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Macbook 12 (2015) - cannot use recovery keys when booting

K

klipschklipsch

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 25, 2022
8
1
I have quite a challenge for you...

I have a Macbook retina (2015). I love this machine for what I have to to and it is as new.

I have (had...) Big sur installed and a partition with Windows via bootcamp.

At some point,I had keyboard issues. I thought it was the common butterfly issue (keyboard already changed by Apple a few years ago) but whe I tried on Windows, the keyboard worked perfectly.

Now, when I boot the computer, I don't have the Apple on the screen, I don't have the shime, Windows is booting directly. I cannot use the usual recovery keys as the keyboard is working only after Windows boot. In Windows, when I look to the partitions, I see that the Mac partition is displayed as empty space, which is not a big issue as I have a back-up. What I would like to do is enter in recovery mode, format and start from a fresh installation but no way.. Do you know a way to enter in recovery mode without the keys and without mac OS installed? I even try to disconnect the battery, no way, I try several external keyboards, no way... Of course, SSD cannot be changed and I don't want to change the logic board for a software issue, not hardware...

Thanks a lot for your help.
 
Get a WIRED USB keyboard. DO NOT try a wireless keyboard.
Spend as little as you can get away with, cheap used one is all you need.
Try booting to internet recovery that way.
Any better?
 
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Thanks.
This is not a keyboard issue. I tried with the built in keyboard, a wired keyboard (mac) and another (windows).
I don't even have the Apple on the screen when it starts, only Windows.
I cannot boot the internet recovery if I cannot use the key sequence...
 
Hmmm...
What "keyboard sequence" are you using to try for internet recovery?

The normal sequence is:
Command-OPTION-R

I'd like to suggest some "alternative sequences", just in case bootcamp has messed up your keyboard:
command-CONTROL-R
option-CONTROL-R

Remember, these keys must be held down continuously, until the MacBook asks you for a wifi password.
 
It sounds for me like somebody tried to wipe macOS, but also removed/damaged firmware.
Try tinkering with BootCamp on your Windows side.
Not sure, but it is from the same perspective like "I've setup firmware password and forgot it"
If BootCamp fails to show you where to dig, then probably you're stuck with Windows (until Mac is in a working state)
 
klipschklipsch said:
In Windows, when I look to the partitions, I see that the Mac partition is displayed as empty space
Click to expand...
It may be that this is normal when looking at a Mac partition from Windows (I seem to remember seeing that in my Windows bootcamp). I wouldn't necessarily assume the Mac partition is bad, anyway.

Here's an idea: boot into Windows, and use the Apple software installed there (forgot what it's called -- something like BootCamp Utility?) to specify that the next boot should be into macOS. Of course, if the keyboard doesn't work in macOS, then you're stuck there....
 
Brian33 said:
It may be that this is normal when looking at a Mac partition from Windows (I seem to remember seeing that in my Windows bootcamp). I wouldn't necessarily assume the Mac partition is bad, anyway.

Here's an idea: boot into Windows, and use the Apple software installed there (forgot what it's called -- something like BootCamp Utility?) to specify that the next boot should be into macOS. Of course, if the keyboard doesn't work in macOS, then you're stuck there....
Click to expand...
Thanks I tried but bootcamp says that the Mac partition didn't exist.
 
w.jpg
 
From the pic above, looks like [what used to be] the "Mac" partition (size 418gb or so) is shown as "unallocated". So it looks like it's really "gone".

My suggestions:
If you have a brick-n-mortar Apple Store, take it to them.
Print out and show them the graphic in reply 9 above.
Have them COMPLETELY REFORMAT the internal drive, and get a copy of the Mac OS installed on it. I'm thinking that even though the keyboard isn't responding, that they have the tools to set this right.

I wouldn't be foolin' with bootcamp any more. If you "need windows", go to "an emulated solution".

Hmmm...
If this is truly a "2015" MBP you have, it doesn't have a butterfly keyboard.
That came with 2016 and later MBP's.
 
Fishrrman said:
From the pic above, looks like [what used to be] the "Mac" partition (size 418gb or so) is shown as "unallocated". So it looks like it's really "gone".
Click to expand...
I don’t think so. I think it’s just how APFS shows up in Windows.
 
Fishrrman said:
From the pic above, looks like [what used to be] the "Mac" partition (size 418gb or so) is shown as "unallocated". So it looks like it's really "gone".

My suggestions:
If you have a brick-n-mortar Apple Store, take it to them.
Print out and show them the graphic in reply 9 above.
Have them COMPLETELY REFORMAT the internal drive, and get a copy of the Mac OS installed on it. I'm thinking that even though the keyboard isn't responding, that they have the tools to set this right.

I wouldn't be foolin' with bootcamp any more. If you "need windows", go to "an emulated solution".

Hmmm...
If this is truly a "2015" MBP you have, it doesn't have a butterfly keyboard.
That came with 2016 and later MBP's.
Click to expand...
This a macbook 12, the one with only one port. This is butterfly keyboard.

I have no problem to format everything but I would like to do it by myself. Apple store in Brussels craps really/
 
By the away, I have used a tool to re-format the free space in HFS+, so I could copy the installer of Big Sur there and try to boot. Any idea to do that in Windows?
 
Guys, guys, guys!
Solution found!
I have desperately used the recovery function in Windows. That allowed me to use the command prompt with the possibility to format all volumes. I have formatted everything, kept one volume formatted in HFS, then after a reboot, tadaaaaam, Apple, shime, and all key options.
I am now doing a fresh install.
It as a software issue, the keyboard is working fine.
Reminder: Genius (?) Bar told me that the keybord was dead and try to make me buy a new Air with 10% discount!

Thank all for your help!

Best,
Chris
 
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