macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 bricked MacBook Pro 2011

Question

krzysztof_ow Author

Level 1

5 points

macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 bricked MacBook Pro 2011

Hello,

after installing last security updates my Mac Pro is bricked.

Installation breaks with info that OS could not be installed and diagnostics need to be run.

Running diagnostics ends up with MEM error: 4MEM/62/40000000 0x82cc2f18
My RAM was perfectly fine till the update. Diagnostics properly detect MEM params.
Resetting PRAM and SNC won't help.
removing, cleaning or changing slots or leaving one MEM slot empty does not help

It's not the first time sys update are crushing my machine. I feel like I am using Windows all over again after 10-year break.

Is internet recovery installation the only way to go?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on May 28, 2020 04:58 AM

Reply

Answer 1

krzysztof_ow Author

Level 1

5 points

May 28, 2020 01:56 PM in response to krzysztof_ow

I see I am not only one fighting with this security update, so I am posting a more verbose step-by-step instruction what I did to make it work again.

Case: Reboot after Update Download resulted in ~"OS could not be installed, please run diagnostics pressing D on start..."

Reboot and instant "D" press -> Hardware Diagnostics -> Extended Test -> Result: MEM ERROR
Dismantling Macbook -> deinstalling RAM -> Cleaning up slots and connections -> setting everything back together
Reboot and the same error -> next reboot + "D" -> Hardware Diagnostics -> Extended Test -> NO ERRORS
Ok, so MEM is ok, let's try disk repair -> reboot + cmd + "S" to enter single user mode -> as instructed in terminal fsck -fy -> OS disk test -> NO ERRORS
Ok, so MEM and DISK is ok -> reboot + "left shift" to enter safe mode -> OS is starting "normally" -> App Store -> Updates -> Download and Install
Reboot -> ~"OS could not be installed, installer error" -> Reboot...
Ok, system is UP and RUNNING -> Reboot, reboot, reboot... just to make sure problems are over.
Updated and working...

Seriously, windows-alike update feeling :) Hope it helps you get your Macs back.

Reply

Answer 2

krzysztof_ow Author

Level 1

5 points

May 28, 2020 09:47 AM in response to krzysztof_ow

Resolved issue with 1. fsck in Single User + Safe Mode + redownload update + reinstall + couple of restarts.

Reply

Answer 3

krzysztof_ow Author

Level 1

5 points

May 28, 2020 09:02 AM in response to krzysztof_ow

UPDATE: Removal and cleaning up RAM slots there are NO errors on extended hardware diagnostics. System still can't be reinstalled and hardware diagnostics is being suggested.

Reply