Apple Mac mini G4

Model: Mac mini 1.42 "CTO"

  • Machine Model: PowerMac10,1
  • cpu: PowerPC G4 @ 1.42 GHz - PowerPC G4 (1.2)
  • memory: 1 GB - 1 DIMM - DDR333 SDRAM
  • hard drive: 80 GB ultra ATA drive - Seagate ST9808210A
  • optical drive: Superdrive (CD-RW/DVD+-RW) - Matshita DVD-R UJ-845C
  • graphics: ATI Radeon 9200 (RV280), 32 MB VRAM, AGP 4x
  • audio:
  • network - wired:
  • network - wireless: "Airport-Z" - AirPort Extreme, 11b/g
  • modem: 56k V.92 modem
  • bluetooth:
  • usb: usb 2.0 - 2 ports
  • firewire: Firewire 400 - 1 port
  • DVI output: yes
  • boot-ROM version: 4.8.9f4

os testing on this machine: FreeBSD, OS X,

back to machines page.

Links

FUSE for OS X, Fuse4X, SSHFS on Mac OS X 10.6.8 and 10.7.2 with Fuse4X, The SSH File System for MacFUSE, Mounting remote filesystems on OSX Leopard using sshfs, MacFuse and Macfusion, Macfusion, macfuse, FAQ: Using a Mac Mini G4 in 2013, HOWTO Boot Apple PowerPCs From A USB Drive In Open Firmware,

History

2014-08-10: optical drive. The drive failed a few years back, I just forgot to write it up. Now I tested it again. It will load DVDs / CDs, then it makes noises for a while, before ejecting the disc again. Perhaps it doesn't spin up. Yep - the optical drive is dead.

2014-08-09: setting up the new SSD drive. I booted the machine from an old firewire drive (Maxtor 300 GB), which has OS X 1.4.11 from my iBook experiments. I then used Disk Utility ("Diskverktøy") to partition the SSD, I selected HFS+, one partition and named it "Mac_HD". Afterwards, I put the machine in target mode (hold down "T" on the keyboard while booting, you will get a firewire symbol on the screen) and connected it to my other Mac mini, which could see "Mac_HD". Nice. Unfortunately, it looks like it can't see usb hard drives. Crap.

2014-08-09: testing the old hard drive. Run disktype on it:

root@kg-core1# disktype /dev/da0

--- /dev/da0
Character device, size 74.53 GiB (80026361856 bytes)
Apple partition map, 4 entries
Partition 1: 31.50 KiB (32256 bytes, 63 sectors from 1)
  Type "Apple_partition_map"
Partition 2: 128 MiB (134217728 bytes, 262144 sectors from 64)
  Type "Apple_Free"
  First 824 KiB are blank
Partition 3: 74.41 GiB (79892106240 bytes, 156039270 sectors from 262208)
  Type "Apple_HFS"
  HFS Plus file system
    Volume size 74.41 GiB (79892103168 bytes, 19504908 blocks of 4 KiB)
Partition 4: 5 KiB (5120 bytes, 10 sectors from 156301478)
  Type "Apple_Free"
  Blank disk/medium

nice to know.

2014-08-09: testing the old hard drive. I connected the old hard drive to a usb-to-ide adapter, and connected it to my FreeBSD workstation, to see if there is any hope rescuing data off it. It shows up in /var/log/messages:

Aug  9 22:37:36 kg-core1 kernel: da0 at umass-sim0 bus 0 scbus7 target 0 lun 0
Aug  9 22:37:36 kg-core1 kernel: da0: <ST980821 0A > Fixed Direct Access SCSI-2 device
Aug  9 22:37:36 kg-core1 kernel: da0: 40.000MB/s transfers
Aug  9 22:37:36 kg-core1 kernel: da0: 76319MB (156301488 512 byte sectors: 255H 63S/T 9729C)
Aug  9 22:37:36 kg-core1 kernel: da0: quirks=0x2<NO_6_BYTE>

Perhaps smartctl can tell me more?

root@kg-core1# smartctl -i /dev/da0
smartctl 6.2 2014-02-18 r3874 [FreeBSD 8.4-STABLE amd64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-13, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Momentus 4200.2
Device Model:     ST9808210A
Serial Number:    3LF0VKNG
Firmware Version: 3.04
User Capacity:    80,026,361,856 bytes [80.0 GB]
Sector Size:      512 bytes logical/physical
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   ATA/ATAPI-6 T13/1410D revision 2
Local Time is:    Sat Aug  9 22:39:48 2014 CEST
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

Ok, health then?

root@kg-core1# smartctl -H /dev/da0
smartctl 6.2 2014-02-18 r3874 [FreeBSD 8.4-STABLE amd64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-13, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
Please note the following marginal Attributes:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   001   001   020    Old_age   Always   FAILING_NOW 344395

Not too good. Do a smartctl -a for good measure:

root@kg-core1# smartctl -a /dev/da0
smartctl 6.2 2014-02-18 r3874 [FreeBSD 8.4-STABLE amd64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-13, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Momentus 4200.2
Device Model:     ST9808210A
Serial Number:    3LF0VKNG
Firmware Version: 3.04
User Capacity:    80,026,361,856 bytes [80.0 GB]
Sector Size:      512 bytes logical/physical
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   ATA/ATAPI-6 T13/1410D revision 2
Local Time is:    Sat Aug  9 22:41:33 2014 CEST
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
See vendor-specific Attribute list for marginal Attributes.

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x82)    Offline data collection activity
                    was completed without error.
                    Auto Offline Data Collection: Enabled.
Self-test execution status:      (   0)    The previous self-test routine completed
                    without error or no self-test has ever
                    been run.
Total time to complete Offline
data collection:         (    0) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities:              (0x5b) SMART execute Offline immediate.
                    Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
                    Suspend Offline collection upon new
                    command.
                    Offline surface scan supported.
                    Self-test supported.
                    No Conveyance Self-test supported.
                    Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)    Saves SMART data before entering
                    power-saving mode.
                    Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)    Error logging supported.
                    No General Purpose Logging support.
Short self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (   1) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (  84) minutes.

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 10
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x000f   042   041   034    Pre-fail  Always       -       37000664
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0003   095   095   000    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   001   001   020    Old_age   Always   FAILING_NOW 344395
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   079   079   036    Pre-fail  Always       -       865
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x000f   076   053   030    Pre-fail  Always       -       34702616723
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   062   062   000    Old_age   Always       -       33770
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0013   100   100   034    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   100   100   020    Old_age   Always       -       285
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       292
193 Load_Cycle_Count        0x0032   001   001   000    Old_age   Always       -       4147884
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   024   051   000    Old_age   Always       -       24 (0 21 0 0 0)
195 Hardware_ECC_Recovered  0x001a   042   041   000    Old_age   Always       -       37000664
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0012   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       7
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0010   100   100   000    Old_age   Offline      -       7
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    0x003e   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
200 Multi_Zone_Error_Rate   0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       0
202 Data_Address_Mark_Errs  0x0032   100   253   000    Old_age   Always       -       0

SMART Error Log Version: 1
ATA Error Count: 27 (device log contains only the most recent five errors)
    CR = Command Register [HEX]
    FR = Features Register [HEX]
    SC = Sector Count Register [HEX]
    SN = Sector Number Register [HEX]
    CL = Cylinder Low Register [HEX]
    CH = Cylinder High Register [HEX]
    DH = Device/Head Register [HEX]
    DC = Device Command Register [HEX]
    ER = Error register [HEX]
    ST = Status register [HEX]
Powered_Up_Time is measured from power on, and printed as
DDd+hh:mm:SS.sss where DD=days, hh=hours, mm=minutes,
SS=sec, and sss=millisec. It "wraps" after 49.710 days.

Error 27 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 33770 hours (1407 days + 2 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 78 59 07 e0  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x00075978 = 481656

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  25 00 20 68 59 07 e0 00      00:00:16.981  READ DMA EXT
  25 00 20 38 48 08 e0 00      00:00:16.969  READ DMA EXT
  25 00 20 98 70 04 e0 00      00:00:16.969  READ DMA EXT
  25 00 20 60 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.958  READ DMA EXT
  25 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.957  READ DMA EXT

Error 26 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 33770 hours (1407 days + 2 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 1f 61 d1 24 e0  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0024d161 = 2412897

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  24 00 20 60 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.728  READ SECTOR(S) EXT
  24 00 20 60 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.716  READ SECTOR(S) EXT
  24 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.716  READ SECTOR(S) EXT
  29 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:01:42.292  READ MULTIPLE EXT
  25 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:01:35.160  READ DMA EXT

Error 25 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 33770 hours (1407 days + 2 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 1f 61 d1 24 e0  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0024d161 = 2412897

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  24 00 20 60 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.728  READ SECTOR(S) EXT
  24 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.716  READ SECTOR(S) EXT
  29 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.716  READ MULTIPLE EXT
  25 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.705  READ DMA EXT
  ef 03 22 00 00 00 00 00      00:01:35.160  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]

Error 24 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 33770 hours (1407 days + 2 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 1f 91 d1 24 e0  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0024d191 = 2412945

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  29 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.728  READ MULTIPLE EXT
  25 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.716  READ DMA EXT
  ef 03 22 00 00 00 00 00      00:00:16.716  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]
  25 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.705  READ DMA EXT
  25 00 20 70 d6 24 e0 00      00:00:16.705  READ DMA EXT

Error 23 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 33770 hours (1407 days + 2 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 20 90 d1 24 e0  Error: UNC 32 sectors at LBA = 0x0024d190 = 2412944

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  25 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.728  READ DMA EXT
  ef 03 22 00 00 00 00 00      00:00:16.716  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]
  25 00 20 90 d1 24 e0 00      00:00:16.716  READ DMA EXT
  25 00 20 70 d6 24 e0 00      00:00:16.705  READ DMA EXT
  25 00 20 d8 6f 04 e0 00      00:00:16.705  READ DMA EXT

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
No self-tests have been logged.  [To run self-tests, use: smartctl -t]


SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
 SPAN  MIN_LBA  MAX_LBA  CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
    1        0        0  Not_testing
    2        0        0  Not_testing
    3        0        0  Not_testing
    4        0        0  Not_testing
    5        0        0  Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
  After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.

Ok, quite a few errors there.

2014-08-09: inserting a SSD.the new SSD is a Transcend TS32GPSD330, 32 GB, serial number: B58198-0466. Other info: HW6312-S2, DC +5V, 0.3A. I set the SSD as Master, and mounted in place of the hard drive. Before putting the top on the machine, I tested that it booted, which it did.

2014-08-09: replacing the hard drive with a SSD. Again, I used IFixit's Mac mini (PowerPC) Hard Drive Replacement guide. The case was already open, so I started at step 5, removing the Airport card. The hard drive was set as master.

2014-08-09: opening the machine. I used IFixit's Alternative Opening Procedure again, On each side, start at the front of the case, the sharp end of the pins should point towards the back of the case. For the front, poke around with the pins until you find the three (3) catches. I had to pry a bit with a small screwdriver at each side to help loosen the top lid, but eventually got it.

2014-08-09: the package from Multicom arrived in my mailbox.

2014-08-08: I got a shipment notice from Multicom.

2014-08-05: I ordered a 32 GB SSD to replace the failed hard drive. From Multicom, TRANSCEND SSD IDE 0032GB 2,5 / MLC (TS32GPSD330)price was NOK 477.- and shipping NOK 49, a total of NOK 526.-

2013-09-28: today OS X on the machine froze (no reaction even when plugging in / out usb devices), so I restarted it with the power button. But it won't start up, it shows the grey screen with the Apple on it, but no "spinning wheel" below. Perhaps the hard drive has died.

2005-07-08: I got the machine. It was shipped with OS X 10.4.1 (8B15).

2005-07-04: the machine shipped

2005-06-27: I ordered the machine.