How to Recover Data from a Failed MacBook Pro

Are you struggling to retrieve files from a failed MacBook Pro? In this article, we'll guide you through the process of recovering data from your Mac's hard drive using a Thunderbolt cable and an external drive.

To begin, connect the Thunderbolt cable to your Mac and a second Mac. Press the power button again and immediately press the 'T' key and hold it until you see the Thunderbolt symbol on the screen. Hold the power button for at least five seconds until your Mac is off.

If your Mac has more than one user account, you'll need to back up the data from every user account before proceeding. This step is crucial in ensuring that all of your files are recovered successfully.

Once you've backed up your files, follow these steps to retrieve them:

1. Connect the external drive to your working Mac and open System Preferences.

2. Navigate to the 'External Hard Drives' section and ensure that the option to show external hard drives on the desktop is enabled.

3. If you still can't see the target hard drive on the desktop, you may need to upgrade the macOS of your working Mac.

4. Once the hard drive appears on the desktop, navigate to the user folder and copy the following folders to your Mac or another external drive: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Movies, Music, Pictures.

Congratulations! You have successfully retrieved your data from a failed Mac.

To confirm that you've recovered all of your files, click on the drive to open the folders in it. The hard drive will show up as an external drive on your working Mac, and you may need to enter the user password depending on the macOS version in the hard drive.

If you're unable to recover data from your failed MacBook Pro using these steps, there are additional options available. You can use a SATA to USB adapter to connect the hard drive directly to your working Mac. Alternatively, you can disconnect the SATA cable and remove the hard drive from your Mac to access it manually.

In some cases, you may need to open the back case of your Mac using a Phillip screwdriver to access the hard drive. This step is usually required when the hard drive is physically damaged or inaccessible through other means.

By following these steps, you should be able to recover data from your failed MacBook Pro and regain access to your important files and folders.

Mac Drive Reader

The Mac drive reader is a simple and effective way to recover data from a failed MacBook Pro. By connecting the Thunderbolt cable to your Mac and a second Mac, you can access the hard drive and retrieve your files without having to physically open up your Mac.

With these steps, you'll be able to recover data from your failed MacBook Pro in no time. Remember to always back up your files regularly to prevent data loss in the future.