10.15 Catalina....bricked my Mid 2014 13" Macbook Pro? Blinking file icon

As I tried to explain above, it is entirely possible that new firmware (with a different bit pattern) merely uncovered a latent defect in the firmware store -- a pattern that could not be stored correctly due to a broken bit or two.

Do you get the flashing power indicator light at startup? if so, how many flashes?

I visited Apple store as well today, with exactly the same problem, MBP 2017, flashing folder with question mark after an attemt of Catalina update. I am not an expert in computers, but from what I understood- there was a batch of faulty EFIs on different machines and Catalina update puts it in extreme mode which causes hardware failure with symptoms many of us have - no response to hot keys, folder with question mark etc.

Apple is not here. Apple Support Communities is a User-to-User support forum. If other users can not help you think of a fix, No further help is likely to be forthcoming using this medium. There are no standard mechanisms for escalating problems to Apple Support from here, and Apple Engineering and Marketing Movers and Shakers do NOT monitor these forums looking for trends and outstanding issues.

DO NOT "wait for Apple to provide a fix". Unless and until a large number of users present their issues through standard problem-reporting channels, Apple does not know there is a problem, and is NOT working on a fix. Being selfish is the best policy, getting yours fixed helps everyone.

If advice supplied here does not provide resolution, You must take additional steps to resolve your issues. Contact Apple support directly through one of these methods:

• contact telephone support (free for 90 days with a new Mac, of for three years with AppleCare purchase)

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• Visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider (there may be an "evaluation fee", but if they perform any service for a fee, ask for a rebate of the evaluation fee).

If you want to send your preferences directly to Apple use the feedback links:

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I had similar problem. Apple first proposed to replace the logic board. I disagreed. Then they fixed it for me for free. I wrote an article describing this, proposing Apple's approved service as a first solution and also hinting alternatives and it was censored here in this thread because "following the procedures at the site you provided may lead to damage to the user’s device" :) So, my apologies, if you find my article anyway, be warned.

[Edited by Moderator]

I have a very similar issue with my 2017MBP that appeared during the update. System would not boot or charge, could not reinstall the OS, obviously battery died while troubleshooting. SMC reset didn’t help, that was before the battery died. When I called Apple they said it seemed to be an issue with the update. They told me that could be caused by several things from a drop in connectivity from their server to something hanging during the install. They made me an appointment today at the store and said they should be able to fix it as it is probably just a software issue causing all the problems that originated from the update. That was from Apple support over the phone. I will update the post tonight after I go to the Apple store.

Hello and welcome to Apple Support Communities, alexscheppert.

If I understand your post correctly, after updating your Mac you see a flashing file with a question mark. I’d like to help.

It sounds like you've done some great troubleshooting so far. Make sure you've completed all the steps in this article:

If a flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

Let us know if that resolves this issue for you. 

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Take care.

You have critical data on your computer which is not being backed up. Not a very smart thing to do. You might try file recovery software to see what it can recover or you can send it out to a recovery service. Either of these methods will cost you and probably fail to recover everything.

It is always suggested that before undertaking anything with the possibility of data lose like an upgrade that the first step should be a backup.

This is funny, then how come I out my hard drive in another computer and it booted normally? Don't be fooled, Catalina is halting/crashing when updating the EFI leaving it corrupted. I got my laptop working again today.

Just come back from the Apple Store.

Apple worker had not come across/ heard of this problem.

After “diagnostic testing” they say I need a new logic board at £465 plus 20% VAT!

£558 for a failed software upgrade and not my fault.

Not happy and declined.

How does one contact senior staff at Apple?

"After “diagnostic testing” they say I need a new logic board at £465 plus 20% VAT!

£558 for a failed software upgrade and not my fault."

An OS is nothing but software and it can't fry a logic board just be attempting to install it. You just didn't know but your logic board was already failing. When you're installing an OS it's installing drivers and updating firmware if necessary. All of that deals with the logic board. If you have AppleCare Plus then Apple will replace your logic board free of charge. I'm assuming you don't have anymore warranty as Apple quoted you the repair cost.

Sorry to sound blunt but don't blame an Apple authorized software install for your logic board failure. That's not technically possible.

", but from what I understood- there was a batch of faulty EFIs on different machines and Catalina update puts it in extreme mode which causes hardware failure"

Any proof from Apple store about that statement? Otherwise it's hearsay because an OS install cannot cause damage to a logic board or hardware failure.

Dude seriously?!? the install updates the EFI firmware. If this update gets borked then this issue will appear as a hardware failure as the EFI doesn’t even know how to boot any drive, much less the recovery partition. I’m sorry but if this is the hill you chose to die on, you’re very wrong.

Is this what you meant by "Blinking file icon?"

Question mark

A folder with a question mark means that the selected startup disk isn't available or doesn't contain a Mac operating system. Learn how to resolve a flashing question mark.

I was quoted the price of 1350 USD by official authorized service here in Ukraine that Apple Support recommended. It is the quote for motherboard change, just because I "upgraded" to Catalina... Ridiculous. MBP 15 2017 here.

Same to me. Now used two evenings trying to restore my MBP 2013, 13" i7 after Catalina update. Works with external monitor in safe mode. But even a restore to factory default can't bring the internal monitor back. So it must have something to do with the firmware upgrade. Apple this is to much.