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Originally released on January 22, 2005, the Mac mini is a small form-factor desktop computer made by Apple Inc. Currently, it is one of the four desktop models in the Macintosh lineup, and serves mainly as an alternative to the all-in-one iMac.

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Why won't my mac mini boot?

My Mac mini boots to the apple screen with tile line. I can hear various components turn on and off as the time line advances, but it stops at mid point. One time I got a screen using command R and ran a drive check and it said all was ok but I can't access this screen again. I have a bluetooth key board. which usually requires me to tap a key to get to my desk top

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I am starting by replacing the pram battery.

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Thanks for the instructions

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New battery in, no joy.

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Try starting up holding down the Shift key. I would help if you have any kind of USB keyboard. Where you doing a system upgrade. What were you doing when this started? Please give us the last four figures of your serial number, located in fine print under the ports on some models. Or a the EMC# and Axxx number.

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I've tried all the various key combinations to hold at power up. At 1 point Command R opened a box that allowed me to scan the hard drive. I did this and received a message that the hard drive was ok.

Stupidly I tried to reboot and the problem returned. I have been unable to duplicate the Command R screen.

I then decided to replace the pram battery. While disassembling the box I got to step 15 and while removing the plug managed to pull the socket off the board. I examined the socket and could see that there was no solder tinned to the prongs, just 4 dots on the board. I figured "poor solder job, my tough luck".

Currently I am trying to decide if I really need this computer.

Thank you for your offering .

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Please give us a link as to which guide you were using so we know what you pulled off.

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Mac mini Mid 2010 PRAM Battery Replacement

Step 15 = optical drive thermal sensor wire removal.

Update: I was able to boot to the repair screen by repeatedly powering up while holding command + R from the startup sound to the apple logo with timeline screen. (It took many attempts).

I then Reinstalled Yosemite thus erasing the hard drive. Not a big problem.

The 1 thing is the cooling fan runs constantly so I think it may be a result of the optical drive thermal sensor wire not making good contact with the board.

If anyone is familiar with this problem please help.

Thank you

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I guess I could get back into this and resolder the socket.

There seem to be only 2 wires on the plug and 2 lines on the board . The other 2 may just be support , but I'm not sure.

I've done some soldering, but never this small.

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https://www.macgurus.com/forums/showthre...

I just found this link in a google search and the last post suggested this:

http://www.crystalidea.com/macs-fan-cont...

I will give this a try, but I am still looking into soldering.

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It seems that this is a fairly common problem associated with Mac mini disassembly.

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I added the software based fan control and set it to respond to the CPU temp. It immediately lowered the fan speed. to mid range. I will monitor this while running a movie, or music.

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