopard install DVD, went to Disk Utilities and - thanks God, the hard drive was still there, but on a UNFORMATTED status. So I did setup everything back again, full leopard installation, apps, icons, documents of her own and everything else. We were relieved...

But it lasted 2 days. Then, it happened again.
Same problem.

I am about to change the HD today, but to be sure - does anyone ever heard about something similar?
Do you think it is really the HD? Could it be some other hardware failure?

Thanks guys for you kind attention,
Best regards,
Cospefogo.

Big Mac · Mar 3, 2010, 11:24 AM

Sounds like the hard drive, but it's strange that you were able to go through a whole re-installation only to have it fail again a few days later. I can't think of anything else that would cause a problem like that.

olePigeon · Mar 3, 2010, 11:42 AM

Could be a loose cable connected to the HDD, but I'm inclined to think it's just a bad HDD overall. You could buy an external HDD from a store with a good return policy, then install OS X and try it out for about a week on the external drive.

That'll let you know if it's the HDD or something else. Then return the external drive and get a new internal one (and a 2.5" putty knife.)

Cospefogo · Mar 3, 2010, 01:24 PM

Thanks guys for your feedback.
Really thanks!

C.

Doc HM · Mar 3, 2010, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Could be a loose cable connected to the HDD, but I'm inclined to think it's just a bad HDD overall. You could buy an external HDD from a store with a good return policy, then install OS X and try it out for about a week on the external drive.

That'll let you know if it's the HDD or something else. Then return the external drive and get a new internal one (and a 2.5" putty knife.)

Yeah, take advantage of someone else to save money fixing your problem.

Drives are cheap, support your local shop and buy the drive if you need it.

Cospefogo · Mar 3, 2010, 03:03 PM

Yes yes...

I was really afraid to open the Mac Mini to make it myself (I am not a newbie on hardware, at least on the PC World and older Macs), and the way you need to go to open this little guy is a bit spooky! But after some search I came across this blog:

DIY: Replace your intel mac mini’s hard disk drive | soledad penadés

It's a very neat tutorial, and seeing how easy and secure was for the guy to open the mini with the putty tool, I decided to try. Otherwise I will need to ship my computer to another city, on a official Apple store to be repaired (there is no Apple store on my town).

Cheers, guys!
Cospefogo.

Spheric Harlot · Mar 4, 2010, 02:37 AM

Originally Posted by Doc HM

Yeah, take advantage of someone else to save money fixing your problem.

Drives are cheap, support your local shop and buy the drive if you need it.

Totally agree on the sentiment.

That was a prime example of abusing a policy that's there to protect consumers.

I'd go the external drive route (before going through or paying someone for the effort of installing an internal), but then keep the drive as a backup or whatever.

If the drive is bought locally and it turns out to be a logic board problem, I'm sure most stores would not have a problem with taking back the drive when you buy a new Mac.