options for old Mac

[mrstrong]

we have an old mac mini server (2012 2.3Ghz intel core i7 4GB 1600 MHz DDR3) still on El Capitan 10.11.6 !

 

It is still in use as a cache server for ipads and has been used to prepare several of them.

 

Yesterday I needed it to take an old ipad out of single app mode but found it "unresponsive".

Had to hard power it off and then it failed to boot.

 

Lots of googling etc later managed to boot into recovery, disk first aid failed error code 8

but I noticed it had another "unused" disk ! I have managed to do a time machine recovery

to that disk (1TB) and mac is back up for now. This second disk is obviously same age as one that

has failed but probably in better health as not been used ?

 

I'm wondering if I could upgrade this mac e.g. is it possible to put in a 1TB ssd then do a time machine

recovery to that, maybe add some more ram and update the os e.g. to Big Sur ?

 

Never attempted to take a mac apart and not much experience with macs other than using

apple configurator to prepare ipads.

 

What would you do in this situation ?

[howartp]

Hard drive swaps (and associated disk cloning etc) in Mac Mini's are easy enough, although it's pretty much the last component you take out so you've got to be happy with lots of screws and bits.

 

Plenty instructions online so don't be afraid of it, if you're a competent hardware dabbler in PCs (particularly laptops) then you'll be fine in Mac Minis.

 

I can't comment on other flavours of Mac.

[Mrpower]

In fact Mac minis / server are not that hard to upgrade or replace the hard drive on. I have done it several times and it makes the Mac nice and fast again, with an SSD I mean. Take a look at https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini_Late_2012 Upgrade the Ram if you did not speck it with 16GB or above. Also you should be able to update it to 10.15.7, if you want, that is.

[DalekSec]

Apart from the last 2 gens of Mac mini they are easy to upgrade. 10minute jobby.

 

What i'd do, upgrade the HDD to 1TB, update OS to a OS thats still in their security support (may need to use something like https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/START.html to fool it into a higher OS than Apple support)

 

Then carry on with AC2 and Caching server.