Black screen after PRAM reset - MBP 2013

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Level 1

8 points

Black screen after PRAM reset - MBP 2013

Hello, I have an early 2013 MacBook Pro retina. Working great until yesterday. I had just set up a new router as a range extender and all worked fine. Then a few hours later I woke the MBP from sleep, and the WiFi was greyed out. I tried to turn it off then on again, but it wouldn’t turn on. Then it froze the computer. I forced a shutdown, rebooted fine, but had the same problem with the WiFi. Forced shutdown and rebooted, this time the WiFi icon said ‘no hardware installed.’ I looked the problem up on this forum, and tried a PRAM reset per instructions. It was ‘succesful’ As in I heard a second chime while holding down the PRAM reset keys, but the screen went black. Since then, the computer boots to a black screen. I’ve tried booting in safemode, recovery, SMC reset, more PRAM reset, tried some key presses to get it to sleep while the screen is black, tried some other things with the power button and the power charger. No response to any of it, just a faintly lit black screen. I’ve tried entering my admin password upon boot up into the black screen, no result. The apple logo on the back of the computer lights up. The caps lock light works. The chime sounds on boot-up. But zero response beyond that. No previous battery issues, no spills, no drops, no idea why this is happening.

I would be most grateful for any help. Thank you!

Posted on Dec 2, 2018 11:50 AM

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Answer 1

VermontWill Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 2, 2018 1:23 PM in response to Kappy

Hello Kappy, thank you for your suggestion. Incredibly, it seems to be working (incredible because I tried this fix two hours ago and nothing happened). I ran disk utility first aid, and now am trying to reinstall OS X; however my computer isn’t connected to our WiFi, I can’t access the WiFi menu from this startup screen, and I don’t have a way to plug an Ethernet cable into my MacBook Pro (do I? No Jack for Ethernet, just usb). Any ideas to get connected so I can reinstall OS X? Thanks

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Dec 2, 2018 8:10 PM in response to VermontWill

Unless you are having a major hardware failure then you may give this a try:

Internet/Network Recovery of El Capitan or Later on a Clean Disk

If possible back up your files before proceeding.

Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the (Command-Option-R) keys until a globe appears.
The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
When Disk Utility loads select the drive (usually, the out-dented entry) from the side list.
Click on the Erase tab in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
Set the partition scheme to GUID.
Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

If you still have no success then make an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar for service. If you need to find an Apple Store - Find a Store - Apple. If you did not purchase it from Apple then you will need to look to the vendor for service or How to find your nearest Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) or Distributor (AAD). Be sure you check out: MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues - Apple Support to see if your computer is in the program.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Dec 2, 2018 11:58 AM in response to VermontWill

Try this:

Reinstall El Capitan or Later Without Erasing Drive

Please be sure you back up.

Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears.
Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume entry from the side list.
Click on the First Aid icon in the toolbar. Wait until the Done button activates, then click on it.
Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

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Answer 4

VermontWill Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 2, 2018 4:10 PM in response to VermontWill

More info; things have gotten worse. Upon boot-up a range of things happen, including a repeating loop of error message 'Your computer shut down because of a problem' in several languages), then a kernel panic log. Or, sometimes, it will boot to normal function where I have everything working, except for the wifi which does not find any networks (there is a functioning network it's what I'm writing this with, on another device). If I try to turn of the WiFi that works, then if I try to turn it back on, the computer freezes and hits that same kernel panic. I've verified this several times.

One difficulty is that once the kernel panic happens, it's a crapshoot what, if anything, will work upon reboot. Holding D at boot hasn't worked except one time (found nothing wrong). Holding command-R only worked that one time, when I chose to restore from my HD; since then it hasn't worked. Sometimes resetting SMC seems to help the computer start up normally, but other times there's no reaction. Sometimes it boots to that looping kernel panic error log/message, and sometimes it boots to a blank dark gray screen, as described in my initial post.

Anyone have insight into this? I have the whole computer backed up through Time Machine on an external hard drive, so I'd love to get it to boot in recovery mode to then restore via Time Machine from two weeks ago, before any of this had started. I would assume that, if the problem is software-related, that would get rid of the problem. Would that be a good idea?

Thanks very much,

Will

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Answer 5

VermontWill Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 3, 2018 4:02 AM in response to Kappy

Hi Kappy,

Thanks for the response. I’ve just booted in internet recovery mode as you suggest, but I get the exclamation point over the globe with the message Apple.com/support -1005F.

I reckon this is because I don’t have internet connection, as the issue causing the kernel panic is the WiFi! So I don’t think internet recovery will work until I can connect to the internet. I will get an Ethernet to USB adapter today if possible (I live in rural Vermont, not so quick to source these things).

Thanks

Will

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Dec 3, 2018 10:10 AM in response to VermontWill

Network recovery does mean you need an Internet connection. If the card in the computer is shot then you will need to get it replaced. A USB adapter for Ethernet may let you do the recovery. Some of those adapters require the installation of a driver.

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Black screen after PRAM reset - MBP 2013

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