MBP 2017 15 doesn't start, shows question mark

[forgotit]

I have a 15 inch Macbook Pro 2017. It shows question mark and the url "support.apple.com/mac/startup" on startup.

I've done PRAM, NVRAM reset.

This is what I've tried so far, about 7 times each:

1) Option-D: choose network, select language, run diagnostics, the result is "No issues found", ADP000.

2) Command-R: choose network, start internet recovery, reinstall macOS, offers macOS Sierra, then asks "select the disk where you want to install" but no disk is displayed.

3) Command-R: choose network, start internet recovery, disk utility, first aid, everything looks good, "Operation successful".

4) Command-R: choose network, restore from time machine backup, select external drive ok, but when it says "Select a Destination" it doesn't show the internal drive.

5) Made a bootable USB memory stick with some old version of macOS that this computer should be able to run. Held Option key while booting. It didn't show the USB memory stick.


Items 2 and 4 make me think the internal drive is broken. But then item 1 says "No issues found" after hardware check and item 3 says "Operation successful" after first aid and the 500 G SSD appears on the left so I could select it.

Has anyone had this happen?

I hope my question makes sense, thank you for any help. I just got an M3 Pro but it would be nice to keep this old computer running as well and thank God for Time Machine - managed to copy everything important to the new machine.

My first thought was to just replace the internal drive but the behavior I'm seeing is confusing.

Thanks!

 

[halledise]

sounds like the internal ssd.
no upgrades available as they're soldered in place if i'm not mistaken.
the 2017 13" non-touch bar was the last ssd upgradeable model

 

[Bigwaff]

Command-R but select Disk Utility. Does your internal storage appear in Disk Utility? Select menu.. View > Show All Devices. Follow the procedure here repair the disk -

How to repair a Mac disk with Disk Utility - Apple Support

Use the First Aid feature of Disk Utility to find and repair disk errors.

support.apple.com

 

[Fishrrman]

The "question mark at boot" means the Mac can't find a valid system folder from which to boot.

It could be a software problem with the System Folder,
or...
It could be a problem with the internal drive itself.

You tried all kinds of "remedies", but there's a VERY IMPORTANT one that you DID NOT try:
Internet recovery.

Do this:
1. Make sure the Mac is all the way off (if necessary, hold down the power-on button for about 8 seconds to force it to shut down)
2. Press AND HOLD DOWN the following key combo:
Command-OPTION-R
3. Press and release the power-on button while STILL HOLDING DOWN those keys.
DON'T LET GO OF THEM!
4. You will get asked for your wifi password. Now is the time to let go of the keys, and enter it.
5. You should see "the spinning globe" while the internet utilities load. Be patient.

Can you get to the internet utilities this way?
If you CAN, continue as below.
If you CANNOT, then it might be time to consider a replacement Mac. I don't think Apple will work on these any more. And the cost would be prohibitive.

From the internet utilities...
a. Open disk utility.
b. VERY IMPORTANT STEP -- go to the "view" menu and choose "show all devices".
c. Look at "the list on the left". The topmost item should be the internal SSD. Do you see it?
d. If you see the internal drive, try clicking ONE time on it, then click "first aid".
Do you get "a good report"?
e. If you do, click each successive "line" down, and repeat the first aid routine.
f. What kind of results do you get?

If the physical drive (and logical volumes) check ok, then it's time to consider that the problems lie in the system folder. A system software re-install may be in order.

 

[DeltaMac]

Your 2017, 15-inch McBook Pro has a replaceable SSD. It is NOT soldered in place.
If the software doesn't help (and still shows no destination for the install), then it's likely the SSD will need to be replaced.

edit--Yes, that's wrong, usually careful about offering info, and my "brain" took me to 2015 MBPro, which was still replaceable, but just wrong info. Gonna leave it wrong, as following posts fix that

 

[chrfr]

Your 2017, 15-inch McBook Pro has a replaceable SSD. It is NOT soldered in place.

That's incorrect. The only 2017 MacBook Pro with replaceable storage is the 13" non-Touch Bar model.

 

[Jhonjhon236]

Your 2017, 15-inch McBook Pro has a replaceable SSD. It is NOT soldered in place.
If the software doesn't help (and still shows no destination for the install), then it's likely the SSD will need to be replaced.

Wrong

 

[okkibs]

The touchbar models have the SSD integrated on the logic board. If the SSD is no longer recognized you can still boot this Mac from an external disk and use it as a stationary Mac. The SSD cannot be replaced.