Resolved 2018 Mac Mini

[endoftheroad]

So Ive got problems
I hooked up my 1012 Mini and my 2018 Mini
up to the TESmart KVM switch 1-monitor 2-computers

it was working, on both the 2012 (Input 1)had to be up and logged into before the 2018 Input 2)would open up
played around for awhile switching from one to the other,,cool beans,
then I shut down the 2018 switched to the 2012 and shut it down
then had lunch
I tried to do the 2018 first, and it wouldent do it
so i shut down
then when i restarted it up
the 2018 would NOT even open up the screen after logging into the 2012
the number 2 usb on the TESmart kept flashing

unhooked everything
got my old monitor that I know worked with it, hooked the 2018 up
the screen flashes,
the 2018 On-Off light is flashing 4 seconds on 10 seconds off
so i shut down
tried a command/r startup
now the apple on the screen flashes right along with the light 4 seconds on 10 seconds off

Im in way over my head and need some help PLEASE

cheers John

 

[endoftheroad]

I tried a command/R nothing
I tried holding down the "D" on startup. I get the spinning earth and it telling me it could take awhile
and to enter my password, but it doesn't stay on screen long enough, nor does my mouse or keyboard to choose my network

all i have is a 10 sec black screen with an apple logo, then my screen tells me its going into standby mode, back and forth,back and forth

 

[endoftheroad]

ok so after letting it sit for an hr,
screen Has now let me put in my password for the internet connection
then went back to the on and off mode,
BUT WAIT

It Is NOW
sitting here with a black background screen, the earth logo in the center
With a Triangle Caution sign that has an "!" in the center
underneath are words

Support.apple.com/mac/startup
-5010D(1)

am I supposed to do anything?
or let it sit?

its been just sitting here for a half hr seems to be doing nothing,---lights on steady white, screens not changing

thanks for any help here in understanding all this
John

 

[endoftheroad]

so i looked that up,
it means it isnt working
and the apple page suggested trying to reinstall with a boot disk
so trying that now
its been sitting and trying to open up the boot disk, for an hr now, the boot disk seems like its maybe,kinda
giving out long/and then slow, then longer, flashes, intermittently screen is black, flashes once in a while telling me its going into powersave mode OMG

im thinking if this dont work, ive probably wrecked my warranty and its gonna cost me a small fortune at an apple store

 

[Fishrrman]

Give up the KVM switch.

Put each Mini on its own keyboard/mouse/display...

 

[endoftheroad]

and how do i fix my 2018 now?

 

[endoftheroad]

its now been 4+hrs and my mojave boot disk has NOT done anything
1-do i shut down and pull it out?
2- leave it in?
have i now totaly bricked it? beyond repair?

 

[endoftheroad]

so now im doing a option/command/R
and its reminding me of my "FORTRAN" class in collage, they kicked me out and failed me
when i put the main frame computer in a continuous loop

and that is what my 2018 is doing now
looping continuously without all the flickering of the light and screen
just loading,loading the same, over and over OMG

nobody will toss me a CLUE ?

 

[Fishrrman]

Take the 2018 Mini AWAY FROM the KVM switch.

Now, connect a mouse and keyboard to it.
And a display.
All DIRECTLY CONNECTED to the Mini.

Make sure it's powered down, all the way off.
Pull the plug out of the wall if you have to.

Then, plug it back in.
Press the power-on button.
IMMEDIATELY HOLD DOWN
Command-OPTION-R
Keep holding those keys down.

This should get INTERNET recovery going.
If you're using wifi, you may need your wifi password.
You should see "the spinning globe".
The internet utilities take a while to load.

Does this work?

 

[endoftheroad]

all the above-- ive testing/trying-- posted has been done AWAY from the KVM switch
and im getting nowhere
not using wifi using cat cable directly off the router

"D"--fail
command /R---fail
thumdrive--fail
option/ command--fail
shift /option /command---fail

am i wrong to maybe assume that it could be non software but maybe hardware?
and covered with warentee ?

nothing i do software wise is working

 

[endoftheroad]

I did your post above
and i typed in what happened above a few responses
i ended up with the warning triangle that sat for an hr before i searched and read that it meant it had stopped loading
because of troubles

 

[Fishrrman]

I think you'd better take this one to the genius bar at a brick-n-mortar Apple Store...

 

[endoftheroad]

yup and probably gonna cost me money

I did this morning make up and external hard drive with Mojave on it using my 2012 mini
booted up fine on the 2012 when i used the "option" command

then plugged it into the 2018, started up in "option" no problem
chose the mojave disk
clicked continue
its now sitting here 10 minutes later clicking on and off (I can hear the platter disk) as the 2018 switches on and off same with my screen
,
I was praying I would get into the external disk ok, then i could coose to upgrade to BigSir and stuff it into the 2018
nope im doomed
,

 

[endoftheroad]

I think you'd better take this one to the genius bar at a brick-n-mortar Apple Store...

do they actually have computer "repair guys" there? in house?
or do they just send it off to another place

I was so hoping to find a genius here ,,,,,,,,

I can only pray now its a hardware problem, and they will cover it, as its only a month old
If its software, omg im gonna get bent over hard methinks as they wont cover it