⟐ Answer edited 5月 14, 2026 at 6:22 GMT-7

⟐ Commented 5月 12, 2026 at 15:08 GMT-7

I appreciate the comments here; thank you! What actually worked: I downloaded a copy of catalina .dmg and used Balena Etcher on linux to burn it to a thumbdrive and booted the thumb drive by holding the Option button while powering up. I was then able to launch the terminal from the installer's menu bar. From the terminal, I was then able to run: nvram AutoBoot=%00 and this disabled that behavior (power on when power cable connected / disconnected). This command is only available in the MacOS image, so this was the missing step to be able to get access to it. Thank you!

⟐ Edited by author 5月 11, 2026 at 7:48 GMT-7

Basically, is my Anti-glare coating worth removing and if it is, which method is least likely to cause damage? Also, is image quality affected other than the anti glare properties if I were to remove the coating? Like a loss in color accuracy or something like that.

UPDATE

I used some Kirkland signature baby wipes to remove the layer but it was taking forever. I used Clorox wipes and that seemed to work too. Overall took about 30-45 minutes to remove the majority and about more than an hour to get it all off completely. To make sure it’s completely off use a flashlight and point it at the screen.

⟐ Commented 5月 09, 2026 at 20:09 GMT-7

The widgets are stored within /System/Library/CoreServicesBut Notes & Reminders are not there anymore (Maybe some others also have gone).

Unable to set weather location

Bluetooth Sharing has gone, but Bluetooth is on as I use a Magic Mouse II without any issues.

I also CANNOT change 'Open with default app' for example .mp3 or .mp4 opens with either Books, Music, Audacity, QT Player (All are different), even when I change to VLC as it always was with before via various methods NONE are changed so they all open with my preferred app. No matter what I try nothing seems to change anything, GET INFO (Set Default), Right Click (Open with other...) or even with App Cleaner app to set default app by extension etc....

This is really bugging me as I do not want to perform a complete clean install as I have a dual boot system and many files. We can rule out using Time Machine as that maybe will not solve it as from experience TM might still bring over the corrupted settings.... Is there a preferences file that I can delete or restore if so which one? Otherwise, system is running fine, these are my only issues noticed so far since a week or so. I have no dodgy software installed, nothing recently installed, no updates have been done (None to do anyway as all is up to date)..... I have booted into safe mode, rebooted as normal, but it has made no difference. Mystified on this as it is something I am usually good at fixing.

I found this link about widgets but no joy .

⟐ Answered 5月 04, 2026 at 8:41 GMT-7

Steps I've taken so far:

• Researched to see if this is even possible -- looks like the answer could be 'yes' based on some examples seen around the web
• Tried to find someone I could hire to do this (no luck thus far... hence why I'm here)
• Recently downloaded the a1398 schematics with the 820-3332-A board and fed it into some chatbots to potentially teach me how to do it myself (schematics link: https://f.ch1p.io/rjHAmTOU/820-3332-a.pd...)

Chatbot Summary of Instructions -> could use help determining if this would work

1. Isolation: Open up the case and remove the R5701 & R5702 resistors -> Ensures the MacBook's PCH doesn't interfere with whatever end computer I connect it with.

2. Data: Solder the Green (D+) and White (D-) wires of the USB cable to the connector side of those R5701 & R5702 resistor pads -> Corresponds to the 'USB_TPAD_P' and 'USB_TPAD_N' connections (Keyboard + trackpad data signals are combined via IPD cable)

3. Power: Solder the Red (5V) wire of the USB cable to the L5700 pad leading to the connector -> this small inductor/ferrite bead provides 5V to the PP5V_S4_TPAD rail via L5700, allowing the trackpad's circuitry to manage internal power needs

4. Ground: Solder the Black wire (GND) to the metal ears or shield of the J5800 connector -> ensures data signals are clean and will be recognized by an external computer

NOTE: In case you're wondering why I'm doing this...

- I have chronic myofascial pain in my upper extremities. This Macbook Pro model allowed me to go for long periods of time without pain. Having tried dozens of newer laptop models for Mac, Windows, and Chromebook, I have yet to find one with a keyboard/trackpad that performed as well for my pain as the MBP a1398. I could really use some help on how to do this myself.

⟐ Commented 5月 03, 2026 at 12:25 GMT-7

⟐ Commented 4月 29, 2026 at 18:19 GMT-7

I have a Macbook Pro from early 2011 and I had problems with the video, I took it to a technician to reball it and it supposedly worked, at the same time it failed again and this time they told me they had changed the video chip.

In the end, it failed again and when I took it to repair it again it did not work again.

I finally bought a used logic board in china and was able to successfully install it as a replacement for the deceased one.

But I have the following problems:

1 The battery or battery charger does not work so the fans run at full speed.

2 I was able to get it to boot but it does not recognize the SSD.

3 I put the original hard disk (unfortunately it had been used for a windows pc) and tried to install different versions of OS

- Yosemite USB installation (failure to finish preloading the USB, the computer restarts and the installation begins again)

- Installation via USB of El Capitan (failure to finish preloading the USB similar to Yosemite) but then I was able to install it with "Clover" and the installable image of El Capitan. The installation was successful but when the mac tries to start it reboots before finishing the progress bar with the apple at the start. This installation only works failsafe and I cannot start the diagnostic mode (D, cmd + D, option + D) nor the recovery mode (R, command + R)

- Recovery using time machine, since I have a copy of High Sierra, I recovered the complete installation but the behavior is the same. Fails to start unless in safe mode.

- Currently installing a minor version (mountain Lion) install the first stage, restart and start installing the second stage. it always restarts after 30% and starts again.

4 In the El Capitan version I uninstalled the drivers for the dedicated video card, hoping that was the problem, but I never got it to boot normally.

I also did all the possible updates and only the installation of "MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.7" fails because when the Mac restarts to do the update, it restarts again and again and only continues in safe mode. when I look for if something needs to be updated, "MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.7" reappears

Please if you can tell me what steps to follow or some guide would be saving me.

I am in Argentina and the prices to take this equipment to an official service are exorbitant and unreliable.

Hi @danj , you really blew my mind!

First of all thanks for your help and advice, in my many searches I found many of your contributions and they were always very helpful.

I read quite a bit about it and to try and rule out that this was the problem and did the following:

Using my other computer (macbook pro early 2013) and internet recovery I installed mountain lion on a 16Gb pendrive. I put it in the macbook pro 2011 and by pressing option I told it to boot from it.

To my surprise and for the first time it managed to start!

I even managed to install the update "EFI Firmware Update 2.7" ...

My joy ceased when it rebooted for no reason while trying to install the Safari update. (started downloading update and failed)

The mac rebooted again and while loading the OS it rebooted again! This behavior persists as long as a reboot failure occurs and I think I manage to stop this reboot cycle when I hold the power button and turn on again while pressing the option key to choose usb as startup.

As you had indicated to me that the cable could be the cause of the failure. Disconnect the hard drive cable from the logic board. I started again and it rebooted again :( again trying to update Safari.

Just in case, also disconnect the cable from the optical drive.

With both units disconnected it continues to fail.

Currently, it only has a 16 Gb USB as a hard drive.

Since I couldn't update Safari, I downloaded Chrome and managed to install it.

But as soon as I want to start Chrome and the icon starts jumping on the dock while loading, it restarts again ...

Here's my suspicion: Could this be a matter of memory? Currently, it has two 4Gb memories and before doing all these tests I had changed them for two 2Gb and it also failed.

Update (09/02/2021)

Here it is the report I got booting into safe mode

Anonymous UUID:       FA68BE48-FBB3-5DF7-60AE-31C84802DD15

Mon Jan  1 13:45:58 2001

• Panic Report *

panic(cpu 7 caller 0xffffff800578687f): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7f87f37964, type 14=page fault, registers:

CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0x0000000000000033, CR3: 0x00000000092ca000, CR4: 0x00000000000626e0

RAX: 0x0000000000000000, RBX: 0xffffff801e685580, RCX: 0x0000000000000202, RDX: 0xffffff80e614b77d

RSP: 0xffffff910ff7a890, RBP: 0xffffff910ff7a8c0, RSI: 0xffffff910ff7a960, RDI: 0xffffff801e685580

R8:  0xffffff910ff7a700, R9:  0x0000000000000008, R10: 0x0000000000000010, R11: 0x0000000000000000

R12: 0xffffff801e685580, R13: 0xffffff7f87fa7658, R14: 0x0000000000000000, R15: 0x0000000000004006

RFL: 0x0000000000010202, RIP: 0xffffff7f87f37964, CS:  0x0000000000000008, SS:  0x0000000000000000

Fault CR2: 0x0000000000000033, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x7, PL: 0, VF: 1

Backtrace (CPU 7), Frame : Return Address

0xffffff910ff79d10 : 0xffffff800566ae76

0xffffff910ff79d60 : 0xffffff8005794484

0xffffff910ff79da0 : 0xffffff8005786654

0xffffff910ff79e10 : 0xffffff800561ce60

0xffffff910ff79e30 : 0xffffff800566a8ec

0xffffff910ff79f60 : 0xffffff800566a6ac

0xffffff910ff79fc0 : 0xffffff800578687f

0xffffff910ff7a130 : 0xffffff800561ce60

0xffffff910ff7a150 : 0xffffff7f8636f553

0xffffff910ff7a290 : 0xffffff8005cb7ea7

0xffffff910ff7a2e0 : 0xffffff8005cb79b3

0xffffff910ff7a320 : 0xffffff8005cb5662

0xffffff910ff7a360 : 0xffffff800566ad31

0xffffff910ff7a3b0 : 0xffffff8005794484

0xffffff910ff7a3f0 : 0xffffff8005786654

0xffffff910ff7a460 : 0xffffff800561ce60

0xffffff910ff7a480 : 0xffffff800566a8ec

0xffffff910ff7a5b0 : 0xffffff800566a6ac

0xffffff910ff7a610 : 0xffffff800578687f

0xffffff910ff7a780 : 0xffffff800561ce60

0xffffff910ff7a7a0 : 0xffffff7f87f37964

0xffffff910ff7a8c0 : 0xffffff7f87f4f054

0xffffff910ff7a900 : 0xffffff7f87f4edbc

0xffffff910ff7a950 : 0xffffff7f87f4ed03

0xffffff910ff7a9b0 : 0xffffff7f87f4c4b1

0xffffff910ff7a9f0 : 0xffffff7f87f516d8

0xffffff910ff7aa20 : 0xffffff7f87f55d54

0xffffff910ff7aa70 : 0xffffff7f87f76e08

0xffffff910ff7aaf0 : 0xffffff7f87f781ad

0xffffff910ff7ab30 : 0xffffff7f87f78e9e

0xffffff910ff7ab80 : 0xffffff7f87f70360

0xffffff910ff7abc0 : 0xffffff7f87f74ac1

0xffffff910ff7ac20 : 0xffffff7f87f2cf23

0xffffff910ff7acb0 : 0xffffff7f8635ce99

0xffffff910ff7ad00 : 0xffffff7f8635c34c

0xffffff910ff7ad20 : 0xffffff7f87fffa71

0xffffff910ff7ad60 : 0xffffff7f880230b9

0xffffff910ff7bd20 : 0xffffff7f880244b6

0xffffff910ff7bd70 : 0xffffff7f88025f91

0xffffff910ff7be10 : 0xffffff8005c6b2c6

0xffffff910ff7be60 : 0xffffff7f88009240

0xffffff910ff7be90 : 0xffffff7f880093de

0xffffff910ff7beb0 : 0xffffff8005c6e685

0xffffff910ff7bf00 : 0xffffff8005c7135b

0xffffff910ff7bf50 : 0xffffff8005c73076

0xffffff910ff7bfa0 : 0xffffff800561c557

      Kernel Extensions in backtrace:

         com.apple.driver.AppleSMC(3.1.9)[0249444C-80D4-3184-9060-F70DA3BEB17D]@0xffffff7f86364000->0xffffff7f86380fff

            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[95DA39BB-7C39-3742-A2E5-86C555E21D67]@0xffffff7f8635b000

            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[F763C275-306F-358F-B6B0-0FD93486BD5F]@0xffffff7f85e94000

         com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform(6.1)[B0282791-F78C-3A3D-A829-629AD847C7EA]@0xffffff7f87f27000->0xffffff7f87fc2fff

            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[95DA39BB-7C39-3742-A2E5-86C555E21D67]@0xffffff7f8635b000

            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[F763C275-306F-358F-B6B0-0FD93486BD5F]@0xffffff7f85e94000

            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleSMC(3.1.9)[0249444C-80D4-3184-9060-F70DA3BEB17D]@0xffffff7f86364000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:

17G14042

Kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 17.7.0: Fri Oct 30 13:34:27 PDT 2020; root:xnu-4570.71.82.8~1/RELEASE_X86_64

Kernel UUID: 5E83A13A-32F5-3604-8591-50E2F2F70DC6

Kernel slide:     0x0000000005400000

Kernel text base: 0xffffff8005600000

__HIB  text base: 0xffffff8005500000

System model name: MacBookPro8,2 (Mac-94245A3940C91C80)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 23321620454

last loaded kext at 23023073418: com.apple.kext.AMDLegacySupport 1.6.8 (addr 0xffffff7f88fa1000, size 1187840)

loaded kexts:

com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 10.3.1

com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4360 1250.20.1a4

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelSNBGraphicsFB 10.0.4

com.apple.driver.AppleSMCPDRC 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 3.0.4d1

com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver 281.52

com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 281.52

com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy 3.20.18

com.apple.AGDCPluginDisplayMetrics 3.20.18

com.apple.driver.pmtelemetry 1

com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.1

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 6.0.7f22

com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0

com.apple.driver.eficheck 1

com.apple.driver.AppleHV 1

com.apple.driver.AGDCBacklightControl 3.20.18

com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 3.1

com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleFIVRDriver 4.1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltIP 3.1.1

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 170.12.6

com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU 211

com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl 3.20.18

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelSlowAdaptiveClocking 4.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.5.5

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothUSBDFU 6.0.7f22

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver 254

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 254

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 254

com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 353

com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 3.0.1

com.apple.filesystems.hfs.kext 407.50.6

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1

com.apple.BootCache 40

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0

com.apple.AppleSystemPolicy 1.0

com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 404.30.3

com.apple.filesystems.apfs 748.51.0

com.apple.driver.AppleSDXC 1.7.6

com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 5.5.9

com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 329.50.2

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 6.1

com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.1

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 6.1

com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 220.50.1

com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 186

com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 8

com.apple.security.quarantine 3

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 220.50.1

com.apple.kext.AMDLegacySupport 1.6.8

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.9

com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController 1.1.0

com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 1200.12.2

com.apple.driver.mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b8

com.apple.driver.corecapture 1.0.4

com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0

com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 281.52

com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 526

com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 211.15

com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 11

com.apple.driver.AppleSSE 1.0

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 6.0.0d8

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 281.52

com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 281.52

com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 206.5

com.apple.vecLib.kext 1.2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.14d1

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.1.0

com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 519.21

com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.20.18

com.apple.AppleGPUWrangler 3.20.18

com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl 3.20.18

com.apple.iokit.IOSlowAdaptiveClockingFamily 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltEDMSink 4.1.4

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.18d1

com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 519.23

com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 6.0.7f22

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 6.0.7f22

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerTransport 6.0.7f22

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 6.0.7f22

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 262

com.apple.driver.usb.IOUSBHostHIDDevice 1.2

com.apple.driver.usb.cdc 5.0.0

com.apple.driver.usb.networking 5.0.0

com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBHostCompositeDevice 1.2

com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBHub 1.2

com.apple.filesystems.hfs.encodings.kext 1

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 900.4.1

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHostMergeProperties 1.2

com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBHostPacketFilter 1.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 900.4.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 404.30.3

com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.8

com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.8

com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPOutAdapter 5.5.5

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPInAdapter 5.5.5

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPAdapterFamily 5.5.5

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 2.1.3

com.apple.driver.AppleXsanScheme 3

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 267.50.1

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 301.40.2

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltNHI 4.7.3

com.apple.iokit.IOThunderboltFamily 6.7.10

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.7.2

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 288

com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBEHCIPCI 1.2

com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBUHCIPCI 1.2

com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBUHCI 1.2

com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBEHCI 1.2

com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.1

com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1

com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0

com.apple.security.sandbox 300.0

com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1

com.apple.driver.DiskImages 480.60.3

com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30

com.apple.driver.AppleEffaceableStorage 1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTDM 439.70.3

com.apple.driver.AppleMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageDriver 140.70.2

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 404.30.3

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 404.30.3

com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 2.1

com.apple.driver.AppleCredentialManager 1.0

com.apple.driver.KernelRelayHost 1

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHostFamily 1.2

com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBCommon 1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleBusPowerController 1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleSEPManager 1.0.1

com.apple.driver.IOSlaveProcessor 1

com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 31

com.apple.iokit.IOTimeSyncFamily 680.15

com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.4

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 6.1

com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.9

com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.9

com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4

com.apple.kec.pthread 1

com.apple.kec.Libm 1

com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0

EOF

Model: MacBookPro8,2, BootROM MBP81.0047.B27, 4 processors, Intel Core i7, 2 GHz, 8 GB, SMC 1.69f1

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000, Intel HD Graphics 3000, Built-In

Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6490M, AMD Radeon HD 6490M, PCIe

Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 4 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, 0x0198, 0x393955353436392D3034362E4130304C4620

Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 4 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, 0x0198, 0x393930353436392D3130362E4130304C4620

AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0xD6), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.102.30)

Bluetooth: Version 6.0.7f22, 3 services, 27 devices, 0 incoming serial ports

Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en1

Serial ATA Device: KINGSTON SA400S37240G, 240,06 GB

USB Device: USB 2.0 Bus

USB Device: Hub

USB Device: IR Receiver

USB Device: USB 2.0 Bus

USB Device: FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

USB Device: Hub

USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

USB Device: BRCM2070 Hub

USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Thunderbolt Bus: MacBook Pro, Apple Inc., 22.1

⟐ Answered 4月 28, 2026 at 0:36 GMT-7

This is the second time I’ve replaced my battery with an ifixit battery and this is the second time this issue has came up. After replacing the battery and running the calibration cycle, I would use my laptop on its battery and somewhere around 70%-60% battery level, the battery level would just shoot down to 7%.

Initially on the first time around with replacing the battery, I just figured they sent me a faulty battery, but didn’t have time to buy another one and change it out, so i lived with the power adapter. I finally had a chance to replace it to a new battery, but the same thing just happened. Now, Im hoping to find some answers from you all if I have another faulty battery or some other insight on what it might can be.

Appreciate whatever insight provided!

UPDATE

Here’s a photo with the coconut battery app. In the screenshot under the “BATTERY (last 12 hours)” you can see the instant drop in battery level.

UPDATE #2

at 50% charge

at 100% charge

UPDATE #3

Screenshot charging from 0% to 50%

⟐ Answered 4月 27, 2026 at 7:38 GMT-7

I just broke my Airport Card Antenna connector from the Airport Card. There are 2 connectors - "J1" and "J2"

J2 is fully broken from the airport card, but the WiFi is still working. Do you have any idea what is the "J2" connection for...? is it just for boost the signal ?

Thanks!

⟐ Commented 4月 27, 2026 at 0:38 GMT-7

⟐ Commented 4月 22, 2026 at 16:00 GMT-7

⟐ Answered 4月 21, 2026 at 8:31 GMT-7

⟐ Commented 4月 17, 2026 at 17:20 GMT-7

It is possible to enter Internet recovery mode, startup disk selection mode, Apple Diagnostics by using Startup key combinations.

But when I try to load recovery disk or MacOS boot disk(which show apple logo), it just boot loop.

I tried resetting SMC/NVRAM and it did nothing.

What's happening on my Macbook? I have no idea.

⟐ Answered 4月 16, 2026 at 10:41 GMT-7

After work (about 5 hours later) I found the keyboard keys weren't working right (no response to occasional response from enter, spacebar and delete keys, and one of the directional keys seemed to be constantly active - computer making bumping sound like incorrect key pressed), so I powered the laptop off and opened up the back to see if there was any liquid inside. The machine was bone dry inside, dust undisturbed with the only oddity being a slight coffee smell coming from the optical drive corner (drive was a little hesitant to release disk inside - took 2 tries to eject disk), but no smell anywhere else. Left the computer upside down for about a day to dry out some more (powered off) and popped off and cleaned the keys that weren't working with a damp cloth (water - dried thoroughly before popping back in place).

Powered the laptop on the next day and everything works except the keyboard. No response at all from any key, and the backlight only appears to be working in the very center of the board. However the computer does not sound as if it's working too hard, no overpowered fan noise, just operating normally. Currently is powered off and upside down with a small cooling fan on the keys.

Tried further drying by setting rice over the keys for a few hours, which was a mistake. Took a few hours to get the rice out that had seeped to the internals of the machine. I think there is still a rice piece stuck under the optical drive, but don't have the correct tools to pry it out yet.

Recently ordered a torc screwdriver to see if I can clean off the drive with some isopropanol, but not sure if I should replace the keyboard or not. Is there a way to fix it without replacing the whole thing? Would cleaning it with isopropanol as well help it? Should I try to clean everything since rice did get inside the machine?

My last attempt to turn my mac on left me a little fearful as the keys began to respond again, but not in the way they should have (pressed delete and got a letter on screen). It also befuddled me that my login screen popped up, when I have always had my mac set up to go directly to my home screen without a forced login. It had never acted up like that before, so I actually ended up taking it into the Geek Squad and am glad I did. It needed not only a new keyboard, but a new power button (which made sense to me as the power button was very hesitant to respond) and hard drive! Just lucky that I backed up my important files before sending it off! Expensive lesson, and I now have my mac ensured for any future problems. Thanks so much for your input!

⟐ Edited by author 4月 14, 2026 at 9:51 GMT-7

I'm not sure what just happened.

I cleaned my screen with a tiny bit of water, but I guess there might have been a bit too much. I guess I was pressing down on the cloth to get rid of something in the corner. I've done this many times before without issue, but now there is a huge light blotch in the left corner of my screen. There is an odd rectangular shape near the bottom too that doesn't make much sense. Take a look at this image of a completely white window:

https://i.imgur.com/fp4G5IY.jpg

I've read that the classic rice method, and or heating the computer up for a long period of time might help it dry, but I'm not entirely sure it's only water that's the problem.

Anyways, hoping someone can help me understand the damage I've done and what I might be able to do, other than paying for a replacement :D. Thanks.

Time seems to have healed all wounds.

I ran the computer hot with a 'while true' loop for a couple hours and it burned most of the water off, and what was left is slowly disappearing.

⟐ Commented 4月 14, 2026 at 8:46 GMT-7

⟐ Answer edited 4月 14, 2026 at 8:38 GMT-7

I researched a lot online and did the following:

• Disabled Energy Saver - Automatic Graphics Switching on both Battery and Power Adapter mode
• Disabled Spotlight indexing for specific types of content and also added folders like “/System” in the Privacy settings
• Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
• Performed the Apple Diagnostics test (ADT - some older websites called it the Apple Hardware Test - AHT) and had no issues come from that.
• I also use Google Drive’s “Backup and Sync” and do lots of web development with `node_modules` folders, that can have 10s of thousands of small files which I think results in CPU churn. I’ve disabled it now.
• Shut down the computer and turned it back on. Still get same issues with the external monitor.

Now with no external monitor plugged in, every once and a while the kernel_task rises up to 300% and sometimes rarely to 500%. I’m curious if it is a software thing or a hardware thing. To me it seems more like a software thing.

I use VS Code for programming which can have a lot of background tasks, same with using node/npm which can probably be doing lots in the background. I also run iStat v6.30, and sadly I have only 21 GB of free space on my HDD (out of 500 GB…). Often I also have Slack open, and I know that’s a web app using Electron to run as a desktop application, which can be notorious for performance.

Often the fans can run high as well. I often suspect it is either due to the VS Code/npm/node/Slack thing, or kernel_task, or maybe something else I’m unaware about.

When checking memory usage via iStat, I can see that kernel_task is using 1.61 GB (oof, Firefox is using 6.36 GB).

Things I haven’t tried yet:

• Cleaning out more free space from HDD
• Using plain HDMI cable into the HDMI cable port
• Taking MBP apart and cleaning any potential dust

Has anyone had similar experience with this issue and how to address it?

OS: 10.13.6

Processor: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory: 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 M370X 2048 MB, Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB

⟐ Commented 4月 10, 2026 at 3:05 GMT-7

I never tried this method yet just wondering if there is another method possible, the system is running nice and smooth apart from this 'issue'. It seems that I will need to do a clean install again to resolve this. @danj Any Idea on how to 'resolve this'?

UPDATE 06/04/26 I booted externally into Catalina & then Monterey (Internally & Externally). I Clean installed Catalina externally & booted. I used OCLP to install Sequoia but STILL we have the firmware update which does not install. I guess we have to wipe the SSD (Original 512 GB SSD from the unit) which is still installed, and clean install either El Capitan or Monterey to see if that clears the issue.

⟐ Edited by author 4月 06, 2026 at 18:40 GMT-7

New logic board fixed that problem, got the computer running but a new series of issues has arisen:

1) originally the battery emblem had the grey X in it, and the power cord light is stuck green even though battery is not charged. Tried resetting NRAM/PRAM and the SMC, instead of fixing the issue the battery icon has disappear entirely. I also have tried running Coconut Battery which also does not detect the battery. Put a multimeter on the battery connection to the logic board and I am getting 3-12 volts on various pins (first thought was the DC in had gone bad).

2) Running High Sierra the settings menu Trackpad section does not detect the internal trackpad even though it is working. Instead it is stuck looking for a bluetooth magic pad. Trackpad works fine accept I can't change any settings and it does not recognize Right-Click. All other gestures work.

My question is, could this all be from a bad battery? Its like the computer thinks it is a desktop now the way the battery icon has vanished and it is looking for a magic pad. Im trying to avoid a 60-100 dollar battery unless I am sure it is the battery and not a module on the logic board, SMC, etc. Any recommendation are greatly appreciated for further testing or a definitive on what the issue is.

UPDATE: New battery has not fixed the issue. Battery is still not being detected by system settings or coconut battery. However, the logic board is drawing power as disconnecting the charger does not cause instant shutdown. System settings is still not recognizing the trackpad either.

I’ve reinstalled OS High Sierra from disk recovery to no avail. At this point I’m running out of options other than possibly a faulty logic board. I’m hesitant to call it that since the battery is providing power and the terminals on the logic board read 12v which would seem correct for a 10v battery.

Any other ideas on tests to run or hard resets are much appreciated. Only other hardware step that involes power is the MagSafe itself, which I may try to sneakily test one at a local Apple store before purchasing a new module. I’ll attempt to call iFIXIT regarding the logic board they sent me and see if they recommend trying another.

To recap: SMC and PRAM reset have not helped, reinstalling OD has not changed anything, Single User Mode fsck -fy has not repaired anything, replacing battery has only changed that the computer appears to be drawing power from the battery though not detecting it.

to be more specific, the battery icon will not appear. every time i change the setting to show battery percentage it resets the box to unchecked after a brief pause.

I've also tried reseating the RAM cards and the battery twice.

⟐ Answer edited 4月 05, 2026 at 10:59 GMT-7