How To Recover Data From The HD Of A Dead iMac?

Question

How To Recover Data From The HD Of A Dead iMac?

My 2011 21.5-inch iMac died, and I purchased a replacement, but I'd like to recover the data from the old Mac's hard drive. I disassembled and removed the WD HD and purchased a compatible cable, however, when inserted into my new Mac, it will not run outside the computer. I rebuilt everything, and it does start and operate, as well as the fan, but there is no display on the screen. Is it possible to transfer data via Firewire or Thunderbolt? I don't have either cable and don't want to get one till I can transmit data.

Best Answered by

Vain Rowe

Answered on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Hi there, as for the iMac being unresponsive and dead, you can try to connect it to your functional iMac via an Ethernet cable and then start Target Disk Mode. By using this problematic iMac as an external hard drive, you may have a chance to access your files and folders.

Based on the condition that you have taken the HD out already, you're recommended to apply an available bare-drive adapter to the USB port on your new iMac for file accessing.

Last, it's always mentioned but I have to emphasize one more time here that you should back up your computer regularly since there are two kinds of drives, the one that has already fallen and the one that is going to fall.