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User profile for user: Cenwis
Cenwis Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

System crash and data recovery

Hi, I have a 2010 MacBook Pro 13 inch laptop which had snow leopard DVD included with it. I don't remembers operating system. Recently I updated it to lion or mountain lion (not sure) via my apple store account. The update seemed to work fine for a few days but all of a sudden my laptop froze. I tried to restart my computer but after a few attempts it went to 'blinking question folder' mode (and still continues every time I start it). The internet recovery was unsuccessful. When I started the system with snow leopard DVD I am able to access disc utility, but cannot install the snow leopard or erase any data or partition the hard drive as I get error message.


Last weekend I have taken my lap top to geek squad and initially they mentioned they were able to run updates on my system but soon crashed. After running diagnostics for painfully long four days finally they concluded it is failed logic board and suggested I buy a new laptop. I was frustrated and doubted if they were competent so did not ask for any data recovery service from my old laptop. I purchased a new apple MacBook Pro laptop but would like to recover data from my old laptop. Also the geek squad was unable to conclude if there is any data on my old lap top.


1) Can any one of you please guide me on how to transfer data from internal drive of crashed old laptop onto my new MacBook Pro ? I can remove the case and take the hard drive out but need steps after that.

2) can the ram from my old lap top be used onto my new lap top to make it a total 8 GB memory?

3) how to erase data completely, destroy hard drive and discard it safely?

4) how to recycle my old laptop?

5) will the apple repair guy at apple store be able to recover any data? I live three hours away from a nearest apple store and not much access to computer repair guys.

MacBook Pro, 13 inch snow leopard.

Posted on Apr 16, 2014 2:04 PM

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3 replies
User profile for user: Melophage
Melophage
User level: Level 5
7,213 points

Apr 17, 2014 11:11 AM in response to Cenwis

Cenwis,


since you have lingering concerns about the competency of the Geek Squad people, perhaps it is premature to conclude that your Mid 2010 MacBook Pro can’t be made usable again? The problems which you’d described in your first paragraph are not necessarily due to a failed logic board. That being stated, to address your questions:


  1. You’ll need either an external disk enclosure or a SATA-to-USB or SATA-to-FireWire adapter. If the former, install the Mid 2010 disk into the enclosure, and connect the enclosure to the new MacBook Pro; if the latter, connect the disk to the adapter, and connect the adapter to the new Mac. If the now-external disk appears on your new Mac’s desktop (or at least in the sidebar of the Finder), then you can copy files as you normally would from one drive to another.
  2. That depends upon which model the new MacBook Pro is. If it’s an Early 2011 or newer model, then you would not be able to transfer the RAM.
  3. Define “completely”. The level of “completeness” depends upon whom you think would be interested in salvaging the data on your drive. If you think that e.g. a government intelligence agency is interested in its contents, then your only certain recourse would be to melt the drive.
  4. Donate it to iFixit, who will recycle its parts so that they can be used to fix other Macs.
  5. Since I don’t know the Apple repair guy to whom you refer, I can’t tell you whether he can recover any data or not. Dedicated data recovery services tend to be a specialist business, and their services are typically quite expensive.
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User profile for user: Cenwis
Cenwis Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Apr 17, 2014 3:05 PM in response to Melophage

Thanks for your reply.

I have my tax documents, resume, educational related documents, videos and photographs which I would not be comfortable just tossing around. I dont want to be victim of some identity theft, hence would like to remove the data erased completely.Not trying to be a paranoid. After reading some reviews on this board, yesterday I did order the external disk enclosure or a SATA-to-USB. I will try to follow your advise and see if this will work.

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System crash and data recovery

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