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User profile for user: Nigel Paterson1
Nigel Paterson1 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

MacBook pro chime, no boot... dead?

My wife updated her 2013 MacBook Pro 13 to Big Sur, which appears to have bricked the machine.


She did the update yesterday and it went fine. Restarted afterward without problem.


Today, startup chime then dead - nothing on screen, no backlight, nothing.


Tried resetting the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM... after the SMC reset the machine chimed then died again. Don‘t think resetting the NVRAM/PRAM actually worked, I think it needs to be booted up for that to happen.


Does anyone know if Apple provides support when an updated OS kills a machine? Sure it is old, but it still did everything she needed and she was responding to notifications recommending she update...


Spec unsure

MacBook Pro 13 inch

A1502

2.7Ghz i5






Posted on Jan 2, 2021 7:55 PM

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
61,352 points

Posted on Jan 2, 2021 8:19 PM

Did you use the Big Sur 11.1 installer or did you use the older broken 11.0 or 11.0.1 installer? Big Sur 11.1 was only released a week or so ago. If the installer was downloaded before this time, then you used the older broken installer which was known to brick the 2013 & 2014 MBPros. AFAIK, the new v11.1 installer is supposed to work on the 2013 & 2014 MBPros.


If you power on the laptop and wait a minute or two does the Caps Lock key's LED light up when pressed? If so, then the laptop is booting, but their is no video/backlight. Have you tried to connect an external display and immediately enable Clamshell mode immediately after pressing the power button or just after the startup chime?


If you happened to have used the old Big Sur installer and the laptop is dead, then you will need to contact Apple Support for assistance. If they won't address the issue for free, then contact Apple corporate to inform them of the issue and your dissatisfaction. You can also check your local consumer protection laws or contact a lawyer to see what legal options are available to you. You can also provide product feedback here:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
61,352 points

Jan 2, 2021 8:19 PM in response to Nigel Paterson1

Did you use the Big Sur 11.1 installer or did you use the older broken 11.0 or 11.0.1 installer? Big Sur 11.1 was only released a week or so ago. If the installer was downloaded before this time, then you used the older broken installer which was known to brick the 2013 & 2014 MBPros. AFAIK, the new v11.1 installer is supposed to work on the 2013 & 2014 MBPros.


If you power on the laptop and wait a minute or two does the Caps Lock key's LED light up when pressed? If so, then the laptop is booting, but their is no video/backlight. Have you tried to connect an external display and immediately enable Clamshell mode immediately after pressing the power button or just after the startup chime?


If you happened to have used the old Big Sur installer and the laptop is dead, then you will need to contact Apple Support for assistance. If they won't address the issue for free, then contact Apple corporate to inform them of the issue and your dissatisfaction. You can also check your local consumer protection laws or contact a lawyer to see what legal options are available to you. You can also provide product feedback here:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

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MacBook pro chime, no boot... dead?

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