Mini failure help - beyond the flashing finder

I have one of the original 1.25 Mac Mini G4's with 1.25 RAM running 10.4.10, all other software UTD & permissions repaired.
Recently, perhaps following a thunderstorm (despite surge protector), upon returning from vacation, the flashing finder folder/question mark screen had appeared.
Did the power disconnect, depress the power button/reconnect power source recommendation, reset PRAM (via traditional option-apple-P-R & open firmware methods) without change.
Booting with 10.4 OS DVD not successful. Booting with option depressed & OS DVD in place, purple screen with arrows appeared, but no selections to choose from. DVD is audibly spinning & will not eject (via multiple methods).
I have been able to boot the mini only using an external HD with 10.4 installed.
Any other suggestions/options from anyone?
Thanks in advance!
Message was edited by: OTISjones

Anyone willing to offer odds of successful recovery with internal HD >replacement?
Under normal circumstances I'd say pretty good, but under the circumstance where the system won't boot from the original install disk, I'd say it may be somewhat less since that tends to point to a controller failure - though a failed hard drive could also cause issues with the optical depending on how it had failed.
However, before writing off the chances, does the internal optical drive recognize any kind of disk? If you put in a music CD, does it 'see' it? Does iTunes open? If you insert a disk into the optical drive, does Disk Utility on the booted external drive see the optical drive and the volume on the inserted disk?
If yes to any of those, then the controller would seem to be OK, and an internal hard drive replacement may well be a good move. Indeed, with the cost of a replacement drive, if you're comfortable doing the work yourself, it's a sensible step to take anyway I'd think.
What makes this more problematic to determine is not knowing what caused the failure in the first place. You hint that there may have been a storm issue, which may suggest a surge or spike and which can cause significant chip damage - often beyond repair or retrieval, but that would often cause boot failure due to power on self test failure.

Similar Messages

Beyond the flashing Finder/Folder at startup help, please

I have a G4-867 updated with a Giga Dual 1.33 processor + 1.5G RAM, a SATA PCI expansion card with 2 internal HD's (250G & 750G), one with 10.4.9, the larger with 10.4.10. Also, a firewire/USB expansion card. Software UTD, permissions repaired, PRAM reset. Tech Tool Pro finds no problems. No problems with this set up for >2 years.
Recently, system seems to be sluggish & I'm having to force quit applications with some increasing frequency. The "You need to restart your mac" grey box came up once ~1 week ago.
Today after a force quit & several reboots (including PRAM reset), the flashing folder/finder continually re-appeared at start-up. When rebooting with "option" depressed, the 2 HD's with OS 10 are recognized, can be selected & start-up occurs.
Is this a sign of the SATA PCI card starting to fail, is a RAM chip potentially a culprit, the USB/firewire PCI card or is one of the HD's starting to fail. Or something else?
Comments/suggestions appreciated!

Hi
The flashing folder at startup may be normal after a PRAM reset. I'd imagine the OS X startup disk choice must be held in the PRAM, it can't be held on the disk otherwise it would be a catch-22. If you'd left it for a while it may have eventually found a bootable volume and started up okay. You'd then have to reselect the startup disk in the relevant OS X system preference.
In terms of freezing applications and kernel panics, I'd start by checking the basics. To ensure it's not heat related I'd check all the ventilation holes are free from dust etc and all the fans (case, power supply and processor) are still spinning. You could try using the computer with the case open temporarily to check this, which may also result in it running cooler anyway. To ensure it's not memory related I'd remove any third party DIMMs, and then finally the factory installed DIMM by swapping it out for one of the others. I assume you still have plenty of free space on the hard drives, especially the one containing OS X? Ideally I'd always try and keep at least 5GB free on the boot volume for the virtual memory and temporary files etc.
I hope this gives you a few starting points.
Message was edited by: Rodney Culling

Can't get beyond the flashing question mark

I can't get beyond the flashing question mark on grey folder, on starting up.
I have tried starting with option key down, but still get the question mark.
I have tried starting with the command, option, P and R keys down but still get the same question mark.
I have put the No 1 Installation disc in, and started holding down the C key. The disc was immediately ejected with no change on the monitor.
Can anyone please suggest what else I could try?

I would suggest taking the faulty hd out of the Mac, putting it in an enclosure and seeing whether you can get anything off it. Alternatively,there's an application called Data Rescue Data Rescuehttp://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/211375 that has an excellent reputation for retrieving data from a bad disk.
If you do manage to get your data off, and then onto your MacBookPro, you should have no trouble putting it on a new drive in your iMac.

Hi, I cannot access Finder and get the following message. Can anybody help? The application Finder can't be opened -10810

Hi,
In the last couple of days I have found that I can't shut down. When trying to open Finder I get the following message... The application Finder can't be opened - 10810.
Everything else seems to be OK. However I do have to sign in to Google Mail every time, where in the past it opened up automatically. I am a really novice at fixing problems, so any help would be great.

The application Finder can't be opened -10810
"A number of people are having a problem where the Finder will hang or crash, followed by a Finder error message saying "The application Finder.app can't be opened. -10810." The general agreement among affected users seems to be that this is spurred mainly when accessing external drives, but there could be a few other related reasons."
From here > http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10365239-263.html#ixzz1YWEWJFF8

So I need a little help with the Flash Colors

I always use the Red, Blue and Green gradient Flash colors below for metalic stuff, but how can I get the effect in this red color in different colors like Yellow?

If you want to use the preset gradients, what you could do is first color whatever area you intend to with one of them, and then select the fill and use the Color panel to change the red to whatever other color you prefer. If you have never worked with the gradient section of the Color panel, you will probably find it a bettter tool to create and fine-tune transitions.
You just doubleclick that little red square in the lower left and it opens a color swatch like the one you showed to select another color

I need help installing the Flash player

The
problem I'm having is that at first there was a problem with the Active X so I followed one of the feeds to uninstall all of any different types of the program just in case there was mixed versions of the software and then reload the software after a reboot of the system. Now I'm getting different problems. The first was that the program couldn't find the DSOUND.dll file so I downloaded a copy of it and put it into my SYSTEM and SYSTE32 file folder that went away. Now I'm getting that it can't open the KERNEL32.dll file, the file is on the system and I copied the most recent date of the file into the SYSTEM, and SYSTEM32 file folder. I still get that it can't register the Active X and it won't load. This is a Hewlett Packard system running Windows XP Professional SP3. So if one of the techies could tell me what to do from here I would be most appreciative. Thank You Tim

Hi, If you are getting that message, then that is normally a permissions issue. This thread has Instructions for Uninstalling and Installing FP for IE. You can try that and if you still get that message, then that same thread has another procedure which you'll see.
AVG has a LinkScanner that can conflict and a couple of other, 3 I think in the browser. They don't block the Install of the ActiveX Control but may interfere with viewing Flash content.
http://forums.adobe.com/message/3356292#3356292
eidnolb

Flashing Finder Icon/ Question Mark on Boot

Today I left my 1.33ghz G4 Mac Mini turned on whilst I went to the shop.
When I came back i found it eith a flashing finder icon/ question mark.
I restarted it and it booted up a grey screen, then after a while the flashing finder icon/question mark.
I have tried putting in the OSX install disc and holding down the C key to start up using the CD and nothing happen, all I get is the same grey screen and flashing icon.
I have also tried pressing the X key, and holding it down and restarting to get up the startup disk menu, but again nothing.
Pressing 'option' key during start up only gets me a blue background with refresh button on the left and right arrow on the right - with no Boot Up CD or HDD Icon.
I have also tried resetting the PRAM, it resets, but after it hasn't solved my problem, as i am back to square one with the boot screen and icon.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
big.bad.ben

I would agree with DP that using a wired keyboard will give better results when holding down the C key. The timing of holding down the C key is tricky, and you might have to experiment with it.
The question mark means that the Mini can't find a bootable disk. Usually this is because the internal hard drive has enough directory damage that it is not bootable. Usually this can be fixed by reformatting the internal drive or replacing it.
But if you truly can't boot from the install CD, that suggests a more serious problem with the logic board or RAM memory.
When you power-up the mini, do you get a series of beeps or light flashes? The pattern of such beeps/flashes is a diagnostic aid to determine what might be wrong. Report back with what pattern you observe.
Be sure to give the install CD some more tries, varying the timing of holding down the C key. Usually you want to do it right after the startup chime.

Flashing finder icon and showing "don't restore windows" and "restore windows" text box

hi, i hav problem with the flashing finder icon and showing "don't restore windows" and "restore windows" text box. im using macbookpro MAC OS X 10.7.5. i've search for solutions, lik relaunch the finder by pressing COMMAND+ALT+esc, but it didn't work for me...
any1 can help me, thx...

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Step 1
Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
Enter the name of the crashed application or process in the Filter text field. Select the messages from the time of the last crash, if any. Copy them to the Clipboard (command-C). Paste into a reply to this message (command-V).
When posting a log extract, be selective. In most cases, a few dozen lines are more than enough.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Important: Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.
Step 2
Still in the Console window, look under User Diagnostic Reports for crash reports related to the process. The report name starts with the name of the crashed process, and ends with ".crash". Select the most recent report and post the entire contents — again, the text, not a screenshot. In the interest of privacy, I suggest that, before posting, you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header of the report, if it’s present (it may not be.) Please don’t post shutdownStall, spin, or hang logs — they're very long and not helpful.

My imac is showing either a No Entry, Flashing globe or Flashing Finder/? icon.

Hi,
When using my imac the other day, the screen went blank with a flashing Finder/? logo. I have switched it off numerous times but I am always met with either the flashing Finder/?, a spinning globe or a No Entry Sign. It will not allow me to do anything at all.
I looked on some of the Help Forums and they suggested:
1) Installing the original OS Disc 1 that came with my mac
2) Switching off the mac
3) Switch it back on whilst holding down the "C" key
This then brought up the menu for the installer menu. In this menu I can:
1) select a language to use
2) Agree to the Terms and Conditions of the License
The "Select a Destination" Box appears but it will not let me Select a Destination. No icon appears in the box at all. I have tried pressing "Go Back" and then "Continue" but it still will not let me select a destination.
I can access the utilities menu from the installer screen. I cannot access any menu from the apple logo. The Original Discs that came with my imac are Mac OS 9.2. I cannot remember or find out what version OS I was running before this happened.
Please Help. I have EVERYTHING on this Mac.
Thanks.

Still no joy with anything I try. I ran a Hardware test and an Error Code 25TF/1/4 Mass Storage has been detected. This could mean the Hard Drive is knackered or I have a dodgy Logic Board.
If so, will I be able to retrieve anything that was on my mac?
Would it be worth buying and installing a new hard drive/logic board?
Considering my mac is 5 years old should i just forget about it and get a new one.
So many questions and no answers!!!!!
Thanks.

Unable to boot - flashing finder icon with question mark.

Hi all,
I just got a friends old xserv G5 to learn Mac and the server suite on. He gave me the OSX Server install disk (10.5 I believe) with the license keys.
I get the XServe into "Target Disk Mode" by turning it on holding T and plugging my friends Intel Pro MacBook into it VIA FireWire. We install the Server 10.5 to the Server Disk fine, no issues. All options checked. Then upon reboot we shutdown everything and try to boot the server up on it's own and then this is where we get the flashing finder icon problem...
Here's what we've tried:
I think the Firmware is locked because when I try to power on holding power + system identifier button, both rows flash instead of the one, here's what I've done
Tried removing a memory module, booting with command, alt, p + r, no effect.
Clear NVRM by pressing button behind PSU on mainboard of xserve. No effect.
Unplugging and removing battery for minute, to clear. No effect.
I guess what I'm trying to do is clear the firmware lock so I can direct the xserve to select the startup disk by pressing F1 / D as I'm assuming that's what the issue is?
Any thoughts?

I'm not sure about the dl-DVD thing. I'm trying to remember how I installed 10.5 on my G5 boxes (it's been a while) and I know I used the Administrator computer as described in the Getting Started guide, but I don't remember if I imaged the DVD to a firewire drive.
The easiest short-cut for that is to image the DVD onto a firewire drive and attach that to the Xserve and run it as the install media. It's much faster to install this way as well. Use Disk Utility to image the DVD onto an external firewire and then boot holding down the option key - choose the drive and then use the notebook as an "Administrator computer" as described in the guide. The only hold-ups are the IP space issues and make sure you know the Xserve serial number. In theory I think you can also use another computer with the DVD in the drive running in firewire mode but now you're up to three computers instead of 2 plus a firewire drive.
I've never been a fan of the notebook>>Xserve install process even before architecture issues arose. The Xserve has special hardware monitoring capabilities that you would lose when installing booted from a non-Xserve box. I know 10.5 was supposed to install a "global" image that would run on both platforms but I wouldn't trust it even if they said you could.
HTH,
=Tod

Hi, I backed up my ipad and iphone on the same computer, will it be shown on the same folder or different? Mine is window 7, try to find the back up file follow the step that apple provided, it shown only iphone instead of ipad. Pls help.

I backed up my ipad and iphone on the same computer, will it be shown on the same folder or different? Mine is window 7, try to find the back up file follow the step that apple provided, it shown only iphone instead of ipad. Pls help.

What do you see under Edit > Preferences > Devices?
tt2

TS4268 Please help, I can't find face time and Siri icon on my mini ipad? Just bought it I have the IMessage icon and is able to use it.

Please help, I can't find face time and Siri icon on my mini ipad? Just bought it I have the IMessage icon and is able to use it.

There is no Siri "icon". You access Siri using the Home button. But you may need to turn it on: Settings App > General > Siri. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4992
Same for the FaceTime function (but if it is ON, there will be an icon): Settings App > FaceTime > [turn it on and set you Apple ID. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4319

I brought a i phone 4 second hand but i have done a factory reset and its asking for the apple id and password thats not mine i have contacted the seller and i was told that they have removed it from find my i phone please help

hi can any one help me i have done a factory reset on my i phone but its asking for a apple id thats not mine i have contacted the seller and i have been told that its been removed from find my i phone please help

That is the Activation Lock
There no way around that without the previous owner's AppleID and password.
It is totally worthless to you. Return it an get your money back.
Allan

Trying to activate a new iPad mini. Keep getting message that activation server can't be reached and to try through iTunes. I can't go back beyond the language choice screen to select iTunes. Two days of trying to activate. Help?

Trying to activate a new iPad mini. Keep getting message that activation server can't be reached and to try through iTunes. I can't go back beyond the language choice screen to select iTunes. Two days of trying to activate. Help?

Apple's download AND activation servers are being stressed today with all the downloads/activations. It might be best to wait and try later.

TS3048 my wireless mouse is not working at all. I have changed the batteries and still nothing, not even a flashing green light. I am using someone else's computer to ask these questions as I now can't use mine. Help!!!

my wireless mouse is not working at all. I have changed the batteries and still nothing, not even a flashing green light. I am using someone else's computer to ask these questions as I now can't use mine. Help!!!

I just had the same problem. And I found the solution, on Youtube.
The problem is that these ******** at apple designed the battery compartement, the distance between metal contacts too big.
That means the batteries plus or minus poles are not touching the corresponding contacts in the mouses battery compartement.
Most likely the battery doesn't get pushed up to touch the plus contacts.
I used a fingernail to push the battery up and tadaa, the green LED came on.
The guy in the Youtube video just put some folded aluminium foil under the minus poles for bridging the gap.
See here, "How to fix the Apple Magic Mouse!":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vlDEVfV45s
Hope this helps.
<Edited by Host>

Mini failure help - beyond the flashing finder

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for