Data recovery from a 12+16 pin SSD (MacBook Air)

[mdownes]

Hi All,

I've a MacBook Air data recovery situation here that, as a mainly Windows/Linux guy, I'd like some input on. A lady managed to fully marinate her MacBook Air in red wine, all except for the SSD. She has nothing backed up. The hardware details are:

Apple MacBook Air A1466 EMC 3178 - mid 2012 - mid 2017

Storage medium: S4LN058A01-8030
Interface: 12+16 pin (see image)

I've no access to a working Mac (without asking among friends), so I'm wondering what's my best bet for recovering this data.

First off, physical interface is an issue. There are a range of adaptors on Amazon.co.uk with a female 12+16 pin socket (which I need) and on the other end, either PCI-E (slot-in controller card for a PC), M.2, SATA or USB. Having gotten the disk (as distinct from the partitions) recognised in an OS, the next issue is disk format (I'm guessing much easier if I'm plugging this into a Mac) which, if using Windows, I might be able to address using a Paragon APFS.

But before I start ordering and experimenting with adaptor cards, are there any simpler, more sure-fire ways of rescuing this data?

 

[Larry Sabo]

I've used this adapter with success in the past.

 

[lcoughey]

Make sure you clone first, then recover the data. Don't forget the encryption.

 

[Markverhyden]

You should take the serial number and plug it into https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/ to get the BoM for that model. The other numbers are almost useless.

 

[mmerry]

For data recovery, I almost always will hand that off to a company. Have used these guys before. Usually, there is a hefty price tag for any recovery but sometimes people are willing to pay for it.

Ontrack. Your Data. Recovered. 24/7/365.

Ontrack, a business of KLDiscovery, delivers world-class data recovery, email extraction and restoration, data destruction and tape management.

www.ontrack.com

Another option is

$300 Data Recovery: Hard Drive, RAID, SSD & Flash Repair in Los Angeles

$300 Data Recovery provides Hard Drive, RAID, SSD, and Flash data recovery services in Los Angeles & Hollywood. BBB A+/5,300+ Reviews

www.300dollardatarecovery.com

 

[Markverhyden]

For data recovery, I almost always will hand that off to a company. Have used these guys before. Usually, there is a hefty price tag for any recovery but sometimes people are willing to pay for it.

Ontrack. Your Data. Recovered. 24/7/365.

Ontrack, a business of KLDiscovery, delivers world-class data recovery, email extraction and restoration, data destruction and tape management.

www.ontrack.com

Another option is

$300 Data Recovery: Hard Drive, RAID, SSD & Flash Repair in Los Angeles

$300 Data Recovery provides Hard Drive, RAID, SSD, and Flash data recovery services in Los Angeles & Hollywood. BBB A+/5,300+ Reviews

www.300dollardatarecovery.com

True. But the OP is on the other side of the pond. But I seem to remember some techs over there recommending EU options. @Kitten Kong ? @Joep ? @jogold ?

 

[Larry Sabo]

@lcoughey would know.

 

[mmerry]

Ontrack has a London office.

London

If you’re based in London and you’re looking for an efficient, reliable data recovery service, look no further. Contact Ontrack today.

www.ontrack.com

 

[lcoughey]

I'd recommend PC Image in the UK. Ontrack would be a last resort for people who dont care about how much they spend.

 

[Kitten Kong]

I'd recommend PC Image in the UK. Ontrack would be a last resort for people who dont care about how much they spend.

Pc image for sure. Sean there has recovered a number of drives for me in the past.

 

[fincoder]

Wouldn't a certified apple repairer have the right tools to easily connect the drive to another mac and save files? I'd be telling the customer to take it to a certified repairer.

 

[mdownes]

You should take the serial number and plug it into https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/ to get the BoM for that model. The other numbers are almost useless.

Very useful tip. Saved for future use!

 

[mdownes]

Thanks for the help everyone!

I should have said, this was an OAP, whom needed an inexpensive fix, hence reluctance to send it out either to a Mac specialist or a data recovery firm. In the end up, I got this CoreParts 12+16 pin - to - M.2 adaptor: https://www.eetgroup.com/en-ie/msnx2013-coreparts-ngff-m2-pcie-adapter-wid-w125164563 and used it to connect the source SSD directly to the motherboard of a bench PC, reading bit-for-bit to a Macrium image. This was surprisingly fast (up to 2Gb/S) and I could then rescue her stuff using Paragon APFS.

 

[Markverhyden]

Wouldn't a certified apple repairer have the right tools to easily connect the drive to another mac and save files? I'd be telling the customer to take it to a certified repairer.

Yes. But that machine didn't come with the security chip. Models after that did which required a special adapter.

 

[labtech]

Wouldn't a certified apple repairer have the right tools to easily connect the drive to another mac and save files? I'd be telling the customer to take it to a certified repairer.

If by Apple certified you mean Apple Authorized Service Provider, then it is a problem. Just like the Apple store techs, Apple Authorized folks have their hands tied with ehqt they are allowed to do, specifically not be able to provide "data recovery services". With Macs data recovery, people should be looking for good non-Apple authorized places. This should not be confused with Data Recovery companies that are Apple Authorized, but that is a scam in itself. It really means more like Apple saying "You are authorized to send us commissions".

 

[jogold]

True. But the OP is on the other side of the pond. But I seem to remember some techs over there recommending EU options. @Kitten Kong ? @Joep ? @jogold ?

I sent out to https://en.tictac.co.il/, was happy with their service.

 

[fincoder]

Apple Authorized folks have their hands tied with ehqt they are allowed to do, specifically not be able to provide "data recovery services".

Not even simply copying files from a healthy SSD removed from a faulty Mac?

 

[labtech]

Not even simply copying files from a healthy SSD removed from a faulty Mac?

That would be considered "data recovery", so no.

 

[jogold]

Seems that regular company warranty and repair services automatically delete all use content because of legal issues.
Data recovery is a nitch.

I once sent a laptop to get the screen replaced, it had insurance from the store, and it came back wiped. I asked them why they touched the hd, and they showed me in the terms and conditions (like who reads that) it says they wipe. They don't want to get accused of accessing user info.