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Q: My Macbook pro display stopped working so I only see a black screen. I tried connecting it to an external monitor but there is no signal/picture. Can I transfer data from the laptop to an external hard drive if I cant see whats on the screen?

My Macbook pro display stopped working so I only see a black screen. I tried connecting it to an external monitor but there is no signal/picture. Can I transfer data from the laptop to an external hard drive if I cant see whats on the screen? Since none of my files/data have been backed up, Apple suggested that I first have the data/files transferred/recovered before attempting to fix it, just to be on the safe side.  Can I perform that myself even though my display isn't working (external monitor connection wont work either). Please Help!!!

MacBook Pro

Posted on Aug 4, 2016 7:32 AM

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Q: My Macbook pro display stopped working so I only see a black screen. I tried connecting it to an external monitor but there is no ... more

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  • by Johnb-one,

    Johnb-one Johnb-one Aug 6, 2016 2:01 PM in response to savanplatinum
    Level 4 (1,886 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 6, 2016 2:01 PM in response to savanplatinum

    you might be able to, savanplatinum, if you can borrow another MacBook Pro or another mac to connect it to, so's you can transfer files via target mode. I suppose you've tried all the usual things, zapping the PRAm and resetting the SMC/PMU,  maybe seeing you can boot up from the recovery partition (command & R on reboot) but if the display is truly kaput and plugging in an external monitor doesn't work either, I don't really see you having a lot of options. If you recently bought the MacBook Pro, you would have 1 year of support, and if you had AppleCare, that would be 3 years

    however, that's somewhat irrelevant.... failing that, you may have to make an appointment and take it in for someone else to give it a try. I'd have suggested that you invested in some kind of backup system, but it's too late for that now

    well,. good luck to you

     

    JB