MacBook Pro 2013 - cannot load Apple Hardware Test

"Yes! This is an issue with in Apples newer MacOS EFI/SMC updates.

Go to an Apple Store to have them run the in store version and speak up! The squeaky wheel get the grease! Send a note to big Tim and online bug report."

"On an Intel-based Mac, if you can't start Apple Diagnostics with the D key, try these solutions:

Press and hold Option-D at startup to use Apple Diagnostics over the internet.Make sure that your Mac isn't using a firmware password.

Published Date: November 20, 2020: Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac"

"Same problem here on a 2012 MacBook Air 13”. I was running High Sierra, so I backed that up and wiped the drive and fresh installed Catalina (as new as this computer will go). That seemed to do a firmware update during the install, several reboots, etc. But holding D while booting up still sends me to Internet Recovery and then the same error.

I’ve now fresh installed Mountain Lion from Internet Recovery, but the same thing still happens. The nearest Apple Store is a six hour drive to another province, so that’s not an option. Good luck to anyone with this problem."

I would like to go to Apple store, but it is FAR away. Is there an alternative?

"Apple has just fixed this problem - incredibly by allowing the affected MacBooks to access the new Apple Diagnostics service!

I was so amazed that I couldn't believe what I was seeing and needed to try again out of disbelief

So not only did Apple listen and act but did so by upgrading the experience albeit because it was probably too difficult to restore the old test system for the affected MacBooks.

I'm impressed anyway."

"I also have the same problem but a few more.

I have a MBP 1398 2013 and I took the hard drive out of it to see if it would make a difference, it did not.

See MBP’s have internal memory that saves the original OS-X Lion that came on mine and I was thinking of erasing it but have not decided yet.

I also have a nonfunctional “power button” and just recently my fans speed up went into fast mode and run like that all the time, the MBP is so slow and sluggish to even move the cursor, and the CPU is working very hard 90% most of the time by “Activity Monitor,’” my MPA is running at 3%.

Without the use of Hardware Diagnostics and not being able to perform a SMC because of the power button I’m in a real jam. Well one thing is for sure, the SSD plays no role in whether it would update or not. It may be that Apple downloaded a firmware or security update and messed up the drivers. If I find out anything new I will let you know, I would like if you had any ideas on how to perform a SMC with a nonfunctioning power button. Take care."