Broken M2? Blinking underscore on start, despite windows being on another drive

Troubleshooting a Blinking Underscore on Your MacBook M2: Is Your Drive Still Recoverable?

Experiencing startup issues with your MacBook M2 can be concerning, especially when the device displays a blinking underscore or cursor at startup. If your M2 SSD is not recognized by the system despite physical connection and your efforts to troubleshoot, you might wonder whether the drive has failed outright. This article aims to shed light on potential causes and solutions when faced with a blinking underscore during startup on an M2-powered MacBook.

Understanding the Issue

A blinking underscore during startup often indicates that the system cannot locate a bootable device or essential system files. While some users might immediately assume hardware failure—particularly with storage drives—there are several factors to consider before concluding the drive is dead.

Common Causes and Considerations

1. Physical Connection and Detection:
   Although your MacBook detects that an SSD is connected—evidenced by the blinking cursor—it doesn’t necessarily mean the drive is functioning correctly. Detection alone doesn’t confirm the integrity or bootability of the drive.

2. Corrupt or Missing Boot Files:
   The blinking underscore can appear if the startup disk’s OS files are corrupted, improperly configured, or missing. This can happen due to file system errors, updates gone wrong, or accidental deletion.

3. Firmware or Bootloader Issues:
   A malfunctioning or outdated firmware, or a corrupted bootloader, can also prevent the system from recognizing the boot volume properly.

4. Hardware Failure with SSD:
   While less common, SSDs can fail due to logical errors or physical issues, particularly after several years of use, but not always. A device may still be physically connected yet be non-functional.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Reset NVRAM/PRAM:
   Resetting the non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) can resolve startup recognition issues. To do this:
2. Turn off your MacBook.
3. Turn it on and immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds.

4. Release the keys and see if the startup proceeds.

5. Use Recovery Mode:
   Boot into macOS Recovery to check your disk and attempt repairs:

6. Turn off your MacBook.
7. Power it on and hold down the power button until the startup options window appears.
8. Select “Options” and click “Continue.”