Is my data gone?

When you talk to people that own Mac computers, you may be led to believe these devices are virtually indestructible. While Mac may produce better quality hardware, and software that is susceptible to fewer problems, eventually any computer will break down.

Aside from that, when it comes to memory and storage technologies, even Mac cannot get around certain weak points inherent in newer data storage technologies. As a result, if you happen to own a Macbook, you should be aware of how to retrieve data under a wide range of circumstances.

What Can Cause Power Failure on a Macbook?

Chances are, you already realize that any part of a computer can die out at any given moment. Depending on the severity of the damage, the computer may simply fail to power up.

For example, on a Macbook, the power supply, storage drive, screen, and other vital components may burn out and prevent the rest of the system from working. Under these circumstances, you will be left wondering how to get at the information stored on the computer.

Some Ways to Retrieve Data

Often enough you may be able to connect your SATA drive to a USB adapter, and run data recovery software off of another computer to scan it, and pull out the data. However, with Macbook Air it may not be as simple due to proprietary interface. Here is how you can try to get access to your data from these types of SSD drives:

1. Identify which SSD type of interface your computer is using. There are 2 types 1.8″ 24 pin LIF ribbon or SSD blade.

2. Get a SATA adapter for it (bellow you see an adapter for Blade SSD for 2012 Macbook Air drive), eBay is a great source for these adapters.

3. Get a SATA to USB cradle and plug in your SSD that is now converted to SATA

4.  Plug in your USB cradle to any working system and see if the drive is detected as a new volume/device

5. If the drive comes up with some sort of error and does not allow you straight access then use data recovery software to get your data. (I recommend using R-studio since it is super simple to use and keeps your original file structure)

6. If you need to use recovery software to find your files DO NOT SAVE RECOVERED DATA ONTO THE SAME DRIVE AS YOU RECOVERING. Use a local drive to save it onto, or any other external device (USB key, external drive, NAS ect)

Unable to Access the Solid State Drive?

Do you remember the days when data was stored on hard drives that made use of a magnetic disk to store data? These drives functioned much like record players in the sense that read and write heads were moved over the disk using a series of motors.

Even though solid state drives do not make use of mechanical force, they can still break down.  In most cases, this failure will prevent the rest of the computer from transferring data to and from the drive.

Once you are in that situation, it will be difficult, if not impossible to retrieve the data from the drive using conventional means. In fact, even if the unit is still getting power, you may still need specialized tools or knowledge to gain access to your important information.

Needless to say, if you were working on an important project, or have valuable information stored on the drive, you will want to do everything possible to save it.

Sometimes it is not a DIY Job

Today, many people that feel comfortable in the Mac environment mistakenly believe they can manage issues related to solid state drives. Unfortunately, these drives are extremely fragile.

For example, if you do not use the right tools or take adequate precaution, the drive may be destroyed by static buildup on your hands and body. To add insult to injury, many other kinds of permanent damage can occur while you try to open up the Macbook or gain access to the internal parts of an SSD drive. If you do not feel confident about getting it done – simply look for someone to help you. There are services out there that specialize in getting data recovered from such devices.

Reach out to your local data recovery company, and ask for a free estimate on retrieving data from the SSD drive on your Macbook. I highly encouirage to do as much research on the company you will trust with your recovery project by reading reviews on G+, yelp, yahoo and not just going by the top ranked company in the search. Call around make a list of companies that portray themselves as experts, and go from there. Good luck with your recovery projects, and remember to keep more than 1 copy of important data at all times to avoid risks of dataloss.