Apple MacBook Pro A1278, MB: 820-3115-B, Auto turn on with MagSafe, white screen

Brand: Apple
Model: MacBook Pro A1278
Motherboard: Apple Inc. 820-3115-B
Schematic: MLB, J30 (Sch. part number: 051-9058)
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Hello!
I'm working on the mentioned laptop.

Initial issue:
When I connect the MagSafe, the machine automatically turn on. Battery normally charges, machine also works on the battery only. Power button normally reacts, but the machine usually turn on to the white screen without a picture.
Once per ~20 starts the machine normally boot to OS and everything works completely normal until we turn it off.

Interesting is that the machine every time after the "PRAM reset" turn on with a picture to the "Internet Recovery menu".

What I've done up to now:
I reflashed the EFI chip with the following dump: CLICK
After reflashing the situation is a bit different:
Machine still automatically turn on, when I connect the MagSafe. But now the machine every time turn on to grey screen with a flashing folder (as without HDD connected).
HDD tested on another machine and works ok.

Any idea?

Did you try SMC reset?
Also check HDD flat cable.
If all is ok using HDD no SSD to know if problem is power or transfer data or check if PP5V is present on HDD connector.
If PP5V is ok probably bad PCH

matic ha scritto:Machine still automatically turn on, when I connect the MagSafe. But now the machine every time turn on to grey screen with a flashing folder (as without HDD connected).

This is because the EFI you have flashed does not support APFS file system (which your HDD is most likely formatted with). To "enable" APFS on this EFI, please run an offline installer (at least 10.13 High Sierra) and install the OS normally (on an external HDD) until you get a configuration screen - this means EFI has been updated with APFS support.

matic ha scritto:When I connect the MagSafe, the machine automatically turn on.

Does this happen with the battery connected? If so, please replace a SMC with a known working one (most likely you want to use 820-3115 logic board as a donor).

valieromarco ha scritto:Did you try SMC reset?

Yes, I did, but it does not change anything.

valieromarco ha scritto:Also check HDD flat cable.

There is no visible damage on HDD cable, I also tried with another 100% functional HDD cable, but it is the same.

valieromarco ha scritto:If all is ok using HDD no SSD to know if problem is power or transfer data or check if PP5V is present on HDD connector.

I tried with both - HDD and SSD disc drives, but none is detected.

valieromarco ha scritto:If PP5V is ok probably bad PCH

The HDD disc spins, so I assume the power rails are ok.
It is strange, because with old (original) EFI dump the machine normally turn on to OS once per ~20 starts and works completely normal until it is turned off. Is it possible that the bad PCH cause a such cases?

Vogelek23 ha scritto:

matic ha scritto:Machine still automatically turn on, when I connect the MagSafe. But now the machine every time turn on to grey screen with a flashing folder (as without HDD connected).

This is because the EFI you have flashed does not support APFS file system (which your HDD is most likely formatted with). To "enable" APFS on this EFI, please run an offline installer (at least 10.13 High Sierra) and install the OS normally (on an external HDD) until you get a configuration screen - this means EFI has been updated with APFS support.

I created a bootable "High Sierra 10.13" USB stick, but when I try to install it the HDD drive is not visible. I tried with HDD and SSD drives connected to the internal slot and external via USB adapter.
I get the following screens:


If I click on the arrow anyway I get the following screen, the bar loads to about the 60%, then it throws a crossed circle:

Vogelek23 ha scritto:

matic ha scritto:When I connect the MagSafe, the machine automatically turn on.

Does this happen with the battery connected?

Yes, exactly.
The battery charges properly, the machine also works on the battery only, so the battery is probably ok.

Vogelek23 ha scritto:If so, please replace a SMC with a known working one (most likely you want to use 820-3115 logic board as a donor).

I need to order an SMC chip, but I want to solve the other issues first, if they are not related to the SMC.

Can you please post a clear, both-side photos of your motherboard?

Vogelek23 ha scritto:Can you please post a clear, both-side photos of your motherboard?

Yes, of course.
BTW: The machine was not spilled or previously repaired. The back cover was opened by the customer, but I'm the first one, which "pulled out" the motherboard.

Here are the photos:




I have currently no option to take the better quality photo of complete side of the board, so I uploaded some photos of both sides of the board.
If you are interested in the photo of one specific part of the board just let me know.

Did HDD recognized with old bios dump?

valieromarco ha scritto:Did HDD recognized with old bios dump?

With old (original) BIOS (EFI) dump I get a "gong" sound when press on the power button, but the screen is completely white, there is no picture.

As mentioned with old EFI dump the machine occasionally (once per ~20 starts) normally boot to OS (with picture of course) and everything works normally until we shut it down.

Try to reflash bios with this dump file

bios-dump-apple-macbook-pro-a-1278-motherboard-820-3115-b-t60584.html

Install El Capitan instead of Sierra

valieromarco ha scritto:Try to reflash bios with this dump file
bios-dump-apple-macbook-pro-a-1278-motherboard-820-3115-b-t60584.html

I tried to reflash the EFI chip with your dump, but your file size is larger than the chip size.
Your file size is 8.388.688 bytes, while the chip size is only 8.388.608 bytes.

However, I cut off the excess size of your file at the end and reflashed the EFI chip.
All symptoms remains unchanged with your EFI dump - the machine still turn on to the flashing folder on the screen, hard drive (internal or external on the USB port) is not visible.

valieromarco ha scritto:Install El Capitan instead of Sierra

I can't install it, because the hard drive is not visible as you can see on the pictures from post #4.

I’m out now but check if you have both PP5V on HDD connector maybe pin 1 and pin 21

If you have an external HDD and USB bootable with OS EL Capitan you can install it and after put the HDD with El Capitan as boot drive.

If you have no working USB too maybe PCH damaged

When you try install New OSX how big memory you have per slot?

valieromarco ha scritto:check if you have both PP5V on HDD connector maybe pin 1 and pin 21

Yes, I have 5.08V on pins 1, 21 of HDD connector J4501. Measured with connected HDD drive.

valieromarco ha scritto:If you have an external HDD and USB bootable with OS EL Capitan you can install it and after put the HDD with El Capitan as boot drive.

I have currently no other MacBook in working condition to install the OS on HDD.

valieromarco ha scritto:If you have no working USB too maybe PCH damaged

When the machine boot to the OS (with old original EFI dump) both USB ports work without any problems.
In addition, a bootable USB stick is visible in every slot if I try to install the OS on this machine with new EFI dump.

pawel80 ha scritto:When you try install New OSX how big memory you have per slot?

I have 2GB RAM in each slot. A total of 4GB. As it was originally from the factory.
Both RAM-s are the same:

pictures/00046473.jpg

In this case you are installing high Sierra with bootable USB, usually when OS is not supported by hardware you get this Image.

pictures/00046475.jpg

So if you can return to old situation try to install El Capitan or older OS, if you haven’t just download it form internet and make a bootable USB.

If you can solve
On schematic SATA circuit goes from HDD connector to IC U4510 and from U4510 to PCH, if you don’t find any issue try to reflow PCH.

Matic, please insert only one memory module (best would be any other DDR3 than the original). Please insert it to the UPPER slot only and check again.

valieromarco ha scritto:In this case you are installing high Sierra with bootable USB, usually when OS is not supported by hardware you get this Image.

A1278 which is based on 820-3115 motherboard is a 2012 model, which can take High Sierra as well as Mojave and Catalina: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macb ... specs.html

valieromarco ha scritto:So if you can return to old situation try to install El Capitan or older OS, if you haven’t just download it form internet and make a bootable USB.

All is exactly the same with the El Capitan bootable USB. The internal / external HDD is still not visible:

valieromarco ha scritto:If you can solve
On schematic SATA circuit goes from HDD connector to IC U4510 and from U4510 to PCH, if you don’t find any issue try to reflow PCH.

With old (original) EFI dump the machine occasionally boot to the OS with internal hard drive. Given this, I think the communication between the PCH and HDD works properly.

Vogelek23 ha scritto:Matic, please insert only one memory module (best would be any other DDR3 than the original). Please insert it to the UPPER slot only and check again.

I tried with only one Kingston RAM memory module in the top and also in the bottom slot, but unfortunately it does not change anything.

If you click on the arrow do you get the same screen like Sierra?

valieromarco may be right - you may need PCH replacement. Given the fact that the machine boots OCASSIONALLY on the original EFI, and that it does automatically start up when plugged in to the PSU (with battery still plugged in to the MLB), and that you have already replaced HDD cable and re-flashed EFI, all of those point to the faulty PCH.

Hello again!
I reflowed the PCH chip, but it does not change anything, so I waited for a new PCH.

I replaced the PCH chip with a brand new one, but even that didn't change anything. Ie the machine still automatically turn on when I connect the MagSafe, the internal/external HDD drive is not visible in Boot menu, while the Bootable USB stick is normally detected.



Any other idea please.

I believe that there is some misunderstanding at our side re your explanation and at your side re how Apple motherboard works. Automatic turning on is normal on these boards in one of these cases (most likely):
- you have previously disconnected the battery (when you disconnect all the power, CMOS memory is cleared and this causes MLB to start automatically after connecting the power supply, regardless of the fact that you connect battery first and then, power supply; MLB will always start automatically on CMOS clearing, until you connect the battery and switch the machine on, at least to a boot menu, and then switch it off),
- battery is completely flat or faulty,
- motherboard does not detect battery (SMBUS problems; most likely charger IC or SMC fault).

Startup disk may not be visible, although it does have a working OS installed on it, in one of these cases (most likely):
- HDD is formatted with APFS, while EFI is not upgraded; on this occasion EFI does not recognise any APFS bootable drives,
- HDD cable is faulty.

Because of the above, please share an oscillograms on battery connector (SMBus) with both battery and power supply connected.