02-02-2009, 01:24 AM

I'm not sure if I should post it here or on the OS section, but I'll give it a go.

I was just given a mini mac which used to work (I think it's a 1st gen). Now all it does is show me the apple icon and the circle on the bottom just keeps on animating the sweep of the circle.

I've tried popping in a borrowed install disc for OSX 10.2, I get nothing. I do not have the original anything, no keyboard, no mouse, no discs, no documentation.

Is this a possible problem with the HD or is this a hardware or OS issue? Is there a way for me to force the mini mac to try and do an install from the boot up?

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Please let me know if I should be posting this in the OS bulletin board instead.

And here someone told me that macs are so much more user friendly than a PC ... says the friend with a working mac

02-02-2009, 01:48 AM

It sounds like a dead HDD to me. Try booting from another external hdd to check. This is called target mode. If you need any help let me know.

02-02-2009, 01:52 AM

10.2 is Jaguar and will not install on the Mac Mini. Just a heads up. The first mini shipped with 10.3 Panther and 10.3 or newer is required to install and run on a Mini. I forget the exact revision of 10.3 but think it was 10.3.7 that my first Mini that I purchased the first month the G4 Mini was released.

It also sounds like the Hard Drive might have died but you need to boot with the OSX Install CD and run Disk Utility to be sure.

02-02-2009, 02:42 AM

Thanks for the quick reply. Good to know about the OS thing.

I do have access to OS X Leopard. Should I go ahead and try to boot with that? I have no idea what a target mode is.

If this helps, I have a brand new iMac at my disposal for the next couple of days, is there a way for me to somehow hook up the mini mac to the iMac to run whatever tests necessary?

02-02-2009, 02:57 AM

Let me try a few things and get back to you.

For sure the Leopard DVD should be able to at least boot so you can get to the tools menu and run Disk Utility. Be sure to hold down the C key after you press the power with the OSX DVD in the drive.

I was correct on the 10.4.7 minimum version. 10.3.0 would freeze during the first apple screen and 10.2 would not even try to boot off the CD.

Which Leopard DVD is this? One that came with another Mac or a full install Black DVD?

02-02-2009, 04:53 AM

I tried the target disk thing with the iMac, then firewired the mini mac to it ... got no response.

I have access to the stand alone Leopard discs, as well as discs for the iMac that I have for the next week, and discs for a 6-month old MacBook Pro.

If it is the HD that's failing, is it easy to swap out? I'm okay with working on PC's, but have never worked on a Mac (with exception to installing RAM in an old G5 tank).

02-02-2009, 07:46 AM

Tech Center at OtherWorldComputing.com

Here is a video on how to disassemble the G4 Mac Mini. Try booting with the stand alone leopard DVD. Click on Utilities and run disk utility.

03-12-2009, 04:05 AM

Okay, so I finally got around to trying to resurrect this little mini mac. I popped in the leopard discs 10.5.4, and all I get is the apple with the animated circle. If I let it run a bit, then the apple goes away, but the animated circle is still there.

Is this a hard drive issue? I just want to get this thing going again

03-13-2009, 01:54 AM

I pulled out another hard drive and it seems that was the issue, however, the "test" hard drive I installed was just to test the system.

Could somone recommend a HD that would be compatible with the mini-mac? I don't know if the mini-mac system has a maximum capacity it can handle or if I should only be buying a HD from Apple or an authorized Apple reseller?

Can anyone tell me if this drive is compatible? It's the smallest and cheapest that Best Buy has to offer.

Western Digital - Caviar 160GB Internal Hard Drive for Desktops - WD1600JBRT

Help, anyone, help!

03-13-2009, 03:06 AM

Just to again be sure what Mini you have, it's a G4 Power PC and not Intel correct? If so, you need a 2.5" Laptop IDE (ATA) hard drive. Most of the newer drives in stores these days are SATA and will not work in the G4 mini. Just be sure it's an ATA or IDE Hard Drive 2.5" Laptop. The drive in the URL in your post is a 3.5" Desktop drive and will not fit.

Newegg.com - Seagate Momentus 5400.3 ST9120822A 120GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache ATA-6 Notebook Hard Drive - Laptop Hard Drives

That will work for example.

Size wise whatever you can afford as the G4 Mini does not have the 128GB limit of the older G4 towers.

When my 1.5Ghz G4 mini's drive died I installed an 80 GB Western Digital Scorpio as at the time I was broke. Works great.

03-13-2009, 03:27 AM

Thanks for the correct there Thought I copied the link for the 2.5".

It's definitely an IDE drive.

Thanks for the link. I'm pretty sure it's a Power PC and not an intel. Unfortunately there is no documentation that came with the mini so I'll just have to take my chances )

03-13-2009, 03:31 AM

If your IDE 2.5" drive fit and worked it's a G4 Mini for sure.

03-13-2009, 03:35 AM

Great! Mahalo for all your help!! This forum is simply priceless. I can't even get an Apple store associate to answer any questions

WooHoo!! Thanks!

03-13-2009, 04:15 AM

Anytime we can help, just ask away. I have worked with Mini's since the first 1.25Ghz G4 and done extensive mods to both the Power PC and especially Intel Mini so know it well.

Good luck and have fun with the Mini.

03-13-2009, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by dtravis7

Anytime we can help, just ask away. I have worked with Mini's since the first 1.25Ghz G4 and done extensive mods to both the Power PC and especially Intel Mini so know it well.

Good luck and have fun with the Mini.

Oh oh oh oh.... What mods?