Macbook Pro won't boot. Disk wont mount. Boot mgr missing & compressed

You may actually have two problems here. One something has corrupted the partition table and possibly the macOS file system. Second, you may have a hardware issue with this laptop....most likely a failing SSD depending on what this means:

If I stop interacting with this disk, within 15 min or so it disappears from the screen

While the SSD is mounted with a screw to hold it in place, I have seen some of these SSDs get physically jarred where they are no longer properly seated into the SSD connector on the Logic Board. With the extreme temperature changes this laptop experiences, it is possible the SSD could have shifted, or worse had some condensation formed which has damaged the SSD circuitry on the Logic Board (or the SSD connector). You can try reseating the SSD (make sure to first disconnect the Battery and power adapter). Most people will not be able to detect subtle signs of corrosion formed from liquid damage (including condensation).

Another reason I'm leaning to an SSD failure is because I recall Apple actually had a free SSD repair program for some of the 2013 laptops (program has long been expired). You can try running the Apple Diagnostics to see if any hardware issues are detected....unfortunately the diagnostics rarely detect hardware issues, but it never hurts to check. If the diagnostics don't report any problems, then I can provide instructions for using a bootable Linux USB stick to check the health of the Apple SSD, although Apple SSD's don't contain much health information....just let me know if you are interested in this option.

You neglected to mention the version of macOS being used on this laptop as well as the file system of the macOS volume which is very important information. Depending on this information, I may have two other options to attempt to fix the partition table & macOS file system.

FYI, in the future, please post any pictures using the "Image Insertion" tool on the forum editing toolbar so we can view pictures inline here. I personally don't like loading other websites to see attached information as it is annoying, plus those links eventually break which makes anyone reading this thread in the future unable to understand the thread & its suggestions if those pictures are pertinent to the replies.

austramazonia wrote:

Thank you guys for taking some time to add your thoughts. Unfortunately the SSD has failed. I ended up taking it to a local repair shop and the owner said it took quite a while 5-6 hours for it to mount or be read, can't remember now. He is going to attempt to retrieve the data with a copy/paste method for $95 if successful. If not apparently there are other methods, next up is $250 and if that fails the only other choice given is to send to a lab for $1200 or so

He expressed the same as you that although the SSD can be replaced, there might be other slight damages and may not be worth it as it would cost around $400 including labor time.

I've been reading that it may not be worth it either to go for an Intel Mac at this point in time so it looks like M1 or M2.

I use my laptop these days mainly for programming work using Python and data analysis. Don't do video and just basis image editing with online tools not even Photoshop.

Main thing is that I have this old commercial label printer that runs only on windows and I read too that I would loose bootcamp switching to M. Perhaps I can setup a virtual private server, download the printer drivers and see if I can get it to print my labels that way.

Should I really stay off Intel MacBook Pros? Base on my usages, do you have any recommendations ?

I would get the latest (M3) MacBook Pro. I would get the most memory and processor you can afford. (It doesn't sound like disk space is an issue for you but don't skimp on that either because the internal SSD is not easily upgraded, if that is even possible, later). I have had good experiences with several 2019 MacBook Pros (Intel) we have been using for several years, but I would not recommend them either (HWTech suggested avoiding them) at this point because they are slower, run hotter, and are yesterday's technology.

HWTech had a good suggestion for using Windows on a silicon Mac. But surely there is a better way to print labels than on an obsolete printer that requires you to run Windows! Time to move into the modern era!

As for $1200 to try to extract your data from the failed SSD -- keep in mind that this is a low probability of success endeavor for a failed SSD (mechanical drives are more likely to succeed) ... I am almost afraid to ask, but what about your backup, surely you had one when using a 2013 Mac? An external backup drive costs less than $100. You would need it anyway for replacing the outdated Mac and moving to a new one.

As HWTech advised, you may have a failing SSD. That would not be surprising for a 2013 laptop. Anecdotally, we have a 2013 MacBook Air that required replacement of a failed SSD recently. A 2011 MacBook Air is still running on its original SSD but it shows warnings from S.M.A.R.T. parameters so its time will be up soon.

Electronics can be damaged by wide thermal swings, as this causes solder joints to expand and contract and eventually fail. You mentioned you have run this laptop in a 30 deg F room a number of times, below freezing. This can be very damaging to electronic circuits. Tellingly, Apple's specs for this Mac

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013) - Technical Specifications

specifically say

"Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)"

and you have been way outside this range. I think the relative humidity is also relevant as moisture in the air can condense inside the electronics and freeze or, as HWTech points out, lead to corrosion. None of us know for sure what has caused what, but this is a very harsh way to treat delicate electronics. Why would you operate a laptop in below freezing temperatures?

Given that other components in this laptop may also be damaged now, plus it is over 10 years old with a history of use outside Apple's operating range, I would not advise to replace the SSD but I think the best path forward is to get a brand new laptop. The new 14" and 16" MacBook Pros will probably be 10-25 times faster and more responsive than your old one as long as you get adequate memory and storage.

I personally would avoid all 2018-2020 Intel Macs even if they were still current models, because I have seen nothing but bad Logic Boards on so many of these later Intel Macs....a much higher failure rate than any other Mac, although the 2016-2017 MBPros had multiple design/manufacturing issues which made them just a bad.

Even the 2020 Intel Macs are now three years old and considered almost Vintage. Apple won't be supporting them for more than about another two years. Depending on the software you require, perhaps the Intel Macs will useful for longer. If you want to invest in a Mac today, an Apple Silicon Mac is the way to go since it is the future.

You are correct that there is no BootCamp on Apple Silicon Macs. If all you need is to print from Windows, then you may be able to utilize UTM to install the Intel version of Windows on an Apple Silicon Mac if your virtual server option does not work out.