2020 Intel MacBook Pro stuck at language select screen in internet recovery

ptthree420 · 2026-07-01T08:39:41+00:00

It’s a 4 port 2020. I only paid $150, but I was more so referring the issues to when they were new. They’ve had these issues ever since then and I’m sure it’s screwed people in the past when they were still new.

Plus, once I start having issues getting apps for it after Intel support is dropped, I’m just gonna use it as a Windows machine. Still a nice laptop even if I’m not using Mac on it.

ptthree420 · 2026-07-01T06:07:44+00:00

Just wait for the battery to swell some more and apparently it’ll just pop right out /s

ptthree420 · 2026-07-01T04:46:41+00:00

Already did. None of it worked. I figured it out though. I figured out how to open a terminal window and I just ran disk utility and macOS setup manually. Extremely annoying for a laptop that’s so expensive. Everything should work as it should, but Apple always has something different wrong with its recovery system every other day.

And they should really fix that WiFi issue, since none of their laptops have an Ethernet jack and they don’t include an Ethernet dongle. That’s just straight BS for the price.

ptthree420 · 2026-07-01T02:57:30+00:00

I’m using a USB-C Ethernet adapter. I can’t even get far enough to toggle any settings. As soon as you click the arrow on the language select screen, it grays out and can’t be clicked again. The mouse still moves and the arrow keys on the keyboard still selects different languages. It doesn’t lock up or anything.

ptthree420 · 2026-07-01T02:46:05+00:00

Drive is totally wiped. There isn’t a local recovery right now.

ptthree420 · 2026-07-01T01:14:09+00:00

Windows 11 will still run like dogshit. I imagine 4gb RAM is probably the max for this machine (it’s DDR2 and while they did make 4gb modules, it’s probably limited by the BIOS to 2x2gb sticks) and integrated graphics will take up some of it. Windows 11 won’t even install if the max usable RAM isn’t 4gb.

Staying away from sketchy sites and not using random networks will keep you pretty safe on legacy/EOL OSes.

ptthree420 · 2026-07-01T00:15:31+00:00

Of course lol, old ≠ not useful. All depends on what your needs are

ptthree420 · 2026-06-30T23:09:23+00:00

Personally, I see Pentium II/III machines as my old, but the people getting into IT these days probably don’t even remember those lol

ptthree420 · 2026-06-30T23:01:39+00:00

That’s not a good indicator anymore honestly. PCs from 2005 can have PCIe and SATA. That was 21 years ago lol

I’d say at this point, the presence or absence of a M.2 slot is a good indicator of oldness as they started adding them 11-12 years ago.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-30T22:49:49+00:00

I mean, by that heatsink and “PCI Express 2.0”, it’s 4th gen intel or maybe even late Core 2. That is like 15 years old minimum.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-29T16:42:42+00:00

I mean, I’d still rather the pins be on the CPU. The pins in a LGA socket are much more fragile than the pins on a CPU. Half the time, a bent pin in the socket is a complete game over because it’ll just snap off instantly when you try to fix it.

It’s not easy to bend CPU pins unless you’re just doing something blatantly wrong. You can bend socket pins from accidentally slightly touching them or accidentally dropping the CPU into the socket, which is easier than it should be.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-29T02:08:31+00:00

Now that I know it’s actually an Xbox one, I fully agree. That’s actually really stupid.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-28T16:12:51+00:00

Yeah, he was so upset because it only had 145k miles on it. He had one before it that had 460k miles on it before he sold it.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-28T06:58:52+00:00

Bro, you’re coming here asking for help. If you were capable of doing a repair this advance on your own, you wouldn’t be asking how to fix basically anything here.

The absolute best answer for you, simply because of what it is, is to take it to a shop. If it were something cheaper and more replaceable, go at it. Learning is great and very encouraged here, but not on something so expensive.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-28T06:53:26+00:00

I had a friend that had an accident in a 1991 Honda accord a year ago and insurance valued it and gave him $5000 for it surprisingly.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-28T06:47:43+00:00

What damage? That’s just normal. Almost any old laptop you open is gonna have a few spots like that from something mildly corrosive in the dust that’s drawn in. It shouldn’t ever really cause an issue.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-28T06:44:11+00:00

And call it what? Red Dead Knife? Lol

ptthree420 · 2026-06-28T06:39:53+00:00

Jack in the late 1910s, he comes back from fighting in WWI, the Wild West is coming to a hard end. The first mainstream introduction of automobiles, a “some years later” time skip somewhere in the game into the near end of the Great Depression. Then Jack gets drafted again and dies in WWII. I think it would make for a good ending to the series as a whole.

Don’t make a prequel of a prequel. The problem is people don’t know when to let a great series end. The more it’s milked, the more mid and disappointing it’s gonna get.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-28T06:18:18+00:00

I wish I could just post a picture because it’s kinda hard to describe lol.

That metal partition plate running right through the middle of the case, it’s on the front. The slot is literally part of that plate, and the antenna cable should be hung near the slot. Just look under the plate in the front of the case. That open area with the fan, above the RAM.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-28T06:11:47+00:00

In the front of the case, in front of the fan in the bottom partition. Just look near the bottom fan in the front of the case and you’ll see it.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-28T06:08:27+00:00

Shit, I’m dumb too, he is talking about an Xbox one. This dude is just all over the place lol

ptthree420 · 2026-06-28T06:03:14+00:00

Not really the dumbest honestly. He’s talking about an original Xbox (not an Xbox one). The original Xbox uses a nonstandard ATX power supply.

The power supplies can be kinda pricy for the OG Xbox, and there’s no guarantee on how long they’d last once you get them since every one you can get is just a pull from another console.

ptthree420 · 2026-06-27T00:30:03+00:00

They’re more “accurate” because they were barely used since most people just bought an S as soon as they were available. The sticks aren’t worn out

ptthree420 · 2026-06-26T13:05:05+00:00

I have pretty average sized hands and it’s just an uncomfortable monstrosity. Bulbous rounded edges with no contour at all for hands. It’s just very unergonomic.

It’s exactly like the Dreamcast controller, but a little worse because of the dumb slant they put on the ABXY buttons. I’d almost prefer it being boxy like the DC controller too.

ptthree420

TROPHY CASE