How to erase 2011 MBP SSD with faulty GPU?

[jon08]

Currently I'm using the "EFI variable fix" on my late-2011 MBP to force it to always use the Intel GPU instead of the faulty AMD GPU.

I'm considering selling this MBP so that I could at least get some $$ for it while it still works.

Ideally, I'd want to wipe the entire SSD and perform a fresh install of High Sierra.

However, given the dead GPU, I'm afraid I may run into a bunch of problems on the way.

I don't have a second Mac, so Target Disc Mode is out of the equation for me.

I just downloaded a copy of High Sierra to create a bootable USB with High Sierra on it. So if I were to delete my entire SSD drive on MBP, I could then try and boot into Recovery from my USB. But then the question is:

1. Will it boot at all once I've wiped the SSD? I suspect the system may switch back to the dead GPU, so it wouldn’t boot, as supposedly the "EFI variable fix" would no longer be in place?

2. If it doesn’t boot, will the cmd+S mode still work on a blank drive? And so that I can run the “nvram fa4ce28d..” command to disable the GPU there?

3. If I then successfully access the Recovery, will it let me install HS anew, or are there chances it may hang-up in the middle of installation due to the faulty GPU?

 

[Fishrrman]

You're not going to get much $$ for it... except "for parts". If you're able to get anything at all.

So... physically remove the hard drive and repurpose it for your own needs.
Then... sell the rest (again) "for parts"...

 

[jon08]

Yes, I could do that but still a “working” MBP still has more appeal than a non-working one.

So, what about if I encrypted my profile and then removed it rather than wiping the while drive. Would this still leave any of my info behind?

 

[Juicy Box]

You could try installing the OS on a different drive, leaving the working on inside while you attempt to set up a bootable external. Then if/once you are successful, swap them.

 

[jon08]

You could try installing the OS on a different drive, leaving the working on inside while you attempt to set up a bootable external. Then if/once you are successful, swap them.

I don’t have a different drive.

 

[Juicy Box]

I don’t have a different drive.

You can get a 120GB SSD for less than $20.

If that doesn't work for you, one thing you could do is create another admin profile and delete yours. It won't wipe the drive, but your profile will be gone.

 

[MassMacMan]

Maybe an easier solution:
1. Use Disk Utility to partition your SSD to create another volume. This is only temporary. 50GB should be plenty.
2. Install High Sierra on the new volume. Now you have two bootable volumes in your MBP.
3. Boot into the new High Sierra volume. Use Disk Utility to erase the old volume, set security as needed.
4. Install High Sierra on the newly erased volume. Reboot into this volume.
5. Use Disk Utility to reclaim the space from your temporary volume.

Voila: now you have a totally clean MBP. Good luck.