Apple Diagnostics is not available to my MBP

Try connecting the laptop directly to the router using an Ethernet cable for a faster more reliable network connection which also bypasses any possible WiFi issues which are extremely hard to troubleshoot. The online Apple Diagnostics leverages the same framework as Internet Recovery Mode.

If you get an error with a line something like "couldn't find /EFI/Test_Support.efi", then that is a known error due to Apple breaking things with the firmware and the boot file on their remote server which Apple never fixed for some systems.

You can access the old Apple Hardware Test images here:

https://github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest

In theory you should be able to use Disk Utility Restore to create the bootable USB drive (should be instructions contained within the downloaded .dmg file). If the "Restore" doesn't work, then use the instructions contained with that link.

Your 2010 came with install media (10.6.x). Those are what you need to access the hardware test (on disk 2 if I remember correctly). Know of no other way to get to the test.

artysan wrote:

My 2010 MBP, running MacOS 10.13.6 High Sierra, cannot access either Apple Hardware Test or Apple Diagnostics

Thank you for the reply. I administer many Apple computers and maintain external startup partitions for every OS from Mountain Lion thru Mojave. Is there any way I can add Apple Diagnostics to these partitions? I can’t run to the Apple Store every time I come across what I suspect might be a hardware issue.

Your 2010 is on the obsolete list.

To run the AHT/Diagnostic, Make sure that your Mac isn't using a firmware password.

as outlined:https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731

Is your issue confined to this one machine or across your entire fleet of your managed Macs?

If you are using an Enterprise Network configuration ref: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210060

Apple diagnostics—

Hi,

You would need to take your MacBook Pro to local retail Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider to be examined it.

Diagnose problems with your Mac - Apple Support

Apple - Find Locations - Location Selector

artysan wrote:

Thanks leroydouglas.

I’m not surprised about the ‘obsolete’ designation. Ironically, it’s the older machines which most need this kind of attention. Kernel panics and crashes which persist after installing a brand new boot SSD and clean OS leave me needing to know if an issue is serviceable or not, $-wise. This is a regular part of my workflow.

My description applied to this one specific machine only. I checked for firmware password, it is not using one.

I truly appreciate the links and notes.

Peter

As you know —Kernel Panics are predominately caused by hardware faults or faulty third-party kernel extensions.

Learn what to do if your computer restarts or shuts down unexpectedly, or you get a message that your computer restarted or shut down because of a problem.

If your Mac spontaneously restarts or displays a ... - Apple Support

 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT200553

alternative in trouble shooting software and possible hardware issues—

To get a good look at your System config. and reveal conflicts or issues, you can download/run this trusted utility https://etrecheck.com  

You suspect correctly; once you do an EFI update to allow recovery, your disks will no longer work. I did some extensive testing and found that on my 2010 iMac, (internet) recovery would not work 5 out of 6 times and the install disks no longer worked either. The only thing that worked at the time was my bootable clone I had made previously - booting into that, wiping the internal disk, and cloning back my OS was the only thing that worked reliably.