Chosen Solution
Maybe you can help. The update to Big Sur from Catalina completely failed mid-cycle and bricked my MacBook Pro that originally had Sierra on it. I tried to get into recovery OS but couldn’t even unlock the FileVault using my Apple ID correctly because of corruption. I used find my iPhone to wipe the MacBook entirely and that triggered internet recovery mode which showed the drive had been split into three partitions. I couldn’t delete them until I rebooted and triggered the Big Sur internet recovery OS by holding Option, Command, and R keys. Then, Disk Utilities First Aid worked and let me Restore the drive, but every time I try to update via the internet it just fails. I don’t own another Mac and used TransMac to make a bootable macOS Sierra install drive. However, it is not recognized when I boot the system when I hold the Option key. About to throw the laptop into a trash can out of frustration for what was supposed to be a good update. Issue stemmed from when macOS decided to download Big Sur & Catalina supplementary update.
Apple did have a major issue with their servers the other day. See if you can get it working now: It looks like it’s safe to upgrade to macOS Big Sur now
I have a Macbook Pro Mid-year 2014 that had the same issue. I contacted local Genius for repair, they could not get anything but a blank black screen and advised I needed a new logic board at $500 my cost. I took it back home. I then contacted the BBB SanJose office and opened a complaint online. Apple corporate denied any liability stating out of warranty and considered matter closed. I finally located great information on Apple’s community forum here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252… I contacted Apple support by phone and spoke to Senior support and stated Apple engineering has confirmed the issue and to search for MacBook Pro, Big Sur installation, I/O board, and corruption. The rep had me go through the usual SMC and PRAM, took a video of Macbook unable to start and uploaded the file to Apple. The rep gave me her direct email and we will continue to resolve once they have reviewed all the information.
Use this method: https://elitemacx86.com/threads/internet… On real Macs there is no need to place an EFI folder into the USB drive and can be ignored.
@josha57 & @shilmer - Contact Apple directly as the system is on the supported listing! You’re not alone! macOS Big Sur Update Bricking Some Older MacBook Pro ModelsmacOS Big Sur update causing some older MacBook Pros to get stuck on black screens Sadly, you’ll need to find your way to a real Apple Store as the Authorized reseller often won’t talk on software issues (OS or otherwise) no money in it!
In my case, disconnecting the cables to the IO board did the trick. I was able to restart the Big Sur installation from Recovery Mode (using an ethernet adapter), but Big Sur ran VERY slow on my machine, so I’ve since reverted back to Catalina then Mojave. If I power off, reconnect the IO board, and power back on, I’m frozen at the black screen again, however. So I’ve left it disconnected and ordered a used one on eBay—hopefully that gets wifi and those ports working again! This seems like a very strange solution, but I’m glad I have a (mostly) working computer again. When I called Apple previously they were not helpful at all, and wanted me to get it fixed at my own cost, even though this is clearly an issue of the Big Sur update bricking quite a number of older MacBook Pros. Disappointed in Apple, as they were unwilling to do anything about it, and this has taken a lot of hours to diagnose and fix.
Well, I have the same with my MBPr 2014 Mid 13” I got an USB clean install, to boot disconnect the I/O board and others say you have to order a new one. HDMI Chip should be the problem I dunno (Source https://www.heise.de/forum/heise-online/… ) During the boot process, I reconnected this I/O Board and during the Clean Install with USB Stick of Big Sur during the restart of the install, the MBPr restarts without a black screen. ( I/O board reconnected) In Big Sur itself, it detected everything fine, WiFi MAC Address was also zero’d (the MAC Address is a string of “0’s“), after a second clean install, everything works (Haven’t tried HDMI), but as soon as you shutdown or restart, it won’t restart anymore, the Black Screen failure persists. Can someone suggest a good SPI Programmer to flash the Boot ROM (EFI)? And has someone the BootRom? I guess this problem is the Boot ROM sadly you can’t downgrade it. Nor find a Firmware/BootRom so you could flash your MBPr with and SPI Programmer on it. UPDATE: (In short replacement I/O board I went for the late 2013 13” I/O board, I have mid 2014 13”, so it works as well. ) I ordered a replacement I/O board from ebay for my mid 2014 13” I ordered a late 2013 I/O board yesterday. Today it arrived. It works, and I even went a bit crazy by reinstalling Big Sur and taking the risc of bricking this new I/O card again. I Created a USB Installer Clean Install wiped everything and now it runs and still functioning. No Bricking so far. (What I have bought https://www.ebay.de/itm/303741260478) I tested the old board still black, Before I forget does someone know a good SPI Programmer to flash the Bios chips of all MacBooks? Answer to this would be much apprechiated! ^-^ —In between my try and error methods / in the mean time “Postage” Before the new one I tried, 5 reinstalls, during it, I tried to reconnect the old “broken“ I/O board, (Precise, I disconnected then startet optionskey to get into the boot menu, then reconnected the I/O board.) During the whole Installation nothing went bad, the last reboot I had to disconnect and reconnect this board like before but I went for the system, I even got Big Sur working and was able to login and such, the strange thing is USB worked, HDMI worked but kinda buggy, Wifi Worked, and SD Card functionality, like everythings fine. BUT big but I decided to restart again, I was thinking I would have fixed it …nope After a manually restart still black screen… I thought an older MacOS could “reinstall/reflash” the old BootRom, So I installed El Capitan and black screen. no success. SPI Programmer I dont have one, but I will buy one. ”try just disconnecting the battery (which requires some disassembly), then hold down the power button for 5 secs to completely discharge, then re-assemble and restart. ” -Tried it didn’t worked
Summary: if your I/O board of a Late 2013/ mid 2014 13” MacBook Pro has been fried by the Big Sur installer it might be coinciding with you having an SD Card or other peripherals connected to the right side of your MBP. If the I/O board has been permanently damaged (try on your own risk) to disconnect the I/O board (see step 18) of the iFixit guide. Try to finish your re-installation or installation of the OS reconnect the I/O board if black screen continues even after all the tips like NVRAM/ SMC reset etc. Buy yourself a replacement I/O board use the iFixit guide to replace your I/O board if you are confident or ask an authorized Apple repair shop to do it for you then reboot (NVRAM, SMC reset) and if you are lucky like me you have fixed the black screen issue permanently. For me the total cost in EUR incl. tools, thermal paste & i/o card did not accumulate to 25 EUR as I could do the replacement myself using iFixit guide.
I like to have my MacBook Pro mid 2014 upgraded to Big Sur which is at the moment on catalina. It is because I want to have the newest System with security updates. I wish to have the installation with no risk. If I disconnect the IO Board before the installation, I think, then installing Big Sur is without a risk. The Board can’t be destroyed by a firmware update. Has someone done this already?
Apple has a solution for this, if you have an older computer, more then 2 years old, then you must be someone who is using it so much on daily basis that you are willing to buy a new one. So if your a power user and needs it that bad Apples idea is you will pay for a new one and make sure you share your files with the cloud next time so the transition is smoother for both you , apple an the ever abusive government out to screw the public for a living.
