Macbook Pro issues and fixes



I am a long time PC guy, although my first usable computer was a Singapore copy of an Apple II in 1980. Over the years I have dabbled with Hackintoshes once Apple started using Intel chips.

Recently I bought a couple of cheap 2012 Macbook Pros and managed to get one good one. It has been useful in trying to get the big Mac Pro going. The screen was broken on one and the other had a good screen but would not power on, a common problem with Macs. Swapping them over was straight forward, then updating to an SSD and the latest Mac OS. A working Mac is pretty essential to reinstalling Mac OS as a copy must be downloaded from the Apple Store. It may be possible to get a torrent and create the boot USB drive on a PC but not simple.

Mac serial numbers

The model number of a Mac can only be determined by its serial number. The model number on the case applies to 18 models. The date on the case may help.

Apple has a site to check serial numbers:

https://checkcoverage.apple.com/us/en/

How to create a bootable USB installer for macOS

https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201372

2011 MBP 15" & 17" graphics hack

I noticed that 15" 2011 MBPs were available with problems quite cheap, so I bought one. After much frustration, I found that they had problems with the AMD graphics.

The fix is quite simple; an EFI code hack to bypass the AMD chip in a software startup and remove one resistor on the motherboard that powers the AMD chip (carefully follow the instructions or you will end up with a blank screen!!). The second time was quite simple but the first time a little nerve-wracking as the resistor is tiny, about 1 mm long amid many others.

The EFI code hack is simple using the software from realmacmods. It is a small Unix boot and a script to change the code. Do a safe mode boot as per instructions.

I just gently pried the resistor off with a tiny watchmakers' screwdriver. Some guides suggest soldering but a soldering iron is awfully big and too easy to wreck the board.

See the links for details and pictures:

https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2017/fixing-2011-macbook-pro-booting-grey-screen-amd-radeon-video-glitch

https://realmacmods.com/macbook-2011-radeon-gpu-disable/



Boot from usb drive.  (Hold ALT key during boot and select "EFI Boot")
Choose "Try Ubuntu without installing" from the menu.
Give it a few minutes to fully load into Ubuntu.

Once loaded into Ubuntu, open a terminal.  (CTR, ALT, T)

type    cd /cdrom
hit enter

type sudo ./RadeonDisable.sh
hit enter

Follow the process on screen.

once complete, do an OS X Safe boot.  (very important) (hold shift key throughout entire boot.)

Shutdown from safe boot and remove r8911 resistor from logic board.

do regular boot

Radeon should now be fully disabled and no longer appear in "About this Mac" or System Profiler.










Re: Blank screen after mod
adam barscheski <adam@realmacmods.com>
Tue 28/04/2020 1:09 PM
To: drew wollin <drew_wollin@hotmail.com>
ok.  try this


Power off

remove the bottom cover and unplug your HDD and CD cables.

plug in USB

power on

wait 60 seconds

hit enter

wait another 60 seconds

hit enter

screen should come within 30 seconds or so.

run the utility as you did before

shut down

unplug usb

plug in HDD and CD

boot normally and screen should work

- Adam







Mac startup key combinations

Macs have a series of command keys to do many of the things that are done in a PC BIOS or advanced recovery or restart under Windows 10. While Macs use Intel chips like a PC and have an EFI during boot, they have a couple of other chips that sometimes need resetting; the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM. The startup keys are reproduced toward the end of this post as well as the link.

Mac startup key combinations

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201255

How to reset the SMC of your Mac

https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201295

Mac won't start properly

I have had problems with Macbook Pro and Mac Pro not starting, usually some of the startup process, including the beep, but sticking on a black or grey screen. Apparently quite common. Sometimes an SMC reset may fix it.

If your Mac doesn't turn on

https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT204267

If your Mac starts up to a blank screen

https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT210905

Mac computer Sleep Indicator Light behaviour (White light at front)

https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT203576


Apple diagnostics & Apple Service Diagnostics ASD

Macs have an inbuilt diagnostic, as well as via internet at boot. It tests for hardware faults. These work, but I have not found them useful for the problems I have encountered; failing to startup.

For models before 2015, there are additional Apple Service Diagnostics (ASD) that will boot from a USB drive. ASD is not readily available, although I was successful with a torrent. The file is very big, 25 GB, and there are a series of compressed files specific to each model or group of models. All that said, again they were not very useful.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/apple-service-diagnostics-mac/

https://boards.rossmanngroup.com/forum/tools/35818-apple-asd-reference-list

Mac Service Manuals

There are service manuals at least for older models. Again not easily available but I did find them on Scrib.com
https://www.scribd.com/doc/123180648/Apple-MacBook-Pro-Service-Manual
https://www.scribd.com/doc/17539946/Mac-Pro-Early-2008

To use any of these key combinations, press and hold the keys immediately after pressing the power button to turn on your Mac, or after your Mac begins to restart. Keep holding until the described behavior occurs.







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