Erase a dead macbook pro with embedded ssd

Question

Level 1

18 points

Erase a dead macbook pro with embedded ssd

I have a 2018 MacBook Pro 15 inch and I have been treating it with care. But recently it completely died. It wont boot up despite it was totally fine the day before. Called Apple guy and done some test by their instructions. The conclusion is it is most likely the logic board failure and needed to be repaired.

The repairing fee is so expensive (Japanese Yan 80,000; 800 in USD). So I decided instead of getting it fixed am going to sell it and go for a M1 MacBook Air.

So the issue is, how to format (erase) everything on a dead MacBook Pro without tearing it apart? SSD is embedded so I cannot take it out anyway.

I have another Macbook Pro 13 inch so if it requires a Mac to do so I can do it.

Thanks!!!

Posted on Mar 31, 2021 2:49 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

HWTech

Level 9

56,636 points

Apr 1, 2021 7:14 PM in response to zracon

Since it is a 2018 model you can try running Apple Configurator 2 which requires putting the 2018 laptop into DFU Mode and "Restoring" the T2 firmware:

https://support.apple.com/guide/apple-configurator-2/revive-or-restore-an-intel-based-mac-apdebea5be51/mac

A 2018+ Apple laptop uses a T2 security chip so your data is already hardware encrypted on the SSD so without the communication between the T2 chip and the SSD your data is secure.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208862

https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/07/29/what-apples-t2-chip-does-in-your-new-macbook-air-or-macbook-pro

Reply