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Can I Retrieve Hard Drive Data From A Dead MacBook Pro By Unplugging The Hard Drive?

My 2017 MacBook Pro died (it wouldn't turn on). I upgraded to a 13-inch Macbook Pro (2020). Because most of my files were in Dropbox, I was able to get them running quickly. I was told that I could acquire an adaptor to recover files from my old hard disk. I carefully removed the deceased computer's hard disk and ordered what I believed was the correct adapter... but it didn't fit. I chose the incorrect one. Can someone tell me what I should check for to acquire the right adaptor for this? (The one I got appears to be correct, but the width is insufficient.) I'm currently living outside of the United States, where these things are unavailable. It will have to be ordered and transported in (or hand-carried in with a friend).

Best Answered by

Vain Rowe

Answered on Monday, April 29, 2024

Apple uses a proprietary PCIe SSD connector and OWC has made a USB enclosure for some of the older non-USBC model SSDs, yet it is unavailable for the MacBook Pro 2017. I don't think there is any vendor that ships an adapter for your SSD.

If you can make the dead laptop turn on (it does not need to actually boot or show anything on the screen), you can try to connect it to another functional device and put it into Larger Disk Mode, then the broken Mac may show up as an external hard drive for you to recover files from a dead MacBook Pro.

Lastly, it cannot be emphasized any more that you should make a full backup of your device in real-time, or accidents like this may happen at any time.