Forums | MacLife

adamk · 2007-07-24 10:17 pm

Hello there,

Heres what happened; I have a Mac mini (PPC /2*USB version), which was running fine for 2 years with no problems at all. Today, After installing itunes onto it (7.02) and adding a few CDs to my library, in which time I synced up with my Ipod (30GB, video version) the computer started to act weird and stutter and slow down, I had to end programs, and I restarted in hopes that it would go away.

It got worse, the Mac Mini now wont even boot into OS X 10.3.* now, it just sits at the gray screen, with no mouse icon or anything. The CD-ROM doesnt respond anymore (it automatically ejected CD's earlier; was another reason why I restarted), I have tried all the possible boot modes.

Just as a note: At the time of ripping CD's, I was running with around ~ 1.5GB of free space left, so I dont know if that is causing it, but if it is, I would like to know if its a common problem.

-"C" doesnt work because the drive refuses to take any CD/DVD's in

- "T" just leaves me with a blank screen

- "command-option-shift-delete" gives me a screeen with two buttons, and a working mouse icon, but it freezes about 10 seconds in, with no drives shown.

- "command-option-o-f" gets me into open firmware, but freezes when i give it any "load" command, or if I try to "eject cd" (there might be a CD in there).

- "shift" Doesnt work

- "command-v" doesnt work/respond

- "command-c" doesnt work/respond

I have no Idea what to do, I have very important information on it, and I need to be able to take it off. I have a spare G4 1.2ghz with OS X 10.4, I would like to know what my options are. I am in desperate need of assistance.

Thank you,
Adam

Basil · 2007-07-24 10:54 pm

adamk wrote:
Just as a note: At the time of ripping CD's, I was running with around ~ 1.5GB of free space left, so I dont know if that is causing it, but if it is, I would like to know if its a common problem.

Welcome to the forum Adam.
1.5 GB is definitely well bellow what is recommended for free space and the cause of your problems.
You have to free up some space but if you cannot start in target disk mode I'm not sure how you can do it.

manwe · 2007-07-25 1:39 am

Have you actually tried starting up in target disk mode? You say you tried booting up while holding "T", but was the mini hooked up to your other mac at the time? To be honest I'm not sure it would make a difference, but maybe worth a try.

The lack of space, like Basil said, is most likely the culprit. You should keep ~10% of your drive free to be safe.

Miles · 2007-07-25 2:07 am

Lack of free space shouldn't prevent booting off another disk or into Target Disk mode. I've filled my startup disk completely before, and it gets wacky, but not this wacky. It sounds like it could be a hardware problem you can't fix yourself—the good news is that if it's so borked that it won't boot off of anything, then the problem probably isn't the hard drive. Take it to an Apple store (or AASP), but make sure you let them know how important the data on the disk is. Best case scenario (aside from it being a simple fix) is that they pull out the hard drive before it's sent in for service, put it into an external enclosure, and you can plug it into another computer and get all your files off of it.

FutureDreamz · 2007-07-25 12:06 pm

You've caught the Mac worm! BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA!
http://www.macworld.com/news/2007/07/18 … lsrc=mwrss

adamk · 2007-07-27 6:29 am

Thanks for all the help, I got it sorted.

Fix: Open up the Mac mini and remove the CD-rom, it was broken.

pottymouth · 2007-07-27 6:54 am

the drive? or a disk in it?

Forums | MacLife

#1 2007-07-24 10:17 pm

Gray Screen of Death (HELP)

#2 2007-07-24 10:54 pm

Re: Gray Screen of Death (HELP)

adamk wrote:

#3 2007-07-25 1:39 am

Re: Gray Screen of Death (HELP)

#4 2007-07-25 2:07 am

Re: Gray Screen of Death (HELP)

#5 2007-07-25 12:06 pm

Re: Gray Screen of Death (HELP)

#6 2007-07-27 6:29 am

Re: Gray Screen of Death (HELP)

#7 2007-07-27 6:54 am

Re: Gray Screen of Death (HELP)

Board footer