Cannot enter hardware test mode

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Level 1

1 points

Cannot enter hardware test mode

I'm trying to do a hardware test on my Macbook Air 11" 1.6GHz i5 Mid-2011. I restart, press and hold D and then it shows a spinning globe "Internet Recovery". I wait and then it asks my to select a WiFi network. I select my network and enter the password but it doesn't accept the password. So I removed password restrictions on my router, I then rebooted, selected the network and it then connected. But nothing happens. There's no continue button, or 'next', it just shows the airport icon as connected with the network name and that's all.

So I thought it might have something to do with some partitioning I had done earlier to set-up ubuntu on the MBA, so I booted with the Mountain Lion Disk, entered Disk Utility, erased the SSD and re-installed OS X. I tried again and the same thing happens. Not sure if it's important, but when I restart the laptop and press/hold option key to show the disks, there is no 'Recovery HD', even after re-installing OS X.

I've also tried plugging in the Mountain Lion USB and holding D but the same thing happens.

Any ideas?

Posted on Jan 29, 2013 9:57 PM

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Answer 1

mende1

Level 10

93,538 points

Jan 29, 2013 10:01 PM in response to Shad D

What happens if you try to press Option and D keys while your Mac is starting? Also, does your router use a WPA or WPA2 password? Internet Recovery requires a WPA or WPA2 password to work.

Shad D wrote:

So I thought it might have something to do with some partitioning I had done earlier to set-up ubuntu on the MBA, so I booted with the Mountain Lion Disk, entered Disk Utility, erased the SSD and re-installed OS X. I tried again and the same thing happens. Not sure if it's important, but when I restart the laptop and press/hold option key to show the disks, there is no 'Recovery HD', even after re-installing OS X.

Did you erase the whole hard drive on Disk Utility or just the Ubuntu volume and then, repartitioned the drive to assign all the space to OS X?

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Answer 2

Shad D Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 29, 2013 10:02 PM in response to mende1

Pressing option + D brings up the same "Starting Internet Recovery" screen. The router uses WPA PSK password, and I'm 100% sure the password is correct.

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Answer 3

Shad D Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 29, 2013 10:05 PM in response to mende1

I deleted all partitions except Macintosh HD, and then resized Macintosh HD to fill the remaining space. I then erased this drive, which was the only remaining drive in Disk Utility

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Answer 4

mende1

Level 10

93,538 points

Jan 29, 2013 10:08 PM in response to Shad D

Ubuntu could damage Recovery HD on your computer. I don't think that this is the issue, but you should try this:

1. Make a backup of your files.

2. Insert the Mountain Lion USB drive, press Option key while your Mac is starting and start into it.

3. When the USB drive has started, open Disk Utility, select your hard drive at the top of the sidebar (not Macintosh HD), go to Erase tab and erase the whole hard drive.

4. Close Disk Utility and reinstall OS X. A recovery volume will be created on the hard drive.

After doing this, try pressing D key while your Mac is starting to start into Apple Hardware Test. Also, open  > Software Update and make sure that your computer has got all the updates

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Answer 5

Shad D Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 29, 2013 10:17 PM in response to mende1

I actually just finished all the steps you described. The recovery HD is back on there, all software updates completed, but still can't get pass the WiFi connection stage of Internet Recovery. Why does it even take me to Internet Recovery in the first place? Why not take me directly to Hardware test?

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Answer 6

mende1

Level 10

93,538 points

Jan 29, 2013 10:20 PM in response to Shad D

Have you tried pressing only D key while your Mac is starting? It should start without any problem.

To start into your Recovery HD, press Command and R keys while your Mac is starting

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Answer 7

Shad D Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 29, 2013 10:25 PM in response to mende1

Pressing only D or pressing Command+R while the mac is starting both take me to "Internet Recovery". If however I press the option key and select the Recovery HD, it takes me into the Utilities Menu, but I don't see any option for Hardware test, only Disk Utility, Time machine, Re-install OS X etc.

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Answer 8

mende1

Level 10

93,538 points

Jan 29, 2013 10:37 PM in response to Shad D

Can you set up your router with a WPA2 password? If you can, do it and try to start into Apple Hardware Test. If it doesn't work, try with a different router (if you can) or take the Mac to an Apple Store

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Answer 9

Shad D Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 29, 2013 10:49 PM in response to mende1

Didn't work, but I tried removing the password and this time it worked and went into Hardware test. Thanks for the support!

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Answer 10

mende1

Level 10

93,538 points

Jan 29, 2013 10:54 PM in response to Shad D

You are welcome

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