Mac mini only starts after reset of PRAM by using cmd + option + p + r

1. What system are you running?
2. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
3. Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
4. Restart the computer in Safe Mode, then restart again, normally. If this doesn't help, then:
5. Restart the computer and after the chime hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the Utility Menu appears.
6. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu.
7. After Disk Utility loads select the hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the side list. In the Disk Utility status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (S.M.A.R.T status is not reported for external drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume from the list. Click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. When it finishes click on the Repair Permissions button. When that has completed quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
8. Download and install the OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 Combo Update.
9. Reboot from the Recovery HD. Select Reinstall OS X from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.Reinstall the 10.10.5 update, OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 Combo Update, if required.
10. All the links listed above are here:
11. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/751...

Hey! I know it’s been a while, but I’m having the same exact issue, also on a 2014 Mac Mini. It works perfectly fine, but only starts up normally after a PRAM reset. Did you ever figure out what the issue was? Or what ended up “happening” to the Mini? From what I’ve read I’m thinking it’s probably the PRAM battery, but I don’t know what happens if I just leave it/keep using it like this. I’m also “scared” of doing any updates that require restarts, as I don’t know if zapping the PRAM during that will affect/break anything…

Thanks in advance for any info! :)