Macbook m2 2023 bricked during clean install

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Level 1

4 points

Macbook m2 2023 bricked during clean install

I am a new Mac user, purchased m2 2023 15 inch base model 8/256 of MacBook Air few months ago. few days ago I encountered an issue as I was trying to make clean install of Mac OS Ventura using a bootable installer from a pen drive. I successfully booted from pen drive and while I was using disk utility from Mac OS recovery window, I erased the drive 'mackintosh Hd' . immediately after that a window appeared to activate the Mac with restart option. the laptop restarted and continued to boot loop for three to four times and then stayed with a black screen with an exclamation mark in a circle. I contacted the customer care and they guided me to press and hold the power button to load recovery options. but the laptop would only power on and stay in the black screen with a circle and an exclamation ark inside. lately I realised that I had bricked the laptop need to revive it via dfu mode from another Mac. I have done it and my laptop is ok now. but I want to know should I not completely erase Mac ssd or erasing the MacBook with m2 chip will always brick the device or clean install from bootable installer is not for m2 Macs or did I make any mistake? my laptop was then 85 % charged and attached to power adapter. so apple says power interruption might be the issue but that was not the case with me. I fear if I make another attempt to cleans Install Mac OS , I may again brick the laptop. pls provide me guidance in this regard.

Posted on Sep 6, 2023 8:55 PM

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Answer 1

DiZoE

Level 4

3,083 points

Sep 6, 2023 9:30 PM in response to macind

Man macind!

Thats a legit question, I know every user’s situation and environment are different. However since the new software and hardware has been released, I recommend using Recovery Assistant to erase/reinstall as opposed to using Disk Utility.

I’m not too sure what erasing it that way has to do with the firmware, (You mentioned what I believe to be a firmware revive or restore), but for some reason I know erasing it this way not only is easier, but may resolve firmware issues that may result in the behavior you described, (Including other behavior possibly).

After selecting Options in the recovery screen, instead of authenticating with a password, you can select Recovery Assistant from the top left menu, then select Erase Mac.

It may ask you to Authorize or Deauthorize, either way is fine as long as you have your Apple ID credentials. At that point, after selecting, “Exit to recovery”, (or not), you can do the reinstall, etc.

I have seen erasing via Disk Utility, as I’ve said on this newer hardware and software, (Silicon chip, T2 chip), etc., not go as smoothly for whatever reason, yet erasing using the Recovery Assistant resolve it without issue.

And I do know that, if even erasing that way, the issues persist, that sometimes the firmware still needs to be revived or reset, but that’s not too often.

Use macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple silicon - Apple Support

Revive or restore a Mac with Apple silicon using Apple Configurator - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

124,518 points

Sep 7, 2023 12:51 AM in response to macind

Yes, you should never erase an Apple Silicon Mac. Use Erase all Content and Settings.

There is boot information written to the drive. And, yes, that means you cannot boot the Mac if the drive fails.

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Answer 3

DiZoE

Level 4

3,083 points

Sep 6, 2023 11:57 PM in response to macind

No worries, I mean the Recovery Assistant that appears on the top left menu, after pressing and holding the power button to access the startup options, and then choosing “Options”. So as opposing to selecting a user and entering the user password, (and/or the Apple ID password), you would just choose Recovery Assistant > Erase Mac. Hope this helps.

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Answer 4

macind Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 6, 2023 11:43 PM in response to DiZoE

ManDizoe, thanks for your quick reply. By recovery assistant are you referring to the options found under system preferences in top left corner or the recovery options we see by continuously pressing the power button at the system start? I erased my Mac from the mac os recovery disk utility option that we get silicon Mac's at the start up by long pressing the power button. Yes I had to restore my Mac using apple configurator fro another mac.

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Macbook m2 2023 bricked during clean install

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