Chosen Solution
Hi All, I have a 2017 MacBook Pro (with function keys) with 8GB RAM and a 128gb ssd running High Sierra. I began having issues with kernel panics when doing anything graphics intensive - The display would slow down and then lock and restart with a kernel panic. These became more frequent over the space of about a week. Then it happened again and it rarely starts up and if it does then after about 30 seconds it locks up with the mouse pointer unresponsive and the only option is it power it off. Upon powering on most of the time it appears completely dead (black screen, caps lock doesn’t work, no chime etc.) however the touchpad is clickable demonstrating that there is power getting through to that. Sometimes after leaving it powered off for hours or days (seems quite random) and possibly if the battery is completely flat so the usb-c charger is plugged in and powered on immediately it begins to start but then locks up again by the time you get to typing in your password. I have tried to do a diagnostics check by pressing D on start up but it gets through about a third of it and freezes and has to be powered off. Trying to start up in single user mode is not possible because it locks/.freezes before it has loaded. I have tried resetting the SMC and PRAM VRAM reset several times and has made no difference. As time goes on it appears to be refusing to even begin to start up less often but it is not completely dead because it does at least try sometimes! The MacBook is about a week out of warranty so am not impressed if this is a hardware fault! Any help anyone can give to see if there is an easy fix for this or am I looking at a trip to the genius bar and a big repair bill? Many thanks in advance….
Run don’t walk !! To the nearest Apple Store to get your system fixed under warrenty Apple will often allow a few weeks grace. But you need to be sure you didn’t damage the system in anyway otherwise all bets are off. From what you are stating you have a logic board failure and there is little you can do to fix this. It will require a new logic board. Also be aware any data you have on your drive now will be lost. If you have anything important I would try get the system to boot up under Target Disk Mode (pressing the T key when you restart the system) and then using a second Mac copy off your stuff. References: Mac startup key combinationsUse target disk mode to move files to another computerUnderstanding the Applications for Target Disk Mode
