MacBook PRO Retina black screen after SSD swap

Hey Everyone,

I have a late 2013 MacBook PRO Retina that had an EFI password set. I thought I can get around it by writing a new OS onto the SSD, I removed the SSD, it showed up as UNKNOWN partition type on anther linux machine, I tried to write an OSX image to it anyways, i were able to maybe write 30mb and right after that dd_Rescue started giving me input/output errors. I stopped it and put it back into the MacBook. Now when I plug it into the power source (battery not charged), nothing happens, the fans come on and there is a black screen. This problem wasn't there before I tried to write to the SSD.

So the question is, did it trigger something on the macbook or is it an unrelated issue? I did not have this problem before attempting to write to the SSD. Even when I remove the SSD completely, it still does the same. Black screen, fans come on. I left the computer like that for an hour and nothing.

Should I still try to flash the EFI chip on this macbook in hopes that I can revive it or did something else happen and do I need to start looking for a new logic board?

Any help would be appreciated.

Model Number: A1398 EMC 2673

thaGH05T wrote: @token.paul has more knowledge on this, but it seems like to me if all you get is the black screen then the EFI is corrupt. Try powering down, power up holding option. If you get to the disk select you are in the clear. @token.paul has a good writeup on circumventing the EFI password for a reinstall. My suggestion to you that you dump the EFI firmware and upload it so we may analyze it.

But why would the EFI get corrupt if I didn't even attempt to dump or write back to EFI. All I did was remove the SSD, put it in a linux machine using a SATA adapter and tried to dump a OSX binary image to it. Nothing else. It almost seems like the SSD had some hidden data in the beginning to prevent it from people doing just that. Or am I wrong on this?

thaGH05T wrote: I think the theory behind it is there is information the EFI pulls from the drive. One thing is for sure right now, if you booted holding option and a lock screen or a drive select didn't pop up, you have a problem. Check THIS post out to find out more of how this could have been done.

Thank you, I will look into this now.

I just hope the laptop can still be salvaged. Otherwise it will become an expensive paperweights and an expensive lesson to learn.

thaGH05T wrote: I think the theory behind it is there is information the EFI pulls from the drive. One thing is for sure right now, if you booted holding option and a lock screen or a drive select didn't pop up, you have a problem. Check THIS post out to find out more of how this could have been done.

I understand it more or less now. So....if I understand correctly, if the EFI is corrupt, a simple over write would fix the problem? If I get all tools needed and post the dump of the EFI here, can this macbook still be rescued? Or is it now a 50/50 type of situation?

thaGH05T wrote: I think it can 100% be rescued, just dump the firmware and I will have a look.

Hey, I found this raspberry pi.



Is this good enough?

Also below is the picture of the EFI rom on my macbook

You can not boot other OS on EFI-locked machine because MacBook BIOS is instructed to boot from Mac OS X partition. And if you change a disk partition map the boot loader can't find 'bless'-ed slice. To recover this situation you should run boot choicer, but without password it is impossible and you can't boot any OS anymore...
Circle closed Anyway, for you only one way is opened is re-flash firmware with correct password area (clear password)...

token.paul wrote: You can not boot other OS on EFI-locked machine because MacBook BIOS is instructed to boot from Mac OS X partition. And if you change a disk partition map the boot loader can't find 'bless'-ed slice. To recover this situation you should run boot choicer, but without password it is impossible and you can't boot any OS anymore...
Circle closed Anyway, for you only one way is opened is re-flash firmware with correct password area (clear password)...

Thank you, I think i've read one of your other posts regarding this.

I just ordered the pomona clip and raspberry pi. I should it it all by end of the week hopefully. Once i get the ROM dumped, I will post it here.

W

thaGH05T wrote:

BURD wrote:

token.paul wrote: You can not boot other OS on EFI-locked machine because MacBook BIOS is instructed to boot from Mac OS X partition. And if you change a disk partition map the boot loader can't find 'bless'-ed slice. To recover this situation you should run boot choicer, but without password it is impossible and you can't boot any OS anymore...
Circle closed Anyway, for you only one way is opened is re-flash firmware with correct password area (clear password)...

Thank you, I think i've read one of your other posts regarding this.

I just ordered the pomona clip and raspberry pi. I should it it all by end of the week hopefully. Once i get the ROM dumped, I will post it here.

Please do, and we will get you squared away.

Will do for sure! Btw i saw your new video with the macbook air board that someone else sells. Where can I buy your version of that board?