Retrieving Photos from dead Macbook

mtaylor412 wrote:

How to recover “photos” from dead MacBook Pro 2018?

So I have a dead MacBook Pro 2018. My cats had some how knocked it off the counter and it landed on a corner. It damaged the Touch Bar and will only stay on for 5 minutes then will repeatedly restart and the cycle keeps going. It won’t stay on long enough for me to download anything. I didn’t realize I didn’t sync my thousands of pictures to iCloud, most sentimental pictures and other important documents. I tried to remove the hard drive myself but apparently this model doesn’t allow that.

I brought it to Apple and they pretty much said their “diagnostics” couldn’t find a problem and there was nothing they could do for me. They recommended I sent it in somewhere that would be able to take my data from the hard drive. Not sure I’m comfortable sending off my Mac and wanted any recommendations that doesn’t cost me an arm and leg?!

I don't think removing the "hard drive" or recovering data from the "hard drive" is going to be an option.

• Teardown articles indicate that the flash chips in all 2018 MacBook Pros are soldered to the motherboard.
• Your Mac is on the list of Mac computers with the Apple T2 Security Chip - Apple Support . Most of the data on those flash chips is encrypted with keys held within the T2. While your computer is working, the T2 is happy to decrypt the data in real time. Unsolder those chips from the board, put them into some other circuit board, and even if you didn't fry them in the process, the data will be so much hash.

Realistically, your options are to:

• Hope that you can get the notebook repaired with the T2 security chip and the flash chips intact. Emphasize to the repair shop that you do NOT want the motherboard replaced with an equivalent, refurbished motherboard – and that you do NOT want them to reset and erase the Mac. If you do not make this crystal clear, the shop may assume that your main goal is to get the machine working again, and that they can sacrifice your data.
• Restore your data from backups – if you were making any. You say you weren't syncing your photos to iCloud. That rules out getting photos back that way. But if you have a Time Machine backup, or a Carbon Copy Cloner one, or a SuperDuper! one, now is the time to use it.
• Ask anyone with whom you have shared photos (e.g., in e-mail or in text messages) to see if they still have the photos, and if so, to send you copies. Odds are there are only a few photos you can get back in this way.

it sounds like you may have battery damage, but might be able to recover stuff if it had power-adapter power.

Are you connecting the power adapter the entire time you are doing these experiments?

mtaylor412 Said:

"Retrieving Photos from dead Macbook: [...]I brought it to AASP[...]"

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Removing Data from a Device Without Power:

Take this to an AASP  (Apple Authorized Service Provider). See if they can remove the rad drive, and perform the transfer. It would be inserted into a toaster, and then they'd perform he transfers. See an AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider) in your local area...

Contacting an AASP: 

1. Go Here: Find Locations - Apple Authorized Reseller
2. Click: Service & Support
3. Enter: your location information
4. See: if there is an AASP nearby
5. Contact: an AASP that shows up, and find out more about the services that they offer to recover the data.

mtaylor412 wrote:

How to recover “photos” from dead MacBook Pro 2018?

So I have a dead MacBook Pro 2018. My cats had some how knocked it off the counter and it landed on a corner. It damaged the Touch Bar and will only stay on for 5 minutes then will repeatedly restart and the cycle keeps going. It won’t stay on long enough for me to download anything. I didn’t realize I didn’t sync my thousands of pictures to iCloud, most sentimental pictures and other important documents. I tried to remove the hard drive myself but apparently this model doesn’t allow that.

I brought it to Apple and they pretty much said their “diagnostics” couldn’t find a problem and there was nothing they could do for me. They recommended I sent it in somewhere that would be able to take my data from the hard drive. Not sure I’m comfortable sending off my Mac and wanted any recommendations that doesn’t cost me an arm and leg?!

When you get your new Mac restore from your time machine backup Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support