mac-mini 6,2 server issues

[dzenisn]

Hi everyone, I hope you guys can offer some insight on issues i have been experiencing with my mac-mini. To begin here are my specs:Model Name: Mac mini
Model Identifier: Macmini6,2
Processor Name: Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 2.3 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 16 GB
Boot ROM Version: MM61.0106.B0A
SMC Version (system): 2.8f1
Serial Number (system): C07MP0KJDWYN
Hardware UUID: 9B0C64DD-ACE9-53AE-BB95-E8DD5F09B04D

The problem:
Intermittently , and seemingly randomly, I experience gradual slowdown in operations and eventually mac-mini becomes unresponsive. Sometimes I will get a spinning beech ball, however, most of the time the system just becomes unresponsive. I can still move the mouse cursor, however, applications freeze or do not respond to inputs from the mouse or keyboard. Eventually I have to do a hard shut-down using the power button. The system is turned back on and runs fine for a while until next random slowdown. There is no discernible pattern to this issues. It happens while browsing on safari, chrome or playing pandora radio and iTunes. I have upgraded the memory to 16g sourced from OWC. However, even using the original 4g memory, this issue still occurs. I have performed the hardware test and diagnostic using the (Option-D) prompt. The test took approximately 8 hours and returned all clear with flying colors. I have reinstalled the OS at least three times, alternating both hard drives. I have performed a disc check as well, again test shows no problems. I have seemingly exhausted all avenues of action. Any ideas, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

 

[lclev]

Well, you have done all I would have tried. The only thing I could think to add would be a background app that is acting up. You do not list what version of OS X you are running which would be nice to know.

I might suggest opening Activity Monitor and see what is running. You seem to know what you are doing so I would suggest looking at what is running. Leave it open and when the slowdown starts check out what apps are open and using resources. Also check the cached file size and swap file to see if they is getting overly large.

I am grasping here but with all you have done I would begin to suspect app issues???? Take a look and see - it can't hurt.

Lisa

 

[dzenisn]

I apologize I am running El-Capitan, I have the app monitor, however, once the slowdown occurs I am unable to view it, as apps become unresponsive. Thanks for your insight.

 

[pigoo3]

I have seemingly exhausted all avenues of action. Any ideas, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

You haven't exhausted all avenues of action…just the one's you could think of. Of course that's why you came here…for additional ideas.

One thing you could tell us us how full is the hard drive (gigs used and gigs free)?

Here are some additional things to try…sort of a shot-gun approach:

1. SMC Reset
2. PRAM/NVRAM Reset
3. Run the free maintenance app called "Onyx".
4. Do a fresh OS install.
5. Worst case scenario…do a complete hard drive wipe & fresh OS install (only as a last resort).

This is pretty much a laundry list of things to try that you didn't mention doing already. I would start from the top…and work down (from 1 to 5). With #5 being an absolute last resort (considering it could be a lot of work to reinstall all of your user installed apps if you have many).

- Nick

 

[dzenisn]

Thanks for your suggestions, I have tried Onyx before and it did not make a difference, still random slowdown and freeze. Ive tried PRAM reset and so far so good, however, that was only 24hrs ago so it remains to be seen. Im not familiar with SMC Reset maybe you can enlighten me on that, when you get a chance. Iv performed the "fresh OS instal", total of three times. Everything works fine for a few days, and then same symptoms reoccur. Both hard drives have approximately 900gig free, since one is mirror backup drive. I have not tried the hard drive wipe, I guess that is an option if else fails. I will keep you guys updated since my issues seem to be unique to this machine, trust me, I searched extensively through different search engines for any topics involving these symptoms and came up empty. Thanks again.
P.S what is a proper procedure for a complete hard drive wipe?

 

[pigoo3]

Im not familiar with SMC Reset maybe you can enlighten me on that, when you get a chance.

Google search for "SMC Reset". An Apple document with the procedure comes up easily.

P.S what is a proper procedure for a complete hard drive wipe?

Boot into the Recovery Partition (which I'm assuming you are very familiar with). Launch Disk Utility…erase the drive (main partition). Quit Disk Utility. Do fresh OS install.

- Nick

 

[dzenisn]

Roger that, thanks again for your help. Hopefully one of those fixes will work, if not, I guess I just have that one in 100,000 bad batch machine. The sad thing is the problem is so random that I would surely be unable to replicate it if I take it to apple care people. Thanks.

 

[dzenisn]

A quick update, after "zapping" PRAM and VRAM, doing the SMC reset and pother things I tried the "beach ball of death" returned once again. This time I had to do a shut down via the power button and upon reset the beach ball returned. I again reset and was able to use the mini for a littler while and look into the "terminal" log. I noticed a curious line of text indicating that one of the two hard drives was not registering, I couldn't copy the exact text due to, you guessed it, another "beech ball". This time I went to the iFixit guide for hard drive replacement on late mac-mini and got to work. I performed some home surgery on my machine and after removing the fan, and the wi-fi antenna i was able to get an access to the logic board. I noticed that one of the two hard drive connections (btw that is a very interesting connector, nothing like the SATA connectors Im used to on a full size PC), appeared to not be seated all the way. Now that could have been dislodged by me during the disassembly, not sure. Just in case I removed the top hard drive (which was the OSX drive) and replaced with an Intel SSD 530 series. I reassembled everything and booted into OSX Recovery. Now the OSX recovery formatted the SSD and then created a "fusion drive" combining the in tell SSD and the remaining Samsung HD. Now i have 1.23 TB fusion drive with a restored copy of OSX Maverics 10.9.5 (that the machine shipped with). So far so good, obviously the machine is about 200% faster in all aspects due to the flaw storage, and no beech balls yet. Im keeping my fingers crossed that this resolved my issues, and if not i will be back here to commiserate some more. Thanks again.

 

[lclev]

A partially seated hard drive connector could certainly create the problems you were seeing. Hopefully all will be good now. ;D

Lisa