At Exeter Data Recovery, we are Devon’s leading experts in MacBook Pro hard drive recovery, with more than two decades of experience in resolving complex data loss across all generations of Apple hardware. From modern MacBook Pro models with T2 chip integration to legacy systems with spinning hard disks, our engineers are equipped with industry-standard tools to restore access to your critical data – quickly, securely, and professionally.
Whether you are dealing with SSD degradation, file system corruption, or a MacBook that won’t boot, contact Exeter Data Recovery today for a free diagnostic. We also offer an expedited recovery service, typically within 48 hours.
Supported Apple MacBook Models
We offer recovery services for all MacBook and MacBook Pro models, including:
- MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1/M2 Pro/Max)
- MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1/M2 Pro/Max)
- MacBook Air M2
- MacBook Air M1
- MacBook Pro 13-inch (Intel/M1)
- MacBook 12-inch Retina (2015–2017)
- MacBook Pro (2012–2015 Retina)
- MacBook Pro (2009–2012 Unibody)
- MacBook Pro (Pre-2009)
- MacBook Air (2010–2017 Intel)
- MacBook Air (2008–2009)
- MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
- MacBook Pro without Touch Bar
- MacBook Pro with T2 Security Chip
- MacBook Pro Intel i5/i7/i9
- MacBook Air Intel i3/i5/i7
- MacBook A1342
- MacBook A1278
- MacBook A1534
- MacBook Pro A2289 / A2338 / A2141
macOS Versions Supported
We recover data from all versions of macOS, including:
- macOS 14 Sonoma
- macOS 13 Ventura
- macOS 12 Monterey
- macOS 11 Big Sur
- macOS 10.15 Catalina
- macOS 10.14 Mojave
- macOS 10.13 High Sierra
- macOS 10.12 Sierra
- OS X El Capitan
- OS X Yosemite
- OS X Mavericks
- OS X Mountain Lion
- OS X Lion
- OS X Snow Leopard
- OS X Leopard
- OS X Tiger
- Classic Mac OS (upon request)
We support data recovery across HFS, HFS+, APFS, and encrypted Apple File Systems.
Interfaces and Storage Technologies Recovered
Exeter Data Recovery recovers data from MacBook drives and devices using:
- SATA (Serial ATA)
- PATA / IDE (Parallel ATA)
- NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express)
- SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)
- SCSI
- PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express)
- eSATA
- USB-C / Thunderbolt
- M.2 / U.2 Interfaces
- Fusion Drives (SSD + HDD)
- T2 Chip Encrypted Storage
Whether the drive is soldered to the logic board or part of an external enclosure, we have the tools and microchip-level experience to recover data safely and effectively.
Top 40 Apple MacBook Data Recovery Faults – Detailed Recovery Techniques
Below are the top 40 MacBook data loss scenarios, with technical explanations and the methods we use to recover data:
1. SSD Controller Failure
Solution: Re-initialise SSD controller or use direct NAND chip access if soldered; image raw data and reconstruct file system.
2. Fusion Drive Failure (Hybrid SSD + HDD)
Solution: Image both SSD and HDD components; use Apple logic to rebuild Fusion link; reconstruct APFS container manually.
3. T2 Chip Lockout
Solution: Requires valid Apple credentials and secure environment; reconstruct data using decrypted memory if authorisation is provided.
4. macOS APFS Corruption
Solution: Deep scan and recovery using tools that support APFS container deconstruction; locate and re-link volumes.
5. Accidental Formatting
Solution: Locate previous partition table and undeleted metadata; rebuild HFS+ or APFS hierarchy.
6. Unrecognised MacBook Disk
Solution: Verify interface and drive signal; if soldered, use logic board tracing and chip-off recovery techniques.
7. Water or Liquid Damage
Solution: Remove and clean logic board; recover data via chip-level NAND dump or SSD desoldering.
8. Overheating and Thermal Shutdowns
Solution: Stabilise hardware, then image drive at controlled temperatures with real-time monitoring.
9. MacBook Not Booting to macOS
Solution: Use target disk mode or DFU tools to access underlying storage; recover full volume.
10. MacBook Drive with Bad Sectors
Solution: Clone drive using error-handling hardware imagers, read around bad sectors, extract partial or full image.
11. Deleted User Account
Solution: Extract orphaned home directory from APFS snapshots or Time Machine backups if present.
12. SSD Soldered to Logic Board
Solution: Access via Apple logic board debugging ports or chip-off NAND interface.
13. Corrupted FileVault Encryption Header
Solution: Attempt recovery from residual encrypted blocks with user credentials; perform integrity checks.
14. Time Machine Drive Corruption
Solution: Manually rebuild sparse bundle structure; extract data from functional backups.
15. Kernel Panic and Boot Loop
Solution: Access in Safe Mode or Recovery Mode; extract drive image for full recovery.
16. macOS Failed Upgrade
Solution: Extract data from corrupted update partition or roll back pre-upgrade snapshot.
17. Hard Drive Clicking or Beeping
Solution: Cleanroom disassembly; replace heads; stabilise and image drive.
18. Power Surge to MacBook Power Supply
Solution: Replace burnt components; image storage medium using safe external power.
19. File System Not Mounting
Solution: Use recovery tools to force mount HFS/APFS volumes and extract readable structures.
20. File Transfer Interrupted Mid-Process
Solution: Scan for file fragments, cache residuals and rebuild file trees using metadata.
21. Formatted in Boot Camp (Windows Partition)
Solution: Rebuild HFS or APFS structure; carve data from overwritten segments if possible.
22. NVMe SSD with Faulty Firmware
Solution: Access via vendor-specific tools; restore firmware image and clone drive.
23. Spilled Drink Damage
Solution: Board-level inspection and NAND desoldering if controller is compromised.
24. Battery Swelling Displacing Drive
Solution: Inspect for physical compression; use specialist imaging tools to bypass electrical damage.
25. Disk Utility Shows ‘Uninitialised’
Solution: Locate lost partition using raw disk scan; rebuild partition map and mount volume.
26. Mac Won’t Enter Recovery Mode
Solution: Use external boot media; extract storage via terminal or mount disk manually.
27. Corrupted Spotlight or Metadata Index
Solution: Reconstruct file structure from disk sector analysis; exclude spotlight corruption.
28. Overwritten Data from Migration Assistant
Solution: Partial recovery from unallocated sectors or deep file carving.
29. Drive Password Lost
Solution: Decryption not possible without correct credentials; attempt brute-force if legally authorised.
30. Stuck in macOS Internet Recovery
Solution: Bypass recovery system; mount main volume directly in recovery environment.
31. RAID 0/1 in Apple Fusion/Server System
Solution: Reconstruct RAID using disk images and parity logic; recover composite volume.
32. System Management Controller (SMC) Failure
Solution: Bypass system boot logic; retrieve data via chip-off if storage is onboard.
33. MacBook Pro with Touch ID Secure Storage
Solution: Requires decryption via authorised Touch ID pairing; chip-based recovery not feasible without credentials.
34. Repeated Kernel Panic Post Login
Solution: Extract volume image via single-user mode; perform offline recovery.
35. Unresponsive SSD in 2020–2024 Models
Solution: Access Apple diagnostics via DFU port; use NAND interface if SSD is part of T2 logic.
36. Thermal Shutdown Resulting in Corruption
Solution: Analyse S.M.A.R.T. logs; image failing sectors before further thermal damage.
37. Apple Logic Board Failure
Solution: Chip-off or access via low-level debugging ports; image encrypted data if key available.
38. SATA Cable Fault in Older MacBooks
Solution: Replace cable and interface; if drive is damaged, image using hardware duplicator.
39. Drive Appears Empty After Crash
Solution: Use data carving to recover hidden or orphaned files; reconstruct from journaling logs.
40. Damaged USB/Thunderbolt External MacBook Backup
Solution: Identify controller failure or logical fault; use chip-level access or rebuild sparse bundle if Time Machine.
Why Choose Exeter Data Recovery?
- Over 25 years of data recovery expertise, specialising in Apple Mac systems
- Cleanroom facilities for mechanical Mac hard drive recovery
- Experience with encrypted and T2/M1/M2 Apple silicon systems
- Recovery from macOS-specific file systems (HFS, HFS+, APFS)
- Expedited recovery available within 48 hours in many cases
- Technically advanced recovery from SSD, Fusion, and legacy HDD formats
Contact Exeter Data Recovery Today
Whether your MacBook Pro has failed due to firmware issues, physical damage, encryption problems, or an unknown error, our engineers are ready to help.
📞 Freephone: 0800 689 0668
📍 Based in Exeter – Serving Devon and Nationwide