Resolving a Bricked 2011 MacBook Pro After Sonoma Upgrade with Legacy Patcher

Introduction

If you've encountered a black screen issue after upgrading your 2011 MacBook Pro to Sonoma using the Legacy Patcher, you can try the following steps to resolve the problem and potentially revert to a working version of macOS.

Important Note: This process assumes that you have access to another Mac to create a bootable USB drive. If you don't have access to another Mac, consider seeking assistance from an Apple Store or an authorized service provider.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Create a Bootable USB Drive:

    • Borrow a friend's or family member's Mac to create a bootable macOS USB drive. You'll need an 8GB or larger USB flash drive and access to the macOS installer (e.g., from the App Store).
  2. Download macOS Installer:

    • Download the macOS version that you want to install on your MacBook Pro. Make sure it's compatible with your hardware.
  3. Create the Bootable USB Drive:

    • Use the createinstallmedia command in Terminal on the other Mac to create a bootable USB drive. Open Terminal and run the following command (replace "MyVolume" with the name of your USB drive):
      css
      sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ [your macOS version].app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
  4. Boot from the USB Drive:

    • Insert the bootable USB drive into your bricked MacBook Pro.
    • Turn on your MacBook Pro and hold down the Option (Alt) key immediately to access the boot menu.
    • Select the USB drive as the boot device.
  5. Access Recovery Mode:

    • Hopefully, the bootable USB drive will allow you to bypass the firmware password lock screen and access recovery mode. If it works, proceed to the next steps. If it doesn't, consider seeking professional assistance.
  6. Erase the Hard Drive:

    • In recovery mode, open Disk Utility and erase your MacBook Pro's internal hard drive completely. Choose APFS or HFS+ as the format.
  7. Install macOS:

    • Once the hard drive is erased, close Disk Utility and proceed with the macOS installation. Install the version that you downloaded earlier.
  8. Complete Setup:

    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the macOS setup.
  9. Restore Data:

    • If you have a backup of your data, you can restore it during the setup process or afterward.
  10. Check for Updates:

    • After successfully booting into macOS, check for system updates and apply them to ensure your MacBook Pro is up to date and secure.

Conclusion

By creating a bootable USB drive and erasing your MacBook Pro's hard drive, you can potentially resolve the black screen issue and reinstall macOS. However, it's essential to have access to another Mac for this process. If you can't resolve the issue on your own, consider seeking professional assistance from an Apple Store or authorized service provider.

I bricked my 2011 MacBook Pro

Bricked my 2011 MacBook Pro

This happened yesterday. I stupidly upgraded to Sonoma with Open Core Legacy Patcher on my 2011 MacBook Pro, and now I get a black screen every time I try and log in when the loading bar appears.

I can’t access recovery mode, disc utility, or any other partition with key commands, because the firmware password Lock Screen comes up and I have no idea what that is.

When I boot in EFI from the boot picker screen, it just restarts and nothing happens. I’ve reset the SMC, VRAM, PRAM and tried every single combination of commands and still can’t login without the screen going black.

I just want to downgrade back to a version that works, can anyone help me figure out how? I don’t have an external drive, or a usb drive and this is my only computer.

submitted by /u/TheSwoleSurgeon
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