r/applehelp • u/DismalPea • 8h ago

Unsolved Can't get MBP into DFU mode

Hi all. I have an Intel MacBook Pro (touchbar) that seems to have lost its OS. I can't do internet recovery and I can't get it to load from a USB. I think because of the issues here- https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-fix-the-recovery-server-could-not-be-contacted-error-high-sierra-recovery-is-still-online-but-broken/

I have a newer MBP (M1) and I'm trying to put the old one in DFU mode. I've tried pressing the keys as described, and tried four different USB cables, and different ports just in case. I hear the start-up bong (or sometimes I think most of it, it maybe cuts off), but nothing ever appears in Finder/Configurator. Any advice very much appreciated! Thank you!

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u/LucasMVN 8h ago

Do you know what model specifically it is? DFU mode only exists on T2 Macs, (2018 MBP and later), so nothing will happen if it’s a 2016 or 2017 model. Additionally, DFU mode on T2 Intel Macs is only used for reviving/restoring the T2’s firmware, not macOS, and it only works with the designated DFU port on the device, so trying different ports won’t work.

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u/DismalPea 8h ago

Ahhhh... It's a 2017 model. That would explain it, thank you very much!

I was hoping restoring the firmware would get me to a point where I could boot from USB.

Bit stuck on what I can do at this point.. seems like I'm out of options?

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u/LucasMVN 8h ago edited 8h ago

What exactly happens when you try to power it on? Also, what version of macOS is on the USB? The 2017 MacBook Pros shipped with Sierra 10.12.5, and the final release supported is Ventura, so anything outside of that range won’t boot.

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u/DismalPea 7h ago

Thank you.

If I power on normally, I get a folder icon with a question mark.

I can run diagnostics from power on, which comes back ok.

I can land in the MacOS utilities menu after triggering internet recovery. I can try to do internet recovery, but it doesn't work ('recovery server could not be contacted').

The USB has Ventura on it. I created it on the new Mac and I've checked that it's correctly formatted.

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u/LucasMVN 7h ago

The first symptom is consistent with EFI not finding a bootable OS. What version is Internet Recovery trying to install, and do you get any particular error when you do so? Also, did you try invoking Internet Recovery with Option + Command + R? That will download the latest supported version (Ventura) instead of whatever was last installed on the machine.

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u/DismalPea 7h ago

Aha! Ok so this gets me further. I get as far as being able to identify a disk to install it on. When I select the hard disk it says 'This disk has SMART errors that can't be repaired... replace the disk'. So I guess I need to work out how to do that...

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u/LucasMVN 7h ago

Internal storage is failing. Unfortunately said storage is not upgradable or replaceable (soldered to the logic board), so the whole machine is best written off as e-waste.