Replace mid 2010 mac mini hard drive(s) and thermal sensor(s)

TL;DR: How do I swap SSd for HDD in Mid 2010 Mac Mini without Fan problems.
I'd like to replace both my Mac Mini HDD's with SSD's, but removing/repositioning* the factory thermal sensors will default the fan to full throttle! (I've had this happen on my other mid 2010 test machine). Has anyone successfully swapped out their drives and not had to deal with a system fan on Afterburner mode?
Note: on my test mac mini, I tried SMC fan control as well as SSD Fan Control apps and neither is able to change the fan RPM.
SMC Fan control (this is what I use on my macbook)
https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/23049/smcfancontrol
SSD Fan Control: (suggested by others with similar thermal sensor/fan problems)
http://exirion.net/ssdfanctrl
* the position of the thermal sensors on the factory hitachi's is apparently important. In a test, I moved one a few millimeters and the fans defaulted to full speed.
Cheers!
Ken

I replace the HD on my 2009 Mini with no fan problems.
From your description I think yo have either a sensor or logic board problem. If the sensor was not attached to the HD and was "cold" then the fan speed would not increase if the HD got hot.
When you played around with sensor position what what the temperature of the sensor when you go the "right" fan speed and the runaway speed.

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Mid 2010 Mac Mini Hard Drive and Ram "Repost"

As there is no way to EDIT my previous post, here it is with a more descriptive subject line, sorry to all.
When I purchased my new Mini the store information tag showed the hard drive as a 7200 rpm, that is one of the main reasons why I bought it. So, I unknowingly (Till today) have a 5400 rpm Mini and as of now, I'm a bit underwhelmed with the performance and wondered if a ram upgrade will give me that much more speed and performance. I have both the original Mac dual 1ghz and a dual 2ghz models, both seem faster than my new Mac. As before, I'm a little disappointed with this model, any thoughts appreciated
Mike
Mid 2010 unibody Mini with 2gb ram Mac OS X (10.6.4)

I boot from a Firewire 800 external hard drive. Others will tell you whether this is actually faster or not, all I know is that I'm not the first to do this, and it works well for me.
I'd also add that sure, more RAM would always be good.

Mid 2010 Mac Mini slot drive will not accept disks.

Problem:
Tried playing a new commercial DVD but all I got was the rainbow pinwheel, I tried to eject the disk which took maybe 2 minutes but did happen. I tried inserting disk again into slot drive and it just won't go in and appears to hit something about halfway in, I assume it's the drive spindle that maybe hasn't retracted properly on the last eject.
I have;
successfully played this DVD in this drive the day before,
since played this DVD in another player,
tried other DVD's and CD's since the problem arose and none will go in.
shut down and powered up, reset the SMC, NVRAM and PRAM nothing changes for the slot drive.
As this machine is the heart of my Media Centre it's a real problem.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks in antici-pation,
John

Thanks, I had read that discussion but must have missed the part about downloading the "ForcEject" tool so I will try that in the morning although I know there is nothing in the drive but maybe it'll reset the drive load/eject sequence.
John

Airdrop - Mid 2010 Mac Mini - Upgraded to OS X Yosemite

I upgraded my Mid 2010 Mac Mini to Yosemite yesterday and thought I'd try using Airdrop to send a file to my almost brand new IPad with OS 8. Airdrop is listed in Finder on my Mac Mini but when I open it it doesn't find my iPad but the screen states "Airdrop let's you share instantly with people nearby. To share with someone using a Mac, ask them to go to Airdrop in the Finder". If alternatively I right click on a document in Finder and select 'share' the Airdrop option is there but greyed out and if I click on Airdrop a message appears stating "To share with someone using a Mac, ask them to go to Airdrop in the Finder" - no mention of what to do if you want to share with an iPad. I have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi switched on on both devices and have the Airdrop status set to Everyone on the iPad. On the Mac Mini in settings - extensions - share menu, the Airdrop box is white with black tick whereas other tick boxes are blue with a white tick. Does all this mean that my Mac Mini even with Yosemite can't operate Airdrop at all or maybe only with another Mac (maybe it's too old)? Or maybe I'm missing something?

You need a newer model Mac to use AirDrop between an iOS device (e.g. iPad) and a Mac
System Requirements
To see if your Mac works with AirDrop, make sure you’re in the Finder by clicking the desktop (the background area of your screen), or by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock. Then, check to see if AirDrop is listed as an option in the Go menu. If you don't see AirDrop listed, your Mac doesn't support this feature.
In order to transfer files between a Mac and and an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
your iOS device needs to include a lightning connector
your iOS device needs iOS 7 or later installed
your Mac needs to be a 2012 or later model with OS X Yosemite installed
Your Mac and iOS device both need bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on. You do not have to be connected to a specific Wi-Fi network.
To transfer files between two Mac computers, you need the Mac models listed below with Wi-Fi turned on and OS X Lion or later installed.
MacBook Pro (Late 2008 or newer)*
MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
MacBook (Late 2008 or newer)*
iMac (Early 2009 or newer)
Mac Mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)
Mac Basics: AirDrop lets you send files from your Mac to nearby Macs and iOS devices - Apple Support

Mid-2010 Mac Mini, dead optical drive: Are any slim Firewire DVD burners compatible?

The optical drive on my Mac Mini seems to have died prematurely, as the OEM drives are known to do. Estimated cost of replacing the internal component: $170. And it would be the exact same model Apple optical drive, not a more robust one.
Now very reluctantly thinking of adding yet another peripheral. USB ports are pretty well filled but I don't use the Firewire port for anything.
Trouble is, since Apple discontinued Firewire, the manufacturers of Mac-compatible optical drives aren't making Firewire models any more.
There are a few recent Firewire DVD burners from PC peripheral manufacturers, such as Acer, Aopen, Dell, Pioneer, Sony (Amazon reviews say it's restricted to burning Sony media) in a small "slim" form factor.
Anyone have information about their compatibility with Firewire 800 on mid-2010 Mac mini, Mac OS 10.10.1 Yosemite?

There are some steps involved which may translate to tedium,
as noted in the repair guide for the Mid 2010 Mini from iFixit.
•Mac Mini - Mid 2010 Repair Guide - iFixit:
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini_Mid_2010
At about Step 25, of an overall rated Difficult process, you can
see the Optical Drive, and likely be at a point to install replace-
ment, then reverse the process; paying heed to advice given.
•Mac Mini - Model A1347 - Optical Drive Replacement - iFixit:
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+mini+Model+A1347+Optical+Drive+Replacement/3167
At least you can get into this computer. Be sure to have a spare
optical drive cable and other possible items that may get broken
in the process. Oh there also is a PRAM battery in this computer
that may or may not need replacement while it is open...
If at one point, if several parts were to be replaced at one time, a
visit to a service technician becomes very cost effective. Find one
that will install the parts you may get from third-party sources. If
you know someone at a college computer lab, they may be able
to perform the swap, test their work, and be done, in short order.
Or, chose to use an external inexpensive 'superdrive' equivalent.
I'd heard the LG brand was among some that work, and can also
be used to boot the computer from System DVD or utility discs...
It is a USB drive, can burn DVD/CD media, and is not costly.
The ability to swap out the defective optical drive, and replace it
with an SSD or second storage drive, may be a way to go; but
it also would be at least as tedious as optical drive replacement.
This may add value to the device, in a resale situation later.
That would use the 'drive doubler' idea referred to at macsales.
In the above main guide, is a primer on how to swap out the optical
drive and replace it with a second hard disk drive or solid state drive.
Similar to what the OWC site says, but they have a good kit, too.
Good luck & happy computing!

My mac mini hard drive is failing. I am no longer under warranty. Do you know how much it cost to have Apple replace the hard drive? or How I can replace it myself?

MY mac mini hard drive is failing. I am no longer under warranty. Do you know how much it cost to have Apple replace the hard drive? or How I can replace it myself?

You can do it yourself. I did on my 2009 Mini
http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini
Also, this place sells HSDs and has install videos.
http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/

Upgrade a mid 2010 Mac Mini or buy a new one?

I have a mid 2010 Mac Mini with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB SDRAM DDR3, and a 320 GB HDD. I use it primarily as a way to watch movies, TV, and internet videos on my TV. However, lately it has become excruciatingly slow with choppy video playback. I realize upgrading the RAM and/or the HDD to a SSD would offer an improvement. But my question is, would it be better to upgrade a computer that's getting close to 5 years old now, or buy a new Mac Mini, despite the complaints I've heard about the inability to upgrade RAM and/or hard drive.
Thanks

For your use going to the max of 8 GB of memory and an SSD will be fine.

Install Windows 7 on a Mid 2010 Mac mini using USB or SD media?

Is is possible to install Windows 7 on a Mid 2010 Mac mini using USB or SD media? I have not figured this out. Here's what I have observed:
I can install OS X Lion using USB or SD media. Both are detected in the boot menu, and will boot.
An SD card with Windows 7 installation files formatted MBR/FAT32 using diskpart appears (with an SD card icon) in the boot menu but when selected as a boot device, the boot fails and the existing OS X instance on the Macintosh HD starts. A USB stick formatted as described does not appear in th boot menu at all.
An SD card or a USB stick formatted as described will boot on a Mid 2011 MacBook Air, and can be used to install Windows 7.
Is this due to EFI differences between a Mid 2010 Mac mini and a Mid 2011 MacBook Air?
Thanks.

The Mac Mini Mid 2010 has a DVD player built in, you can startup and install from a Windows 7 DVD. The Mac Mini Mid 2011 does not have a DVD player built in. I am happy that in new computers I can make use of an USB-stick to install Windows 7. Windows 7 uses MBR and Mac OS X uses EFI and that is why it was not possible on a Mac Mini Mid 2010. I think the EFI on a Mac Mini Mid 2011 is different.
I should like a firmware update on my Mac Mini Mid 2010 if possible. In that case I could choose between DVD or USB stick if I want to install Windows 7.
I also have a FireWire CF Card Reader. I think it is not possible to install Windows 7 via FireWire too.
I do have an external USB HD with 2 partitions: Mac OS X 10.6.8 and Windows 7, but is is not possible to start up Windows 7 from the external HD. It is possible to start up Mac OS X 10.6.8 from the external HD on a Mac Mini Mid 2010.

Creating Partition in Mac Mini Hard Drive

i Have buy a mac mini a week ago, but before three days ago, some file got corrupted, and it does not start, only the password screen appears, when i entered the password, the screen appears again. and it continues. Now i want to partition the mac mini hard drive. i have only one drive, and i want to create another partition in the hard drive. when i create another partition through the disk utility , i gives error, and cannot create the partition. i acutally want that first i make partition in the hard drive, and after using the "restore from time machine option" to install the mac osx lion in the system. Please help me in make the partition in the hard drive.

Apple themselves don't specify hard drive RPM because they buy a number of different drives, some apparently 4200 some apparently 5400.
It's no surprise that your retailer wants you to buy a G5 though, and is trying to upsell one based on the minis weaknesses - after all, they get more money from a G5 sale than from a mini. They may also be considering your planned use of Photoshop as a stumbling block to effective use of a mini, but the question really is what you intend to use Photoshop to do. If you're a hobbyist, the system is fine and will work more than adequately - particularly if you max out the RAM. If you're a professional user with pro-level expectations, then a mini likely wouldn't be sufficient, not so much due to the drive speed (powerbook users have run Photoshop verisons for years quite happily on what are predominently 4200rpm drives) but because for pro work, Photoshop needs a lot of hard drive space and a great deal of RAM.
On the basis of what you've posted, I'd say your retailer is more interested in their profit than your need. Chances are, if you run PS on the G4 listed in your profile, you're already running on a drive of similar general performance.

Help: Install Snow Leopard Server 10.6.0 on Mid-2010 Mac Mini, then update?

I just purchased a Mid-2010 Mac Mini with Snow Leopard Client 10.6.3 (the new ones just released) with the idea of installing my copy of Snow Leopard Client on it and using it as both a network server and media server.
I own Snow Leopard Server 10.6.0 (the initial DVD release) and was thinking I could do a fresh install and update to 10.6.4 on the Mini without problem, but that didn't work. I also tried doing a Target Disk Install to the Mini using my MacbookPro, but the installer choked at the Machine Checksum saying MBPs weren't supported to run the installer.
So, that blows both of my previously known installation options. I was wondering if anyone else with the new Mini and Snow Leopard Server had any suggestions on how to get my current version of Snow Leopard Server (10.6.0) installed on the Mini and then run system updates to get it to boot properly.
Thanks

Allan Eckert wrote:
Hi GrainFocuser;
Your copy of SL Server version is probably too old to install on the new Mac Mini. It probably doesn't have all of the correct drivers for the newer hardware.
You might have better success with your alternatives if you post over on the server forum instead of here.
Allan
Message was edited by: Allan Eckert
Allan, thanks.
It is pretty clear that my installation disk is too old, hence looking for options and suggestions.
In years past with previous versions of Server, there was a way to install an outdated install disk (a point release or 3 behind) and then run the necessary installation updates...either through target disk mode or on to a separate boot disc.
So, with my 10.6.0 Server Install disc, I am not able to do so in either scenario because a) My other admin machine is a MB Pro and the installer performs a hardware checksome preventing install...so no Target Disk Mode, and B) Install on other disc from mini, again Hardware checksome since hardware not recognized.
I am looking at options to enable an install with my disk short of having to physically walk into Apple (a huge trek) and get a new install disk or ask Apple Support to mail one.
So, again... Any options from OS X Server Admins out there?

Audio issues on Mid-2010 Mac mini upgraded to Lion

I'm using a Mid-2010 Mac mini that came with Snow Leopard but I recently upgraded it to Lion. Every app works pretty well except for audio playback. Whenever I play a game or play a movie, audio stutters every 8 to 10 seconds for like a sec and it comes back in. Video keeps playing fine. It's pretty annoying since I can't properly play games or watch movies anymore. The rest of my apps are working very well except for Boxer which seems to have taken a performance hit.
Currently, the hardware hasn't been upgraded in any other way - meaning it still has the original 2 GB RAM memory. It's connected to my HDTV via HDMI. It didn't manifest this issue until the upgrade to Lion.
I've tried closing every app but it doesn't seem to help. Hope you can help me out. Thanks!!

You need a newer model Mac to use AirDrop between an iOS device (e.g. iPad) and a Mac
System Requirements
To see if your Mac works with AirDrop, make sure you’re in the Finder by clicking the desktop (the background area of your screen), or by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock. Then, check to see if AirDrop is listed as an option in the Go menu. If you don't see AirDrop listed, your Mac doesn't support this feature.
In order to transfer files between a Mac and and an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
your iOS device needs to include a lightning connector
your iOS device needs iOS 7 or later installed
your Mac needs to be a 2012 or later model with OS X Yosemite installed
Your Mac and iOS device both need bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on. You do not have to be connected to a specific Wi-Fi network.
To transfer files between two Mac computers, you need the Mac models listed below with Wi-Fi turned on and OS X Lion or later installed.
MacBook Pro (Late 2008 or newer)*
MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
MacBook (Late 2008 or newer)*
iMac (Early 2009 or newer)
Mac Mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)
Mac Basics: AirDrop lets you send files from your Mac to nearby Macs and iOS devices - Apple Support

No QE/CI on Mid 2010 Mac Mini

I recently purchased a Mid 2010 Mac Mini and have it connected to a 32" Insignia NS-L32X 1080p television via HDMI. I've upgraded it to Lion and noticed that QE/CI are not enabled. In fact they aren't listed at all under Graphics/Displays in System Information. Unfortunately I didn't check the setting before the upgrade so I don't know if they were enabled under Snow Leopard. Has anyone else experienced this?

OK, I've got my Firewire connection working again! Yay!
It turns out that I'm an idiot. A smaller man would not own up to his stupidity, but I'm not that guy.
Here's how I solved my problem.
I did a Google search on "mac min 2010 owners manual". I found the PDF file for the manual and started looking through it:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Mac_mini_Mid2010_User_Guide.pdf
On page 11, there is a drawing of the *BACK* of the Mac Mini. This is important because I had been plugging in the cables blindly, while facing the *FRONT* of the box. :facepalm:
Turns out that I was jamming the Firewire plug into the Ethernet port! The port is big enough to accomodate the male end of the Firewire plug, and it seemed to fit snugly.
Once I saw the drawing in the manual, I realized what was up. I spun the Mac Mini around, turned the Firewire plug sideways, and inserted it where it belongs: right between the Ethernet and HDMI ports! Voila! Everything worked as expected.
I wish there were a lesson in here somewhere, other than the fact that I am an idiot. "But when in doubt, try asking yourself: 'Did I plug everything in the right way?'"
:facepalm:

Why my Mac Pro hard drive noise and too slow?

Why my Mac Pro hard drive noise and too slow? Totally 8 gb speed system but now very slow . Please give some suggestions

Another thing you can do in Lion (and ML) is click on the "Info" button in Disk Utility to get the SMART status of the drive.It's more detailed now than it used to be and it might tell you if something is wrong.
A lot can go wrong with a hard drive which is why I tend to point people to the downloads section of the following web site:
http://scsc-online.com
They have a free hard drive troublleshooting download book there. I reccommend people download that before asking questionis because there are tons of problems that can act like hard drive problems when there's nothing wrong with the system at all. For example, how full is the drive? How many applications are running? What's the status of Spotlight indexing? How many apps are you running? How much memory do you have?
I could probably think up 20 or 30 more if needed.

Replacing Mac Mini Hard Drive with SSD, and New ML Install

I have a mid-2011 Mac Mini, and it has been running very sluggish, even when there are multiple free GB of RAM and the processor is only at 10 to 20% of capacity. I ran TechTool Pro 6 to do a scan of the whole machine, and it didn't detect anything out of the ordinary.
At this point I am guessing that it's probably a software issue. I have tons of processes running in the background all the time, and have installed hundreds of programs over the last two years, so it could be anything number of things that are somehow messing up Mountain Lion.
So, I would like to replace the 500GB internal hard drive with a 120GB SSD Drive (Samsung 840 Series), and put a fresh install of Mountain Lion on the SSD, put the 500GB in an external enclosure, and see if that fixes the problem.
Can someone explain the best way for me to do this, in a step by step list?
I can figure out how to accomplish each step, I just need some overall guidance as to how I should approach the whole thing.
Thanks very much!
Some other notes:
I have a 3 TB hard drive that I can use to back up everything on the 500 GB hard drive, but I'm assuming that time machine isn't the best way to back everything up, since I won't be able to restore the machine on the 120GB drive that I want to boot from.
Normally, I would get the internal 500GB down to 100GB of data, and then clone it on the SSD, and make the swap, but I'm assuming that cloning the drive will potentially replicate the source of the slowness, so I'm assuming that isn't the best way to proceed.

Here is my opinion and steps I would perform.
Back up your system first.
Check the iFixit.com site for a guide of how to replace the drive. Review Steps 3 and 4 BEFORE you replace your drive.
If you have a USB thumb drive with the ML 10.8.3 installer, skip to step 6.
If you don't have a USB thumb drive with the ML 10.8.3 installer, download the OS X Recovery Disk Assistant and use a 1-4GB thumb drive to create a Recovery HD on the thumb drive you can boot from. Skip to step 6.
If you have neither of the above, after replacing the drive, restart into Internet Recovery by pressing/holding the Command+Option+R keys. Since you have a mid-2011, Internet Recovery will ONLY allow you to download and install Lion since that's what probably came preinstalled on your system.
After you replace your drive and you are booted into the OS X Utilities Menu from one of Steps 3-5, select Disk Utility and format your new drive as Mac OS Extended-Journaled with the GUID partition table.
Go back to the OS X Utilities Menu and select Reinstall Mac OS X.
After the download and install of OS X you can run through the setup creating your user account (same as you had on you old drive).
If you were able to install OS X ML, skip to step 11.
If you installed Lion, you will have to login to the App Store and download/install your purchase of ML.
Run Software Updates to bring your OS X up to date.
Now you can restore any data files and apps that will fit onto the new drive from Time Machine. Enter Time Machine and navigate to your last backup to view the /Applications folders and your user folders (e.g Documents, Downloads, Music, etc.).
For your email, you can open Finder then press the Option key to see your user Library folder in the list. Select it to open it then enter Time Machine again and navigate to your last backup so that your user Library folder is opened in Time Machine. Copy your Mail folder to your Desktop so you can copy it back to your current user Library.
I think that's it.

Can I Replace my Early 2009 Mac Mini Hard Drive with my Early 2011 Macbook Pro Hard Drive?

I am replacing my 2011 Macbook Pro Hard Drive with a Solid State Drive. Instead of keeping the hard drive on an external enclosure I was wondering if I can use it to upgrade my Mac Mini's 160GB hard Drive with the one Im taking out of the MBP. And if so, is there any special formatting I would need to do?

It should work fine. No special formatting required. It actuality, I suspect that if you connect the HD, the Mini will boot into the OSX that was on the MacBook.
When you replace the HD in the Mini just be careful with the antennas and their wires and connections I accidentally disconnected the wifi antenna on mine when I replaced the HD.

Replace mid 2010 mac mini hard drive(s) and thermal sensor(s)

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