Family Member Upgraded to Monterey & it Bricked MacBook Air 2017. Can I Revive / Restore It From a Mac Pro 2013 (Trashcan)?

[JayBayAye8]

For the life of me I can't find any info on reviving (preferably to keep the data) or restoring a macbook air older than 2019.

I keep encountering this article no matter what I search for Intel-based Macs, but the 2017 Macbook Air isn't listed. They also insist you need a USBCC to USB-C, or USB-C to USB-A cable. The Mac Pro 2013 and the Macbook Air 2017 neither have a USB-C jack.

Can anyone guide me on what the process would be? I'm aware of Configurator 2 but will need to upgrade my OS on the Mac Pro 2013 from 10.15.3 to 10.15.6 to use that. Is there an older option to get this done?

Thanks guys, and forgive me if I know so little it's annoying. I'm trying to do my due diligence here before asking.

 

[reukiodo]

Have you tried booting to internet recovery with Cmd+Opt+R ? This should allow you to install the OS, and I believe you can 'archive and install' which will keep your existing files. If you have an external drive large enough, you can use Disk Utility within internet recovery to create an image on your external drive of your internal system and make a fresh install.

 

[JayBayAye8]

@reukiodo, I was led to believe that the computer booted up to the "login" prompt, but it wouldn't for me, so I charged it. After charging, it won't boot up even partially. It doesn't appear to be a black screen. The screen is off, and I can't really hear the fans kicking on or anything.

Is there any recourse at this point? Configurator or anything? Or should I have them take it to the Apple Store while hopefully they're getting flooded with these issues and try to get a replacement?

I know they're trying to force people to pay $800 or so for a new logic board and what not, but THEY broke the computer.

 

[Quackers]

It would depend what Monterey has actually done to the machine.
Apple Configurator 2 might b e worth a try and I have revived/restored a M1 MBA with my trusty old 2012 rMBP. It just needs to be capable of running the latest version of AC2 as far as I'm aware.

 

[JayBayAye8]

Thanks, @Quackers. The problem I need to upgrade from 10.15.3 to 10.15.6 on my main work rig (in order to run Configurator 2) and I'm always very hesitant and skeptical about doing so. You'd think 10.15 would be pretty stable at that point but man... considering I just loaned my laptop to my family member, I'd be in pretty big trouble myself. What a nightmare.

 

[Quackers]

Thanks, @Quackers. The problem I need to upgrade from 10.15.3 to 10.15.6 on my main work rig (in order to run Configurator 2) and I'm always very hesitant and skeptical about doing so. You'd think 10.15 would be pretty stable at that point but man... considering I just loaned my laptop to my family member, I'd be in pretty big trouble myself. What a nightmare.

Yep, fair comment. I presume that there's no Applecare in play here but even so I'd be asking at Apple about this as it seems to be all too common. I'm sure others have asked/complained about it.

 

[JayBayAye8]

Yep, fair comment. I presume that there's no Applecare in play here but even so I'd be asking at Apple about this as it seems to be all too common. I'm sure others have asked/complained about it.

I didn't mean to imply I'm not going to try. I'm trying to find an older version of Configurator first, but if I have to I'll do the small upgrade to my OS tonight.

Quick question, for a Mac Pro 2013 (trashcan) with no USB-C to a 2017 Macbook Air (no USB-C), do you know if I need to use certain special cables or use specific input jacks like you have to with the T2 security chips and all that? I simply cannot find any information online about restoring anything older than the T2 chip Intel macs.

 

[Quackers]

I didn't mean to imply I'm not going to try. I'm trying to find an older version of Configurator first, but if I have to I'll do the small upgrade to my OS tonight.

Quick question, for a Mac Pro 2013 (trashcan) with no USB-C to a 2017 Macbook Air (no USB-C), do you know if I need to use certain special cables or use specific input jacks like you have to with the T2 security chips and all that? I simply cannot find any information online about restoring anything older than the T2 chip Intel macs.

I understand your predicament and sympathise. I'm just not sure how successful AC2 has been with these recent Monterey-based failures. By the way an older version of AC2 will not work, as I understand it. It seems to require the latest version, always. Though I may be wrong in my belief.
I bought a braided USB-C to USB-A cable from Amazon (£11-99) which worked fine for AC2. The guides I've read state that the lead must be capable of both data transfer and power delivery.
I too have seen similar queries about the "successes" of AC2 with older macs, rather than T2 versions.

 

[Audit13]

The 2017 Air is exactly the same as the early 2015 Air except a slightly faster CPU and 8 GB of RAM was standard.

 

[JayBayAye8]

I couldn't turn it on or deal with everything involved with even an attempt at restoring it. I suggested they take it to the Apple Store. The Genius Bar admitted they've had countless visits about it just in my local area, admitted that Apple themselves destroyed the computer, and then quoted them something on the order of $500 to get it fixed.

I'd say a class action lawsuit should be in the works if any lawyer wants an easy payday.

 

[Quackers]

I couldn't turn it on or deal with everything involved with even an attempt at restoring it. I suggested they take it to the Apple Store. The Genius Bar admitted they've had countless visits about it just in my local area, admitted that Apple themselves destroyed the computer, and then quoted them something on the order of $500 to get it fixed.

I'd say a class action lawsuit should be in the works if any lawyer wants an easy payday.

That's ridiculous. Maybe wait and see what happens.