catalina killed my MacBook pro

Hey Paulfromuc,

Don't know if you got it figured out but had the same thing happen to me today with my 2015 MacBook Pro. Just didn't work. So I created Mojave boot on thumb and rebooted option+command+R to get into internet recovery and through Disk Utility erased both Macintosh HD and Macintosh Data and deleted the data volume (both volumes a construct of Catalina) and rebooted off thumb and was prompted to installed Mojave. Catalina currently seems pretty buggy but works well enough on my 2018 MacBook Air. I'm happily running off Mojave now (on the Pro) with no problem.

Steve

Hello paulfromuc,

The flashing folder with a question mark usually means that the System Software cannot be located, this could be a hardware or software issue with your Mac.

Please boot into Internet Recovery Mode (Command-Option-R), when there open Disk Utility and ensure you can see your Hard Drive on the left.

If you see your Hard Drive in Disk Utility: Close Disk Utility and Reinstall macOS from the main Recovery Screen, this shouldn't erase any of your data unless you erase your Hard Drive in Disk Utility.

If you cannot see your Hard Drive in Disk Utility: Bring it to an Apple Retail Store for hardware repair.

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Hello guys. It is problem from Catalina Update. Catalina damaged efi firmware on logic board. I have same problem in my Mac Pro 2013, when I update to Catalina I receive black screen. But we have 2 Mac Pro 2013 and we create dump firmware efi from logic board from working Mac Pro, after we flash firmware on damaged Mac Pro through special programmer which I buy on Ali express for 5$. and after this manipulation my Mac Pro alive. I hope this information helps you.

P.S. Before my manipulation I call in apple service and they say me that need replace logic board for 600$. And say that I myself to blame for this problem. But im say him that my Mac Pro will live before update to Catalina, but they didn't care.

Link on Programmer - https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/32725360255.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.4e3627d4vfZjsf&algo_pvid=172870e4-70b0-43af-bd61-a47c604cfee3&algo_expid=172870e4-70b0-43af-bd61-a47c604cfee3-0&btsid=2a1c810a-56e0-4800-93fd-129b20831300&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4,searchweb201603_55

Soft for flash: flashrom

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Before manipulation please read documentation for this device. Because there have are many subtleties

WARNING! Need create dump from same logic board from same Mac, it is very important.

WARNING! And don't forgot that need change in efi dump serial number on you device. You can find this video on YouTube.

Hello,

Sorry ** NO, upgrading EFI which is the first program set of software to make the Mac running (booting on the right HD or SSD aso..), could corrupt the right way to make the computer work. This upgrading process is done by a Apple distributed software ! EFI is not really hardware and not really pure software (likely EPROM used). That was called "bootstrap" in the past, well known by people who worked on first mini-computer on market like PDP from Digital and others. Flashing EFI to reinitialize to initial factory state will solve this issue.

Oh wow! I would setup an appointment as soon as possible to take it to the Apple Retail Store, I've been there multiple times with my Mac and they can run a diagnostic to figure out what's going on. I would also bring an external hard drive if you have one to backup your data.

Update: Took the MBP15 back to the Apple store and tech would not acknowledge that Catalina broke the machine. Said the update, which can be an intense processor for the computer, exacerbated a latent hardware issue. Because a logic board at $575 is cheaper than a new MBP I sent it in for repairs. Now, to see if the issue repeats with the new logic board. This taught me a lesson on being among the first to update the MacOS.

Hi Mukkocka, in my case the catalina kernel was fully loaded; only while finalising the installation (it seemed optimising the machine) it turned so hot that it eventually switched off. THEN restart gave exactly the same effect as discribed by ApolloGrace. After several attempts to restart or reinstall Catalina, I opened the back, saw fans running, unplugged the battery connector, let the machine 24 hours "rest" and voila it started again regretfully for a short while.....

Of course it may be an underlying hardware problem, but the number of people affected by the specific situation is growing each day and it cannot be a simple coincidence that this happens to everyone updating to Catalina. This is clearly a problem that is being cause by Catalina on the EFI chip (deprogramming it) and leaving the mother board useless, unless you change the chip or the entire motherboard. Many independent repair shops have solved the problem worldwide and some apple certified repair shops are starting to admit it, but can't do anything about it as it is not a officially recognised problem.

kclancey5 wrote:

I just did the upgrade to Catalina and my computer is dead...

Do you have a question? If not then take your machine to an Apple Store or authorized Apple repair center for diagnosis and repair.

It took a month for Apple to get my repair correct. It replaced the logic board, top cover/battery and SSD. When I picked up the machine after the first repair the keyboard backlight no longer worked. Back the MPB went to the repair depot. It came and the backlight keyboard still didn't function. Then Apple store tech then ordered yet a third top cover/battery from another store. More than three weeks, later I had a functioning MPB. It runs Catalina fine now. I asked for a refund of the repair cost since it took a month to fix, but the Apple store manager never responded. It has been a very sour experience.

Stock response being wheeled out.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250716026

(But going to an authorized service center or genius bar is definitely a good next step.)

I have this with my 2012 Mac mini. I really don't fancy hauling that into my nearest Apple store. It involves a 3 hour round trip.

I don't buy the faulty hardware, as if, like my machine, all was working flawlessly before hand, then the upgrade causes a change, then the finger points to either the software is faulty, or the hardware is rendered inoperable by the effects of the software.

The fact that the machine boots to the folder icon means its passed a POST check so inherently its fine.

I've managed to get my machine running with an external drive for the OS, and run a bunch of diagnostics and its healthy as its always been. Catalina seems to be the problem.