Recover files from an Early 2013 15" Mac Book Pro (Retina) with Black Screen

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Level 1

8 points

Recover files from an Early 2013 15" Mac Book Pro (Retina) with Black Screen

Hi everyone,

I have an Early 2013 15" Mac Book Pro. Last night the screen went black and won't come back up. I tried the SMC, NVRAM etc . No good. I went to Apple today and they said they can't get it back up either. So, its looks dead.

However, I badly need to get the files from the 2013 MBP. Before I go to some local place to have the files recovered, I'm wondering if this is something I can do myself. I have another 2008 Mac Book Pro (El Capitan) that works pretty well but nothing is on it.

Is there any way I can connect the two Macs to recover the files from the 2013 MBP? If so, what do I need. Any other ideas?

Thanks!

Rick

MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.13

Posted on May 10, 2019 2:02 PM

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Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

60,284 points

May 10, 2019 6:33 PM in response to rkingw

You could put the 2015 laptop into Target Disk Mode and connect it to another Mac.

You could also remove the SSD from the 2015 laptop and install it into an OWC Envoy Enclosure so you can connect it to another Mac.

If the volume on the 2015 laptop is using APFS, then you will need another Mac running macOS 10.13+ to mount the drive.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

268,155 points

May 10, 2019 6:12 PM in response to rkingw

What you need is your latest Time Machine backup of your MacBook Pro.

You did perform backups, right?

Restore your Mac from a backup - Apple Support

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Answer 3

rkingw Author

Level 1

8 points

May 10, 2019 7:12 PM in response to HWTech

Thanks. I don't think I can set the 2013 MBP to target mode (or use it to see the 2008 MBP as a an external drive) since it now has a dead display. Can't do anything on it now.

I'll look into the enclosure.

Thanks.

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Answer 4

HWTech

Level 9

60,284 points

May 10, 2019 7:19 PM in response to rkingw

Try Target Disk Mode if you have the necessary adapters and cables. This is a very basic function. Just give the 2015 laptop a minute or two before releasing the "T" key for Target Disk Mode. Your laptop is known to have GPU issues so Target Disk Mode has a good chance of working.

Sometimes external drives won't automatically mount or prompt for the FileVault password. Use Disk Utility to manually mount the drive so you are prompted for the FileVault password to unlock it.

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Answer 5

rkingw Author

Level 1

8 points

May 10, 2019 7:22 PM in response to HWTech

I'll give a try. I'll figure out the cables/adaptors.

Thanks.

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Recover files from an Early 2013 15" Mac Book Pro (Retina) with Black Screen

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