What kind of sata interface do i need to retrieve data from mac 2009

Question

Level 1

0 points

What kind of sata interface do i need to retrieve data from mac 2009

ATTENTION MAC GEEKS!!! My warranty has run out on my macbook and I have a corrupted hard-drive. After mistaking the display adapter port on my macbook 2009 for a thunderbolt port (wishful thinking on my part) I finally realized this version of macbook does not have any type of firewire OR thunderbolt port, and neither does the mac I borrowed to use as a target drive through which to run data rescue software. I did come across some people saying they used ethernet to interface the two macs, so after trying forever to set that up with no luck I found references to a "migration" applet that I would need to download to both computers. Since one has a damaged hard drive and will only boot from the install disk (but cannot be repaired with it), I can't exactly download the "migration" applet and the support documentation for my data rescue software states that an ethernet connection will not work at all anyway! Unfortunately my time machine died about six months ago, and all I really, really, really REALLY want is access to my documents folder on the macbook with the corrupted/damaged hard drive. The software documentation does say that a SATA connection will work and allow my second mac to scan the broken mac h/d. I've come across some usb - sata connections, but have also come across articles saying that using any form of usb connection to run a scan on a h/d won't work as usb (older usb, probably 2.0) is too slow. Darn, darn darn. I hadn't wanted to open the macbook if I didn't have to, but as I have to I will. However I don't feel comfortable making a sata to sata connection between the two drives as the second machine does not belong to me. How should I approach this? I am just sooo.....grrr about the missing ports on these Macbooks. I really hadn't notices as I never had to do this before! Any suggestions/help would be appreciated !!! would it work using this usb/sata connection? And so I don't get even more surprises, do all sata work on all h/d's? I used to network and maintain pc's, even setting up secondary h/d's but those were desktops and it was a few years ago, AND everything Apple just seems so...proprietary to me. PLEASE HELP!!!

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Macbook 2009, no TB or FW ports

Posted on Dec 4, 2013 3:47 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

hands4

Level 4

2,246 points

Dec 4, 2013 5:03 PM in response to Heidi-anne

You can replace the internal disk with a new one and then reinstall the operating system. As you do that, save the corrupted drive and place it in an external enclosure which you then plug into your working MacBook. You can then try to salvage data off of the corrupted disk (if possible).

For a new internal disk you might as well purchase a 1 TB fast hybrid SSD-disk since it only costs $105 and will speed up your system considerably. The following reference will include the external enclosure you will need into which you can put the corrupted disk. http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Toshiba/YTOS1TBHYS/ . You can find instructions for the repair at http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Laptop.

If the corrupt will spin any you cannot retrieve the files using the Finder then try using DiskWarrior, uFlysoft, or McAfee Data Recovery for Mac.

http://www.alsoft.com/diskwarrior/

http://www.uflysoft.com/

http://mcaf.ee/x0pfi

Once it is in the external enclosure, if it won’t spin give it a gentle tap on a table and see if it will. I have revived several disk drives that way.

Reply

Answer 2

Heidi-anne Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 5, 2013 6:57 AM in response to hands4

Thank you, you've given me a very affordable way to get the bit of data I want before I use the chassis for kitty litter, and it does seem like I'd be a lot safer extracting from this enclosure! I'd seen some of these during my research into this fix, but was unsure as to whether they were either necessary or functional in my case. I don't think I'll be replacing the h/d though, I'll use my friend's Mac to run Prosoft Data Rescue and get my folder. I'm so mad at Apple right now though, I'm not sure if my $$'s, should be spent there ever again after this!!! Hate that Genius Bar. Go in for some info and make an appointment for a question and they usually aren't all that tech savvy anyhow. So many of my friends are huge Apple fans, so when I needed a second computer for non-business/personal writing/entertainment, I got a MacBook. And of course the requisite external back up Time Machine....Bloody ****!!! I had it in the shop (thank god I had a 3 year warranty) over and over and the Time Machine never did work properly, and died on me too! Maybe I got a lemon, and I've come across a lot of reports of people who had replacements because of recurring problems. I should have been more prepared for the final nose dive considering the fact I'd had to have practically everything replaced on this. After this...well, maybe I should calm down and think, but I'm betting I'll be back to good ol' PC! I have an old HP/Compac, the thing is like a tank, over 7 years old and can't remember how many times I've dropped it or spilled coffee all over it, it keeps on ticking. Sneeze on a Mac and boy do you pay and pay and pay lolol. Ty for your help, many zillions of hugs and kisses to you.

Reply