Can install OSX Mavericks but nothing later
Hi guys,
I’m working on a Mac mini mid 2010 model that stopped booting. I found that the hard disk was going bad and replaced it with an SSD.
I have tried installing:
1) High Sierra
2) Low Sierra
3) El Capitan
All of which end of failing either before or after the initial installation (before it reboots and continues) with an error that the operating system could not be installed, but it usually does not point to any specific error, just says something like try again.
If I install OSX 10.9 (mavericks), it works fine except at a certain point, the updates will not work. It tries, but eventually reboots and gives me a message about the updates not working.
The computer originally had been working with 10.10 installed, so I want to at least get that far and make sure the photos app gets installed so they can view their photos library.
I can not run a diagnostic on this mac mini. When I hold D, it says not available.
Any ideas?
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3 opmerkingen
Just an update for those who are wondering:
I tried just about EVERYTHING. I installed mavericks, tried updating EFI (it said not applicable), tried yosemite, el capitan, etc. Tried installing via recovery mode download, tried app store downloading. I EVEN CALLED APPLE
In the end, I used a macbook pro to install High Sierra onto an ssd and then transfer it to the mac mini. It worked and booted, BUT, after an OS update was applied, I ended up with the same error message about the installation failing.
I hate to give up, but I have no other options at this point besides replacing the logic board
EDIT: I also tried putting in a good HDD (not SSD) and installing on that, still failed
door KRepair
I have now succeed with about 15 machines by doing what I recommended below. To confirm, disconnect the internal drive, do either A. or B. on a post 2013 machine externally. Hook it up via USB to SATA and see if it will boot.
door mayer
Thanks for your input, @mayer
I gave the machine back today. My last attempt at it was to use another machine to install high sierra on the drive, then take the drive out and transfer it back to the trouble mac mini.
It booted, but after doing a combined OS update , it went back to "OS could not be installed" or something similar.
My only guess at this point is that it is a firmware/EFI problem. I am confident that any drive that already has the OS installed would boot on this machine, but as soon as any OS type update is needed (either to a newer OS, ie 10.10 to 10.11, or even a combined update ie 10.10.1 to 10.10.5 or something)
I tried updating the firmware to 1.5 by downloading it but it said I could not install it that way. After having the machine for over a week, I decided to go ahead and give it back to the customer.
door KRepair