Macbook pro failure; does not boot anymore...

[icymountain]

I am trying to get a 16" Intel MBP to work again.
Basically, it crashed multiple times in the past week. It would reboot by itself. I was suspecting some issue with webpages crashing the system, but I am guessing the problem is more serious and hardware related.

First, it does not boot anymore. It gets stuck on the Apple logo (after the startup chime) and shows no progress bar. I let it stay like that and it did not move after a couple of hours. I did all the resets (SMC, PRAM) with no effect.

Second, I tried to start in Diagnostics. It asks to connect to a network, but fails to. I could not get the SSID of my local network recognised and tried with my iPhone in hot spot mode too, without success either. Again after one hour it still shows a spinning wheel.

Third, I went to the Restore mode. I applied first aid, which reports the OS partition is fine but the data partition has errors. I am unsure whether that means the SSD is going wrong or that the multiple self-reboots left the partition in a corrupted state.
I also tried reinstalling Sonoma. But each attempt resulted in an error after one hour or so of download time (with a "could not load the update" style message, I do not remember the exact text).

I am very hesitating to erase any partition before trying to restore. Not that I care with the data (all backed up elsewhere), but I fear it will just hang and never reinstall anything, becoming a glorified aluminium brick.

What else could I try at this point ? (and before sending the laptop for repair)

 

[Audit13]

I recommend taking the MacBook to an Apple store for diagnosis of possible before deciding on a repair option.

 

[icymountain]

I recommend taking the MacBook to an Apple store for diagnosis of possible before deciding on a repair option.

To be honest, if it comes to this, I will think carefully between the "repair" the "replace" options...
At this point, I am trying to ensure I did try all the salvaging methods.

 

[Audit13]

To be honest, if it comes to this, I will think carefully between the "repair" the "replace" options...
At this point, I am trying to ensure I did try all the salvaging methods.

It's possible the Apple Store tech may be able to reinstall or restore the OS with data loss.

 

[Fishrrman]

Just wondering... can you get to INTERNET recovery?
This is NOT THE SAME as "the recovery partition".

Try this:
Power down -- ALL THE WAY OFF.

Press and HOLD DOWN
Command-OPTION-R

Keep holding those keys down and touch the power on button.
DO NOT LET GO of that key combination.

You should be asked for your wifi password.
Let go of the keys now and enter it.

Do you now get "the spinning globe"?
If so, let it sit for a while as the internet utilities load.

Can you get to the point where the internet utilities are loaded?

 

[Alpha Centauri]

To be honest, if it comes to this, I will think carefully between the "repair" the "replace" options...
At this point, I am trying to ensure I did try all the salvaging methods.

It's really not such a bad idea. I mean I still call AC on extremely rare occasions if I'm stumped by an old 2009 MBP and they genuinely try to help. I could imagine they might be willing to do an extensive hardware test in person, if you approach it the right way. It might save you a lot of diagnostic time.

 

[icymountain]

Just wondering... can you get to INTERNET recovery?
This is NOT THE SAME as "the recovery partition".

Try this:
Power down -- ALL THE WAY OFF.

Press and HOLD DOWN
Command-OPTION-R

Keep holding those keys down and touch the power on button.
DO NOT LET GO of that key combination.

You should be asked for your wifi password.
Let go of the keys now and enter it.

Do you now get "the spinning globe"?
If so, let it sit for a while as the internet utilities load.

Can you get to the point where the internet utilities are loaded?

Thanks a lot, but I did try that, and did stay at the stage where it tries to connect to the wifi for a long time without going any further than that. I tried several times. On one occasion, I let it try for two or three hours without any progress. I am not sure what it is doing during that time. It may be doing something useful, but I am not sure it is not just stuck on hardware / software problems. Is there a point letting it try this for a day ?

I would like to see if I can do something more before seeking for tech help (which I will if I have to).

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"Thanks a lot, but I did try that, and did stay at the stage where it tries to connect to the wifi for a long time without going any further than that. I tried several times. On one occasion, I let it try for two or three hours without any progress."

Hmmmm...
This makes me wonder if it could a hardware failure of the wifi circuits on the motherboard.

On some MBP's the wifi was in the form of a replaceable module, I think. But you have a 2019? Or is it another year?

See this thread that says the wifi is integrated into the motherboard and not replaceable:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mbp-16-2019-wi-fi-hardware-replacement-help.2254884/

Then again, it might not be a wifi problem at all.

Do you have a brick-n-mortar Apple Store anywhere near?
Might be time to make an appt for the genius bar.

 

[calliex]

Try to boot up in unix mode. I found this on the internet you will have to google.
If boots up in Unix you should be able to get to your files and copy them to an external drive.
I found out how to do this on the web. I at least got my files

 

[Adora]

OP wrote:
"Thanks a lot, but I did try that, and did stay at the stage where it tries to connect to the wifi for a long time without going any further than that. I tried several times. On one occasion, I let it try for two or three hours without any progress."

Hmmmm...
This makes me wonder if it could a hardware failure of the wifi circuits on the motherboard.

On some MBP's the wifi was in the form of a replaceable module, I think. But you have a 2019? Or is it another year?

See this thread that says the wifi is integrated into the motherboard and not replaceable:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mbp-16-2019-wi-fi-hardware-replacement-help.2254884/

Then again, it might not be a wifi problem at all.

Do you have a brick-n-mortar Apple Store anywhere near?
Might be time to make an appt for the genius bar.

The first Retina MacBooks Pro had an easy replaceable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module. I think from 2012 to 2015. I saw this in a 2013 or 2014 one, where it was damaged and I could replace it with one from a totally dead 2012.

16" must be 2019, yes.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

The first Retina MacBooks Pro had an easy replaceable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module. I think from 2012 to 2015. I saw this in a 2013 or 2014 one, where it was damaged and I could replace it with one from a totally dead 2012.

16" must be 2019, yes.

Also true in the years prior to 2012.

 

[icymountain]

Then again, it might not be a wifi problem at all.

Do you have a brick-n-mortar Apple Store anywhere near?
Might be time to make an appt for the genius bar.

Indeed, I am not considering a wifi problem very likely. Another hardware failure that gets in the way at some point of the boot process would seem likely.

I am not far from an Apple Store, but will have difficulties scheduling a meeting there quickly (thankfully I have a backup computer till then). I will try though.

Try to boot up in unix mode. I found this on the internet you will have to google.
If boots up in Unix you should be able to get to your files and copy them to an external drive.
I found out how to do this on the web. I at least got my files

What do you mean by "unix mode" ? I think the terminology is probably not quite this one as MacOS is a form of Unix environment. I did not see the possibility to access my files in any way I tried, and would be interested. One last thing I may try before going for tech assistance is to check this and possibly erase the partitions in the hope it helps a fresh reinstall (if I am at the point where tech support is needed, I do not fear turning it into a brick).

 

[calliex]

Indeed, I am not considering a wifi problem very likely. Another hardware failure that gets in the way at some point of the boot process would seem likely.

I am not far from an Apple Store, but will have difficulties scheduling a meeting there quickly (thankfully I have a backup computer till then). I will try though.


What do you mean by "unix mode" ? I think the terminology is probably not quite this one as MacOS is a form of Unix environment. I did not see the possibility to access my files in any way I tried, and would be interested. One last thing I may try before going for tech assistance is to check this and possibly erase the partitions in the hope it helps a fresh reinstall (if I am at the point where tech support is needed, I do not fear turning it into a brick).

you need to boot in single user mode. that will bring up the Mac in Unix. You will need some basic commands to use it. Look up on the internet like cd change directory and cp copy. Here an article I used to copy the files in unix from my Mac to a usb jump drive. http://macsage.com/mounting-usb-drive-in-single-user-mode/