MacBook Pro 2012: flashing folder after failed update, no boot keys working

NewUserWithOldMacBook wrote:

MacBook Pro Mid 2012

Tried actually every possible key combination at launch

Nothing gets recognized because keyboards (internal and USB) only get recognized after flashing folder shows up (caps lock light only turns on after flashing folder is there)

Sounds like the internal Hard Drive is failing. The failure is severe if it prevents being able to use any special startup keys. Could also have an issue with the internal Hard Drive SATA flex cable if it is the non-Retina model (13" model was known to have cable issue).

You can remove the internal drive from the laptop to see if you now are able to utilize any of the special startup keys. This is only to confirm whether the internal drive is the source of the problem here.

LLM says:

"MacBook Pro (2012) boot issue after failed macOS update

Mac stuck on blinking folder with question mark.

No key combinations work at startup (Option, Cmd+R, NVRAM reset, etc.).

Keyboard (internal & USB) only becomes active after the folder appears.

Issue persists even with no SSD installed.

SMC reset works (tone heard), but no change in behavior.

Looking for a way to restore boot/EFI or regain access to recovery."

Please don't post LLM reports here unless they are things you actually tried since it makes things very confusing. Just report your own facts & details. LLM results are meaningless when you are asking for assistance on the forums. I'm assuming everything in the quote I separated is referring to the LLM report since everything there is bounded by double quotes.

Please read If your Mac doesn't start up all the way - Apple Support which includes "Learn what to do if your Mac starts up to a question mark."

Follow all those instructions, including the links within them, from the very beginning all the way through to the conclusion. For example, those instructions include "If you can’t start up from macOS Recovery (Intel-based Mac)" so you would be following them as well.

NewUserWithOldMacBook wrote:

Thank you for your answer. Like I wrote in my text, I tried every single approach.

We have no idea what you tried.

I just told the LLM to sum up my two hour trouble shoot session with it.

An LLM has no idea what you have done. An LLM's response is completely irrelevant when asking for assistance on these forums. It only causes confusion. We need you to describe & summarize.

I have exerted everything possible with it. In the end it's conclusion was that the failed/aborted update caused the EFI to be faulty, so it doesn't do the boot process properly. That's why no keyboard is recognized before the folder is flashing, therefore not a single fixing approach that includes using the keyboard works.

The firmware is still responsible for the keyboard at all screens until after you log into macOS. Something is preventing the keyboard from being recognized. It is only when macOS itself takes over that the firmware leaves the equation.

Also, during to the faulty EFI, the LLM said that the update file is set to the startup disk and since it's not there the flashing folder pops up.

So it's conclusion was to either replace the logic board, or rewrite the chip that holds the EFI using a clamp and a flashing device like this one:

Seems like you have your answer.....after all LLMs are never wrong. Either option costs more than the system is worth.

I would probably try disconnecting the built-in keyboard to see if an external keyboard would then work. I would go even further just to make sure that the Logic Board is the problem and not something else connected to it, but that is just me. Long shot....yes, but cost is only time.

NewUserWithOldMacBook wrote:

Why does noone read the initial text.

That assertion is incorrect. One might also ask why nobody reads the initial replies.

The very first one stated "Follow all those instructions, including the links within them, from the very beginning all the way through to the conclusion" and proceeded to include an example.

So all those support articles (which I went though deeply) don't help, because they're all based on pressing keys at start up.

Not deeply enough apparently. Try again. For example (again) if you are unable to start Recovery the instructions eventually lead to contacting Apple... because...

But anyway, I guess that thing is bricked.

Don't guess. Contact Apple. LLMs aren't going to do that for you (actually they won't do anything useful).

A folder with a flashing question mark means that your computer's startup disk is no longer available or doesn't contain a working Mac operating system.

The fix is to reinstall the OS or replace the failed drive with a new one and install the OS on that.

If your Mac starts up to a question mark - Apple Support

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

That MacBook Pro is fourteen (!) years old. It wants to retire. You should throw a party and let it.

NewUserWithOldMacBook wrote:

But anyway, I guess that thing is bricked.

Indeed, good guess.