Can't bring a Macbook Air back to life - please help

[pigoo3]

So, manged to get a copy of Mojave.

Here's approximately what you should be seeing when booted into the Recovery Partition:



You should be clicking on "Disk Utility"...and reformatting or erasing the main partition as was mentioned earlier in the thread...and/or then clicking on "Reinstall macOS"...and then letting the computer do its thing during this process.

When you say "...managed to get a copy of Mojave"...this doesn't sound like either of these two options.

At this point don't be concerned about what version of the macOS is being installed...since you just want to get the computer operational. Once it's fully operational...then we can talk about the OS version you want to end up with.

- Nick

 

[OOOOKDSJAKSDKLA]

Here's approximately what you should be seeing when booted into the Recovery Partition:

View attachment 29985

You should be clicking on "Disk Utility"...and reformatting or erasing the main partition as was mentioned earlier in the thread...and/or then clicking on "Reinstall macOS"...and then letting the computer do its thing during this process.

When you say "...managed to get a copy of Mojave"...this doesn't sound like either of these two options.

At this point don't be concerned about what version of the macOS is being installed...since you just want to get the computer operational. Once it's fully operational...then we can talk about the OS version you want to end up with.

- Nick

Hi again. Thank you.

What i meant is that I followed a guide to install the OS (Mojave in the last case) to a BOOTABLE EXTERNAL DRIVE (seen here: Imgur: The magic of the Internet).
I used a small program called Disk Creator (Install Disk Creator -) to do so, and it seems to have worked.

Then, I clicked OPTION + POWER button and went into the BOOTABLE DRIVE, called "INSTALL MAC OS MOJAVE" (or something of this sort).

It then took me into that menu (the same menu you showed in the pic).

I then formatted the drive based on your instructions.

But still got the errors.

Here are a few pics I took:

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Imgur: The magic of the Internet
https://imgur.com/umvtJKh
https://imgur.com/pkflZQ6


I am beginning to give up since nothing seems to be working. The thing that gets me to keep trying is that I can't seem to find a hardware issue. So what gives?

 

[pigoo3]

What i meant is that I followed a guide to install the OS (Mojave in the last case) to a BOOTABLE EXTERNAL DRIVE

This is kind of a more DIY advanced method of installing the OS. I would rather see you exhaust all of the Apple built-in more automated options before trying more involved options.

- Nick

 

[MacInWin]

From the error messages, it appears that what is happening is that the installer is trying to convert the drive from the HFS+ format to APFS, but the drive is not formatted HFS+ so the process is failing. What I would recommend is to boot from the USB installer, then use Disk Utility to format the indented drive (not the device itself, as you had done before in one of you images) as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" and then try the installation again.

As background, the installation of Mojave converted any internal SSD that it found from HFS+ to APFS format, preserving the data on the drive. Apple did this to improve the performance of SSD drives. And it looks like it is that conversion process that is failing.

 

[OOOOKDSJAKSDKLA]

From the error messages, it appears that what is happening is that the installer is trying to convert the drive from the HFS+ format to APFS, but the drive is not formatted HFS+ so the process is failing. What I would recommend is to boot from the USB installer, then use Disk Utility to format the indented drive (not the device itself, as you had done before in one of you images) as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" and then try the installation again.

As background, the installation of Mojave converted any internal SSD that it found from HFS+ to APFS format, preserving the data on the drive. Apple did this to improve the performance of SSD drives. And it looks like it is that conversion process that is failing.

Thank you again.

What I tried to do is see if Mojave will install on the external hard drive. That way, if it did, I'll know that maybe the internal SSD is the issue.

Well, it did. I got Mojave installed and running.

I think this means there's a hardware issue with the SSD. I mean, b it's weird since it passed the diagnosis test, and it did always showed up on the disk utility. I manged to format it, and so on.

Really really weird.

I guess I should try and grab a replacement?

If I do, any advice on a replacement (affordable would be great)?

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

 

[MacInWin]

If it tested ok, it's most likely OK. Did you try what I suggested (format to HFS+, retry installing Mojave)?

 

[OOOOKDSJAKSDKLA]

If it tested ok, it's most likely OK. Did you try what I suggested (format to HFS+, retry installing Mojave)?

Thanks. So before I saw your message I had an idea.

I tried to copy a movie file from an external drive to the internal SSD while using Mojave (from external SSD).

This will tell me if I can read and write to the drive.
It worked.

Then it occurred to me that perhaps I can clone the drive using Carbon (a software I found online).

I chose the source drive as the currently working external ssd, and the destination drive as the internal SSD.

Guess what? 1 minute into the process Carbon issued a failure - saying "don't eject the destination drive during process".

I think this means there's something wrong with the internal SSD drive. Maybe it loses power?

I then went to fish utility and indeed the internal SSD was gone. See pics.

Can we assume a faulty SSD at this point?

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
INTERNAL SSD SUDDENLY GONE!!! INTERNAL SSD SUDDENLY GONE!!! - Album on Imgur


Edit: after turning the Mac off and then on again, internal SSD now shows again.
Is there a test I can run that will check this internal drive?


Edit: drive Dx shoes internal SSD is healthy:
DriveDx shows drive is healthy DriveDx shows drive is healthy - Album on Imgur


Edit again: internal drive disappeared again

 

[MacInWin]

Could be a failure of the SSD, just a poor connection to the drive that is intermittently disconnecting or maybe overheating causing the issue. When SSD drives fail, usually it is catastrophic and permanent. Your symptoms don't seem to match that scenario. However, you could take it to an Apple store for diagnostics run to see what they find out. If the SSD is replaceable, you might find a replacement at OWC (Apple Mac Upgrades - RAM, SSD Flash, External Drives and More).

 

[OOOOKDSJAKSDKLA]

Could be a failure of the SSD, just a poor connection to the drive that is intermittently disconnecting or maybe overheating causing the issue. When SSD drives fail, usually it is catastrophic and permanent. Your symptoms don't seem to match that scenario. However, you could take it to an Apple store for diagnostics run to see what they find out. If the SSD is replaceable, you might find a replacement at OWC (Apple Mac Upgrades - RAM, SSD Flash, External Drives and More).

Thank you. I just played a 2 hour movie from internal drive. No issues. Does this give us any indications? I assume not so much. Perhaps just a part/sector of the SSD is damaged? Weird.

I would take it to the Apple store but currently stationed abroad. Don't even know if there's an official service provider here (no official stores).



Edit: just installed Smart Reporter Light and will let it run for the night.
Imgur: The magic of the Internet

 

[pigoo3]

Thank you. I just played a 2 hour movie from internal drive. No issues. Does this give us any indications? I assume not so much. Perhaps just a part/sector of the SSD is damaged? Weird.

Can you provide more details how this was done? I thought this MacBook Air needed to be "brought back to life" as the thread title mentions. If the MacBook Air's SSD is still installed in the MacBook Air...playing a 2 hour movie sounds "alive" to me.

Now if the MacBook Air's SSD was removed & installed elsewhere...and this is how the 2 hour movie was played...this I can understand. Otherwise I'm confused...or maybe I'm forgetting something mentioned previously in the thread.

Thanks,

- Nick

 

[OOOOKDSJAKSDKLA]

Can you provide more details how this was done? I thought this MacBook Air needed to be "brought back to life" as the thread title mentions. If the MacBook Air's SSD is still installed in the MacBook Air...playing a 2 hour movie sounds "alive" to me.

Now if the MacBook Air's SSD was removed & installed elsewhere...and this is how the 2 hour movie was played...this I can understand. Otherwise I'm confused...or maybe I'm forgetting something mentioned previously in the thread.

Thanks,

- Nick

Sorry, maybe I didn't explain myself the right way

The internal SSD was never physically removed from the MBA. Sorry if I gave this impression.

Mojave is running from EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE. But the movie is playing from INTERNAL (Apple) SSD.

Edit
Here's a picture that will explain:
Imgur: The magic of the Internet
I know this is the internal SSD not only because it shows on the finder in the bottom part, but also because the external SSD is 240GB while the internal is 120GB.

 

[pigoo3]

Sorry, maybe I didn't explain myself the right way

The internal SSD was never physically removed from the MBA. Sorry if I gave this impression.

It's all good...just wanted to understand if the MacBook Air's SSD was still in the MacBook Air.

Mojave is running from EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE. But the movie is playing from INTERNAL (Apple) SSD.

This was the part that was unclear (at least to me)...MacBook Air was booted & running from an external HD. Perfect explanation...totally understandable.

- Nick

 

[OOOOKDSJAKSDKLA]

It's all good...just wanted to understand if the MacBook Air's SSD was still in the MacBook Air.



This was the part that was unclear (at least to me)...MacBook Air was booted & running from an external HD. Perfect explanation...totally understandable.

- Nick

Attaching DriveDX log.

### SYSTEM INFORMATION ###
Report Timestamp                     : June 10, 2019 8:57:16 AM GMT+3
Report Timestamp (ISO 8601 format)   : 2019-06-10T08:57:16

Application Name                     : DriveDx
Application Version                  : 1.8.2.610
Application SubBuild                 : 1
Application Edition                  : Standalone
Application Website                  : https://binaryfruit.com/drivedx
DriveDx Knowledge Base Revision      : 9/9

Computer Name                        : Ben’s MacBook Air
Host Name                            : Bens-MacBook-Air
Computer Model                       : MacBookAir7,2

OS Boot Time                         : 2019-06-10T08:55:42
Time Since Boot                      : 00h 01m 34s
OS Name                              : macOS
OS Version                           : 10.14.5
OS Build                             : 18F132
OS Kernel Version                    : Darwin 18.6.0

SAT SMART Driver Version             : N/A
ATA Command Support Tolerance        : verypermissive
N of drives in report                : 1



### DRIVE 1 OF 1 ###
Last Checked                         : June 10, 2019 8:56:58 AM GMT+3
Last Checked (ISO 8601 format)       : 2019-06-10T08:56:58

Advanced SMART Status                : OK
Overall Health Rating                : GOOD 100%
SSD Lifetime Left Indicator          : GOOD 95.0%
Issues found                         : 0

Serial Number                        : S1W1NYBG308430
WWN Id                               : 5 002538 900000000
Volumes                              : Macintosh HD
Device Path                          : /dev/disk0
Total Capacity                       : 121.3 GB (121,332,826,112 Bytes)
Model Family                         : Apple (Samsung-based) SSDs
Model                                : APPLE SSD SM0128G
Firmware Version                     : BXW1JA0Q
Drive Type                           : SSD

Power On Time                        : 1,339 hours (1 months 25 days 19 hours)
Power Cycles Count                   : 25,640
Current Power Cycle Time             : 0.0 hours



=== DEVICE CAPABILITIES ===
S.M.A.R.T. support enabled           : yes
DriveDx Active Diagnostic Config     : Apple (Samsung-based) g-series SSDs config [ssd.apple.samsung.g]
Sector Logical Size                  : 512
Sector Physical Size                 : 4096
Physical Interconnect                : PCI
Logical Protocol                     : SATA
Removable                            : no
Ejectable                            : no
ATA Version                          : ATA8-ACS T13/1699-D revision 4c
SATA Version                         : SATA 3.0, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 6.0 Gb/s)
I/O Path                             : IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/RP06@1C,5/IOPP/SSD0@0/AppleAHCI/PRT0@0/IOAHCIDevice@0/AppleAHCIDiskDriver/IOAHCIBlockStorageDevice
Attributes Data Structure Revision   : 1
SMART Command Transport (SCT) flags  : 0x0
SCT Status supported                 : no
SCT Feature Control supported        : no
SCT Data Table supported             : no
Error logging capabilities           : 0x1
Self-tests supported                 : yes
Offline Data Collection capabilities : 0x53
Offline Data Collection status       : 0x0
Auto Offline Data Collection flags   : 0x0
[Known device                       ]: yes
[Drive State Flags                  ]: 0x0


=== CURRENT POWER CYCLE STATISTICS ===
Data Read                           : 6.5 MB
Data Written                        : 3.3 MB
Data Read/Write Ratio               : 1.94
Average Throughput (Read)           : 42.1 MB/s
Average Throughput (Write)          : 16.3 MB/s

Operations (Read)                   : 1,241
Operations (Write)                  : 464
Operations Read/Write Ratio         : 3
Throughput per operation (Read)     : 5.3 KB/Op
Throughput per operation (Write)    : 7.3 KB/Op

Latency Time (Read)                 : 0 ns
Latency Time (Write)                : 0 ns
Retries (Read)                      : 0
Retries (Write)                     : 0
Errors (Read)                       : 0
Errors (Write)                      : 0


=== PROBLEMS SUMMARY ===
Failed Indicators (life-span / pre-fail)  : 0 (0 / 0)
Failing Indicators (life-span / pre-fail) : 0 (0 / 0)
Warnings (life-span / pre-fail)           : 0 (0 / 0)
Recently failed Self-tests (Short / Full) : 0 (0 / 0)
I/O Error Count                          : 0 (0 / 0)


=== IMPORTANT HEALTH INDICATORS ===
ID  NAME                                         RAW VALUE                  STATUS
  5 Retired Block Count                          0                          100% OK
173 Wear Leveling Count                          0x70099002A                95.0% OK
175 Host Writes MiB                              3,765,417 (3.6 TB)         99.0% OK
192 Unsafe Shutdown Count                        373                        99.0% OK
197 Current Pending Block Count                  0                          100% OK
199 UDMA CRC Error Count                         0                          100% OK


=== TEMPERATURE INFORMATION (CELSIUS) ===
Current Temperature                  : 30
Power Cycle Min Temperature          : 30
Power Cycle Max Temperature          : 30
Lifetime Min Temperature             : 30
Lifetime Max Temperature             : 46
Recommended Min Temperature          : 5
Recommended Max Temperature          : 65
Temperature Min Limit                : 5
Temperature Max Limit                : 70


=== DRIVE HEALTH INDICATORS ===
ID   | NAME                                        | TYPE      | UPDATE | RAW VALUE                  | VALUE | THRESHOLD | WORST | LAST MODIFIED        | STATUS          
   1   Raw Read Error Rate                           Life-span   online               0x0                200           0    200                       -    100%  OK          
   5   Retired Block Count                           Pre-fail    online                0                 100           0    100                       -    100%  OK          
   9   Power On Hours                                Life-span   online              1,339                99           0     99         6/10/19 8:56 AM   99.0%  OK          
  12   Power Cycle Count                             Life-span   online              25,640               74           0     74         6/10/19 8:56 AM   74.0%  OK          
 169   Total Bad Block Count                         Pre-fail    online           0xF302A001E0           222          10    222                       -    100%  OK          
 173   Wear Leveling Count                           Life-span   online           0x70099002A            195         100    195                       -   95.0%  OK          
 174   Host Reads MiB                                Life-span   online       14,452,916 (13.8 TB)        99           0     99         6/10/19 8:56 AM   99.0%  OK          
 175   Host Writes MiB                               Life-span   online        3,765,417 (3.6 TB)         99           0     99         6/10/19 8:56 AM   99.0%  OK          
 192   Unsafe Shutdown Count                         Life-span   online               373                 99           0     99         6/10/19 8:56 AM   99.0%  OK          
 194   Temperature (Celsius)                         Life-span   online                30                 70          30     28         6/10/19 8:56 AM   57.1%  OK          
 197   Current Pending Block Count                   Life-span   online                0                 100           0    100                       -    100%  OK          
 199   UDMA CRC Error Count                          Life-span   online                0                 200           0    199                       -    100%  OK          



=== DRIVE ERROR LOG ===
error log is empty


=== DRIVE SELF-TEST LOG ===
self-test log is empty

 

[Rod]

Okay, I understand now too. I do however admit to being a bit curious as to why you would run your operating system from an external source. I see it is a SSD external drive and I assume you are using a fast connection but despite the limited storage on your internal drive why not run just the OS and applications from that and store all of your data on the external? Or am I missing something.


Sent from my iPad using Mac-Forums

 

[OOOOKDSJAKSDKLA]

Okay, I understand now too. I do however admit to being a bit curious as to why you would run your operating system from an external source. I see it is a SSD external drive and I assume you are using a fast connection but despite the limited storage on your internal drive why not run just the OS and applications from that and store all of your data on the external? Or am I missing something.


Sent from my iPad using Mac-Forums

Hi. I am assuming you are new to this thread, and if not - sorry about that. But yes, the issue is that the OS will NOT install on to the internal drive. I installed the OS to an external drive to see where the issue was.

 

[pigoo3]

Ok...just to make sure I'm understanding things 100%...are we saying that this MacBook Air is running 100% ok from an external drive (computer boots ok, apps run ok, can surf the internet ok, etc.)?

If this is true...have you tried launching Disk Utility on the external drive...and reformatting/erasing the internal SSD in the MacBook Air...and after this...then attempting to install the macOS onto the internal SSD?

Apologies if this was tried/mentioned already in the thread already?

- Nick

p.s. If this was already tried:

- What disk format was chosen to format the internal SSD?
- What method was used to install the OS (what was the source of the macOS installer). Was it installed via a USB stick setup as an installer...or something else?

 

[MacInWin]

Nick, it has been mentioned before.

At this point I am beginning to suspect the installer files on the boot usb drive. Maybe create a new bootable drive using DiskmakerX, boot from it and see if it can complete the installation.

 

[OOOOKDSJAKSDKLA]

Guys, thank you so much for all the help!

Indeed, it seems that this is a very weird case. The SSD performs fine as long as I don't try to run a test on it (DriveDX text fails and crashes both the app and ejects the drive), but works fine for all other uses.

I think - unless someone comes up with some brilliant idea - that it's time to call this SSD a partial failed drive.

Thanks so much for all the help though.

PS - I have took out the drive just now for inspection, but it looks fine physically.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Imgur: The magic of the Internet

DriveDx self-test failed:
Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Drive no longer shows on system after failed DriveDx Self-Test - Imgur

 

[pigoo3]

I think - unless someone comes up with some brilliant idea - that it's time to call this SSD a partial failed drive.

This very well may be the case...but please humor me by trying one more thing.

Let's do one thing "by the book"...and not try anything "fancy".

- First of all make sure the SSD is properly erased & formatted (we want to make sure it is properly formatted before we begin).
- Disconnect any external devices.
- Reboot the computer.
- Quickly press & hold the following 3-key combination:

Option + Command + R

- Continue holding these three keys until you see the computer (hopefully) trying to do something. This "doing something" hopefully is an image of a spinning globe of the Earth.
- Now it's ok to release the keys.

What we are doing is trying to reinstall the OS via "Internet Recovery". This is when the computer communicates with the Apple servers...and installs the OS over the internet...instead of via a local copy of an OS installer. This may take a while...but as long as it's moving forward...we can keep our fingers crossed it completes & works.

DON'T be concerned what OS version is being installed! At this point we just want to get ANY version of the macOS installed successfully...THEN we can think about upgrading to something newer (if all goes well)...and if the version that's installed is not Mojave.

Good luck,

- Nick

 

[OOOOKDSJAKSDKLA]

This very well may be the case...but please humor me by trying one more thing.

Let's do one thing "by the book"...and not try anything "fancy".

- First of all make sure the SSD is properly erased & formatted (we want to make sure it is properly formatted before we begin).
- Disconnect any external devices.
- Reboot the computer.
- Quickly press & hold the following 3-key combination:

Option + Command + R

- Continue holding these three keys until you see the computer (hopefully) trying to do something. This "doing something" hopefully is an image of a spinning globe of the Earth.
- Now it's ok to release the keys.

What we are doing is trying to reinstall the OS via "Internet Recovery". This is when the computer communicates with the Apple servers...and installs the OS over the internet...instead of via a local copy of an OS installer. This may take a while...but as long as it's moving forward...we can keep our fingers crossed it completes & works.

DON'T be concerned what OS version is being installed! At this point we just want to get ANY version of the macOS installed successfully...THEN we can think about upgrading to something newer (if all goes well)...and if the version that's installed is not Mojave.

Good luck,

- Nick

Hi Nick. Thank you. Unfortunately I have tried this before - more than once.


How do you (and others who might read this) feel about an adapter + m2 SSD drive as a replacement? It comes out cheaper than getting a propriety replacment.

Thank you.