MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won’t install Ventura or lower.

[Stephen]

So got an issue, did a DFU recovery for a 16” we have.
It will install Catalina from internet recovery perfectly fine.

Tried upgrading to Ventura, no bueno, so created bootable installer of Ventura. Nothing it just gets hung up at the half way point for over 24 hours.

No water damage on board. Board is clean. Any idea why this is?

All ports works

Did a DFU RECOVERY AND RESTORE, twice with success and successfully reinstalled Catalina. But it seems it won't install anything higher. Any suggestions would be great.


Fans spin normally, heat is normal etc. no cpu panics or gpu kernel panics.

Also to add, did a download (fresh download from Apple servers of Monterey, and Ventura) and those wont install either gives us errors.

Ok update, external USB Monterey or other installers will not load. They get hung up. This is a new for us since the board seems fine. Would love input about this.

[Stephen]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Computer restarts and fans spin quick when trying to install then it just loads then gives and error. Then it loads Catalina fine. It will not install Monterey, or Ventura. Catalina loads fine which is off. Lol the reason why we want this fixed is it has 64GB of ram i9 2.4Ghz 2TB ssd 5500M 8GB. So we want to fix this lol

[Stephen]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Would like to bump this and hope anyone has experience this before in this model

[ugamazing]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

GPU or CPU failure.

[Stephen]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

GPU or CPU failure.

Where do you believe this is the case when it runs 100% perfectly on Catalina without issue?

[mon2]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

See if this helps:

https://www.macworld.com/article/672...orted-mac.html

[Stephen]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

I don’t think this relates to this computers issue since it is supported for those OS installs

[ugamazing]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Where do you believe this is the case when it runs 100% perfectly on Catalina without issue?

Is this an unlocked/bypassed unit, or clean? Nothing done to the board at all--no repairs, no work done, etc?

It will end up being a CPU, GPU or possibly a PCH fault. This assumes nothing goofy like a bypass or anything.

[Stephen]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Clean, No bypass. No work done to board. It boots fine into Catalina and plays videos and music without any issue and doesn’t crash. It just crashes when you try to install any newer OS.

[piernov]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Memtest?

[Stephen]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Hmm, did a diagnostic test with Apple diagnostic test when booting and pressing D. Logged in and and it passed without any faults. I guess we can try a separate memtest.

Also did a DFU restore with latest patch so clean board

[ugamazing]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Can you force the board to fail (or show any weirdness) in any other way? Running Heaven for hours, etc?

With Catalina installed (and working), can you try to install Ventura over Catalina (don't wipe the SSD), then wait for it to crash/freeze, then view the crash report? If so, post it here. Just trying to get more information on the actual crashes.

[Stephen]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

I'll take a look tomorrow

[Stephen]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Board refuses to fail. Will only fail trying to install any os higher than Catalina.

Also no kernel panics, plugged up to external monitor to test GPU, nothing no issues.






[Mod. Edit-Vesko356] Use if you want to add something instead of posting a new reply!

[Stephen]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Update:
Board installed MacOS Big Sur after a security update but however it crashes when trying to install Monterey or Ventura.. currently now on Big Sur without issue. However I did replicate a kernel panic. Picture attached.

Update: tried installing Ventura. This is the error.

Pic attached

Going to try safe mode install….

Edit:

Safe mood install failed.

[dellxps15]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

are u able to install osx on a usb hard drive ?

[ugamazing]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

This may be a RAM failure after all, as piernov alluded to, but could still be a CPU issue. I'd run memtest over and over (3-5x) to start with. If nothing pops up, this board would be a good reflow candidate. Reflow RAM first and test. If that doesn't resolve the issue, reflow the T2 and try again. If that doesn't work, I'd suspect CPU at that point. You can then try to reflow the CPU, but generally this will only help confirm the issue, not resolve it. If reflowing CPU changes the symptoms in any way, I'd replace the CPU. Reflowing RAM/T2 *can* resolve, especially if the board was ever flexed harshly on the T2-end.

Did you confirm absolutely zero damage to the board?

[kevingill]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Got to be something with the DFU recovery in the first place?
Diagnostics comes back clear?
It's normal to set the date back on earlier versions of MacOSX, but worth checking the date is correct for later versions?
The disk was reformatted APFS?

[Stephen]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

Testing further. Would love to figure out this problem so we know how to address it in the forums from here on out for anyone else. We just fixed another board with no power but this board works lol and operates perfectly fine, we are assuming it may be something with the board but there is no water damage whatsoever. We did get it to boot and operate fine on Big Sur. Nothing past that though. Still trying to figure it out. Going to do a MEMTEST Monday.

[spidertnt]

Re: MacBook Pro 16” 2019 Boots installs os Catalina but won't install Ventura or lowe

How did you install Big Sur ? ....from USB installer .

I thought Apple stopped allowing USB installing of OS since T2 chip ...only allowing internet recovery mode for OS installs.

You can install older OS using DFU mode and IPSW files

watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-FsB2onSx0&t=1s

Link to files

https://mrmacintosh.com/apple-silico...iles-database/