Best Ways to Free Recover Failed Mac Hard Drive Data
Summary: In this post, we’ll share different methods to free recover your troubled Mac hard drive and its stored data. We’ll discuss how to:
1. Repair Mac Hard Drive by Using First Aid in Disk Utility
2. Repair Mac Hard Drive by Using FSCK in Single User Mode
3. Recover Mac Hard Drive Data by Using Free Software
4. Retrieve Mac Hard Drive Data by Using Recovery Drive
5. Avail the Best Hard Drive Recovery Service for Mac
Download the free Mac data recovery software to recover up to 1 GB of your hard drive data.
Mac storage drive, be it a hard drive or a solid-state drive (SSD), can fail or won’t load macOS due to file system corruption, bad sectors, or drive component failure due to aging. In such cases, you need to employ different troubleshooting methods to revive your failed or failing Mac storage drive. The next sections explain various ways to free recover your Mac hard drive and its stored data in your MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini.
1. Repair Mac Hard Drive by Using First Aid in Disk Utility
Disk Utility is a free macOS application that can help you resolve Mac hard drive problems. When your startup disk is corrupt, your Mac won’t boot. In that case, you need to launch Disk Utility in macOS Recovery mode and repair the disk. Steps are as follows:
Step 1: Power on your Mac and immediately press and hold Command + R keys. Release the keys when the Apple logo appears. Your Mac boots into macOS Recovery mode.
Step 2: From the macOS Utilities window, click Disk Utility and then click Continue. The Disk Utility window will appear.
Step 3: From the left pane of Disk Utility, select Macintosh HD, the startup disk. Click the First Aid tab from the top pane, then click Run.
Step 4: If Disk Utility repaired your Mac startup disk, restart your Mac and boot into Desktop normally. If Disk Utility fails, try the next troubleshooting method.
One limitation of Disk Utility is that it can’t repair a corrupt partition map. To repair the partition map on a startup disk, you need to erase the Mac storage drive with a new partition scheme. But erasing the drive without backing it up will result in data loss.
2. Repair Mac Hard Drive by Using FSCK in Single User Mode
Single User mode in macOS can be of great help to fix startup disk issues. When your Mac doesn’t boot, use the file system consistency check (fsck) command in Single User mode to repair the startup drive. Follow the given steps:
Step 1: Power on your Mac, then press and hold Command +S keys. Release the keys when some text appears on a black background. Your Mac will load the Single User mode.
Step 2: In the command prompt, type the command /sbin/fsck – fy, then press Return. If Macintosh HD is healthy, it will display the message: “The Volume (name) appears to be OK.” Restart your Mac normally.
Step 3: If fsck repaired the damaged hard drive, it shows the message: “File System Was Modified”. Re-run the above fsck command till you get the OK message. Restart Mac normally.
The fsck command quickly repairs disk errors in Mac storage drive. But it may or may not fix the corrupt startup drive entirely. If the corruption is beyond the built-in repair capabilities of macOS, then try to retrieve Mac data by using target disk mode.
3. Recover Mac Hard Drive Data by Using Free Software
When your failed Mac hard drive is mounted on another working Mac by using Target Disk Mode, use Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition for Mac to scan and recover your lost, deleted, or inaccessible data from the hard drive. Steps are as follows:
Step 1) Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition for Mac on your iMac, Mac mini, or MacBook Pro/Air.
Step 2) Launch the software. From the “Select What To Recover” screen, customize your scanby clicking the respective toggle switch, then click Next.
Step 3) From the “Select Location” screen, select Macintosh HD the startup disk. Click the Deep Scan toggle switch to turn in on, then click Scan. Wait till the scan finishes.
Step 4) Click a tab of your choice, expand the tree node from the left pane, and access the scanned files from the right. Select all the required files, then click Recover.
Step 5) On the dialog window, click Browse to specify an external hard drive as the save destination (to avoid data overwriting on scan drive), then click Save.
Step 6) Let the software complete the recovery process. Navigate to the save location to view your recovered files and folders.
Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition for Mac allows you to free scan, free preview, and free recover up to 1 GB of data on Mac. To recover data without any limit, activate the software. Besides, the software has a 30-days money-back guarantee, so activate with full confidence.
4. Retrieve Mac Hard Drive Data by Using Recovery Drive
When your Mac doesn’t boot even after fixing the drive, use a bootable Mac data recovery software to recover your lost data from the failed hard drive. Steps are as follows:
Note: You need to activate Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition for Mac to the professional or higher edition to unlock the bootable data recovery feature.
Step 1: Launch the Stellar Data Recovery Professional software on a working MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini. Plug-in an external USB flash drive of a minimum of 8 GB to create a recovery drive.
Step 2: From the software’s home screen, click the Click here link present at the bottom-left corner or go to More Tools > Create Recovery Drive.
Step 3: From the dialogue window, select the USB flash drive and then click the Create Recovery Drive button. Click OK on the confirmation message box. Let the tool create a recovery drive.
Warning: The drive will be formatted in the recovery drive creation process. So, make sure the flash drive is empty or back up the drive before clicking OK.
Step 4: Plug-in the USB recovery drive to the non-booting Mac. Power on the Mac, then press-hold the Option key. Release the key once the Startup Manager opens. Select the Recovery Drive.
Step 5: From the macOS Utilities window, select Stellar Data Recovery. When it opens, customize the scan, then click Next. Select Macintosh HD for data recovery then toggle on Deep Scan.
Note: For macOS Catalina, Mojave, or High Sierra, you need to disable system integrity protection to scan the startup drive.
Step 6: After the scan, preview all the recoverable files from Macintosh HD. Click Recover and specify another external hard drive as a save destination. Then, click Save.
Step 7: Once data recovery is performed, erase Macintosh HD by using Disk Utility in macOS Recovery mode. If the failed hard drive can’t be fixed, replace the drive with a new one, preferably an SSD.
Alternatively, you can transform the failed Mac storage drive into an external one then recover data by using a healthy Mac. In case you don’t have a working Mac, you can use a Windows PC to recover data from a Mac-based hard drive.
5. Avail the Best Hard Drive Recovery Service for Mac
If your Mac storage drive is affected by a physical failure and you don’t want to lose its stored data, then avail the best data recovery service. Stellar Data Recovery Service offers the best in class data recovery with its class 100 cleanroom and advanced data recovery tools to salvage data from a failed hard drive or SSD. Get the Mac hard drive recovery service in case of:
- Clicking, ticking, or buzzing sound
- Scratched platter
- Electronic equipment damage
- Burnt storage medium
- A disaster like a flood, fire, etc.
5. Conclusion
We hope the post helped you to free recover failed Mac storage drive using the troubleshooting ways described in detail here. As a best practice, do the following:
- Back up your Mac by using Time Machine
- Use Disk Utility, FSCK, or Target Disk mode whenever required
- Replace failed Mac hard drive with SSD and restore Mac from backup
- Use Stellar Data Recovery for Mac for your troubled hard drive. Compare all editions.
- Keep a USB recovery drive ready to salvage a non-booting Mac
Also Read:
1. Top 10 Free Mac Data Recovery Software
2. How to Recover Data from Crashed Mac Hard Drive
About The Author
Vishal
Vishal is a data recovery expert @Stellar. He addresses data loss scenarios on a Mac. He intends to help people solve their macOS problems. Besides, Vishal prefers to read autobiographies, and his personal favorite is of Steve Jobs.
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Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Windows Stellar Data Recovery has the right Windows Recovery tool for all your data recovery.. - Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac Stellar Data Recovery for Mac program performs safe..
- Stellar Photo Recovery A comprehensive photo recovery software to restore photos, music & video files..
- Stellar Repair for Video Powerful video repair tool for repairing corrupt or damaged MOV and other video files..
Hi Vishal,
I’m using a MacBook Air 13″ (A1466) and I see the laptop’s internal display is damaged. There are no cracks or dents outside. I did connect the laptop to an external monitor and was using the laptop as usual (due to Covid-19 restrictions) and now I’m unable to get the display on the external monitor as well. So, literally am unable to access the laptop and I have data on this laptop. I hope the hard disk should be fine, if yes, need help how to copy files from this laptop to another storage. But if the hard disk is gone, then need to know how to recover data. Please advise
Hi,
As per your query, we have Stellar Data Recovery Professional software for Mac which can recover the data from the crashed or non-booting Mac using a recovery drive. You need to create the drive on another Mac system.
Furthermore, if system isn’t booting at all then we have Class 100 Clean Lab recovery services where you need to send the drive for data recovery. Please let me know furhter.
Regards
Vishal
Hello Vishal,
will the target disk mode work even of the hard drive has failed?
I cant boot into any of the steps above it as I beleive the hard drive has failed, I can only reset the pram on my mac, it wont boot into recovery mode, nor safe mode, nor give me option to choose the boot option using ‘option’ key on start-up.
So what gurantee is that if all of the above have failed that it will allow me to boot in tarhget disk mode?
Regards
Steve
Hello Steve,
In that case, you can try the method #6 i.e. install macOS on an external drive and boot your Mac with it. Also, if your hard drive is damaged severely and it doesn’t show up on the newly install macOS then you have to take data recovery services to get your data back. Please feel free to share further.
Regards
Vishal
Hi Vishal,
I followed the method #3 and it shows the firewire/thunderbolt logo on the failed mac but does not load the hard drive on the working mac? So from step 4 onwards doesn’t work, can you please advise further?
Regards
Steve
Hi Vishal,
Is there a version of Stelllar I can run on OSX 10.5.8 on my 2007 macbook?
Regards.
Thomas
Hello Thomas,
Stellar Mac data recovery doesn’t support OS X Leopard now. You can still use the app on your OS but officially we can’t offer support. Is there anything else I can be of help?
Regards
Vishal
PS I have a mid 2009 macbook pro 15 inch running OSX 10.11.6. I also have ordered a crucial mx500 which i think I need to partition , so I need to get a USD to sata cable. I assume there is no way of partitioning it with out the cable.
I do have a time machine back up.
When I boot up the so called repaired disk. It begins the reboot process then the screen goes black and every so often it flashes , so I can see that it is trying to boot up. I closed it down after about 20 minutes.
Your steps were very clear. Ran the disk utility , repaired the disk, but when I ran , it did not . should I try step 2 of your process.
I eventually want to replace the disk with an SSD, but I think I need to the original disk up and running.
Thanks for your help
Sure paul, you can try the second method however if your disk is beyond repair then you must replace the disk and restore the backup via Time Machine.
Vishal, My iMac hard disk is failed. Is there a way to restore it?
Now I am planning to replace with new Hard drive but I want to restore important documents & family pictures from failed disk.
Desktop model: IMAC(27-INCH, MD2011)
Hard Disk: Hard drive, 1TB SATA, 3.5 7200
Hello Sunny,
You can connect your hard drive as an external drive to your iMac (when updated with a new device). If your older drive is recognized by the Disk Utility then you can use Stellar Data Recovery Professional software to retrieve all the data. If the drive is dead or not recognized by any means then you will require data recovery services to extract data from it.
Helpful links:
Software – https://www.stellarinfo.com/data-recovery-mac.php
Services – https://www.stellarinfo.com/services/data-recovery.php
Best Regards
Vishal
Hello Vishal,
I’ve got a 2010 imac, and when I turn on I simply get the question mark in the middle of the screen. Is there any hope for recovering the information ie: pictures, from the hard drive?
Hi Steve,
Please read the article on Flashing question mark problem. As far as data recovery is concerned then you can try to recover data using Target Disk Mode which requires another Mac system. Or use your Mac hard drive as an external storage device for recovery.
Regards
Vishal
I have a 30GB VST Firewire drive that spins up, but does not appear in Disk Utility (or in the StellarDataRecovery app). System Profiler shows the device connected to the FireWire bus, noting its Model, sw version, firmware version, etc, but it also fails to show if I run diskitlity list from Terminal. The last I used this drive was years ago on Mac OS 8, so it has never been used on a modern computer. Any ideas how I can get my iMac to see and mount the disk?
Hello John,
This drive has become corrupted or inaccessible now. In this case, only Data Recovery Services will be the best option to recover the data. Thanks
Does the company offer any refund policy in case of non-performance of successful results.
Hello Judy,
Although all our software is developed & tested under rigorous conditions and have very good rate of deleted/lost data recovery. Still if unsatisfied, you can opt for our 30 days refund policy.
How to recover a couple of APFS drives quickly?
Hi Mark,
Could you provide some more details of your problem?
Regards
Vishal
Vishal, more deets here: I am assisting my friend in his MacBook repair shop. Recently, I got 2 APFS drives for data recovery. While one drive is mounting the other is not. I want to finish data recovery on these drive at earliest. Please share some quick suggestions or software methods. Thanks in advance.
Mark, thanks for the details. Please try Stellar Data Recovery Technician for Mac since you require to do data recovery on multiple Macs/drives. The software supports recovery on unmountable volumes (APFS/HFS). The trial version will help you diagnose and analyze the number of files you can recover from the storage mediums.
Hi Vishal, I’m trying to remove files/salvage files from a “vintage” Mac Book Pro that had a hard drive crash recently. I have the 2.5 SATA Hard Drive/USB but the Hard Drive is locked when I plug it into my desk top. It won’t accept my last password that I had used for most of the life of the computer. This was also the case before the Apple store ran a diagnostic and said my hardware was damaged and needed to be replaced (it wouldn’t allow me to change the password or accept past 2 passwords prior to taking it into Apple – I had become locked out of the computer). Is there another way to get into the old hard drive or is this a lost cause? Thanks so much!
Hello Erika,
Thanks for writing to us.
To recover the data, it is necessary that the drive is unlocked via the correct password. Read How-to recover encrypted drive on Mac. Without unlocking the drive no software or manual methods can help you salvage the files. However, if you go for data recovery services then you have to provide your drive and the last password for further evaluation. Please let me know further.
Regards
Vishal
Vishal, my iMac is not showing the external 256 SSD on the Desktop. It looks the drive is unrecognized. I have bought another 236 Samsung SSD though but I need to get back my files from the failing SSD. Pls help.
You can recover files from your failing SSD by downloading Stellar Data Recovery Professional to your iMac. The software will recognize your drive and list all your recoverable files.
Planning to recover data from multiple hard drives formatted with HFS and HFS+ on my iMac? What software do you recommend recovering files?
All the support comments relate to a working MAC. What if the SSD is failed and you cannot access the system at all ? Does stellar support running the software from an USB attached to the failed system? Note, the SSD is not external and is on the logic board.
In short how does Stellar help in the below situation:
SSD on the logic board is corrupt and there is a need to run the stellar software from USB stick attached to the system.
Dear Pradeep,
It is recommended to avail data recovery services for the SSD drive. The drive needs to be analyzed by our in lab data recovery technicians. Unfortunately, the software could not be installed and used from a USB drive. If you wish to try the recovery application you may connect it to any other working Mac via Thunderbolt cable. The software could be easily installed on the working Mac. You need to check whether the faulty hard drive could be listed by the Stellar software.
How do I restore my damaged Mac hard drive to yesterday?
If you have a Time Machine Backup enabled, then you can easily restore data from it. Else you can try Stellar Mac Data Recovery to restore your damaged Mac Hard drive to yesterday. Please follow the recovery steps as mentioned in the blog
Found this on bing and I’m happy I learn something new form this. Well written Blog.
Thanks Jim
I’m gone to ѕay to mʏ little brother, that he sһould aⅼso pay a visit this blog on regular basis to get updated from latest data recovery news.
Hello Humberto,
Thanks for the kind words.
The software completely retrieves all photos, videos, documents & emails from my 1 TB failed internal mac hard drive.
Hello Emanuel,
Thanks for contacting Stellar Data Recovery.
Glad that our software recovers all your important files.
I have two questions for you Vishal, First how can I make my SSD with bad sectors appear on the Desktop for file recovery. Second, if I successfully get my files off from this failing SSD then how should I fix my SSD and remove bad sectors?
Stellar Mac Data Recovery software has the feature of Create Image. Download the software and create image of your SSD. Scan the image created by software and recover your files from it. After recovering your data, try to format your SSD under Disk Utility. If it fails to format, you should replace this SSD with new one.
Hi Vishal,
My Mac Lexar SSD isn’t showing up at-least 2 GB of files. I am sure they were not deleted from Lexar neither it was formatted. I request you suggest how should I cover those files from Lexar. This drive has passed Disk Utility and SMART test.
Please download the trial version of Stellar Mac Data Recovery software to check if your missing files are recoverable. Further, acquire the software license key and save your data from Lexar drive to another location. .
I used everything to recover my data from 13 inch Mac Book pro hard drive. Unfortunately, unsuccessful because of the platters of the hard drive failed will not be readable. There may chance to recover my data from MBP hard drive If HD Platters full damaged?
Hey Gebriel,
Yes, It’s very difficult to recovery and tedious process. Please contact our support team.
Hi Vishal,
I had troubles mounting my internal hard drive on a MacBook Pro (mid-2012) lately. It showed up after trying the mount button couple of times in recovery mode. As the hard disk was almost 5 years old, I took to a store and then they took it out and put it in another MacBook but didn’t work and not mounting anymore.
I took it to the tech support of my university. They plugged it in with some cables and said it’s not spinning so we can’t recover the data!
I’ve the hard disk out and there is really essential data on it! I ordered a 2.5 inch SATA to USB 3.0 external hard drive enclosure to at least connect to my Macbook on which I have a new HDD.
Can by any chance the data be salvaged.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Rudra,
If your hard drive appears in the Disk Utility after having it placed in the enclosure, then you have a fair chance of recovering your data with Stellar Mac Data Recovery. The first condition should be that the drive (mounted or unmounted) should list up under the device panel of the Disk Utility. As you mentioned the disk was not spinning and if it continues that way even after “enclosing” it, then you have to send your hard drive to a data recovery service centre to get files extracted in Class 100 Clean Room.
So, let us know if your disk is showing up after you place it in the enclosure. Read this article:
How do I recover the data from unmountable drive
Regards
I purchased your Stellar Mac Data Recovery two days back and I am trying to recover the data from my internal hard disk (not start up) I selected raw but it is taking time to show me the files two days I kept the Mac on but the sign remains the same no movement at all. What should I do? I am asking a refund for the product not working.
Hello Rajah,
Thank you for writing to Stellar Data Recovery.
We regret the inconvenience caused to you.
We are unable to locate the order details for your latest purchase with the provided email address. Kindly provide us the order reference number or email address to locate the order.
Our prime motive is to help you in recovering the data. Kindly let us know the reason for the data loss so that we can recommend you the correct scanning option to recover the data.
Hey Vishal,
thank you, I was able to find the image and run it again. But like it happened when scanning the disk itself, the app stopped scanning the image as well. It’s stuck at 1213192704 of 2399645038.
Let me note that there was no physical damage done to the internal disk, the iMac wasn’t moved at all. It simply stopped booting. So I can hardly believe I wouldn’t be able to recover this data..
So if I’m correct I can only use RAW recovery at this point? Are there any downsides to this?
What option did you run on the image file? You can try from Deleted & Raw Recovery and there are no downsides of it.
Hey Vishal,
So I tried the demo version and ran the scan but it stopped in the middle of the scheme, whereas the hard drive was still working hard – it was really loud at that point. What could be the problem?
Thank you!
Loud? was it making clicking, ticking or buzzing sound? Usually, a failed hard drive will produce sound on its operation. I can suggest you a tip with the software. though no software guarantees data recovery from a physically damaged hard drive. Still, launch the software and create a disk image of your drive. If the DMG file is created successfully then you can recover your data from it. Otherwise, try RAW recovery from the software to recover the files.
Again, in severe corruption, no software will recover the data. For data recovery on physically damaged hard drive you require data recovery services.
The noise was nothing unusual, simply a working hard drive, spinning sound I guess. But it didn’t stop until I turned off your app. And there was no progress either. No clicking or ticking though. So I should create an image of my MacHD? And how would I recover data from that image?
Could I somehow create a clone from the damaged drive and try to boot from that clone?
Thanks so much, Vishal!
Please try below links to understand software functioning in your case:
https://www.stellarinfo.com/support/kb/index.php/article/create-image-mac-data-recovery
https://www.stellarinfo.com/support/kb/index.php/article/raw-recovery
Let me know.
Hey Vishal,
we should get a beer eventually 🙂 So I read the links and everything’s good on paper. I created the image. Then there was a popup message saying that the dmg will be visible in the left column with other drives. And it was – for a few seconds and then it disappeared! And I can’t seem to get it back in order to use Recover Data.
Launch the software and select ‘Resume Recovery’. Your saved disk images will show up in the tray, otherwise, you can upload your DMG file from the location using + button. Click Continue. Select DMG from left panel and click recover data and start the scan. I am sharing the screenshots links with you below:
1) https://www.stellarinfo.com/screenshots/mac-screenshots/resume-scan/1.jpg
2) https://www.stellarinfo.com/screenshots/mac-screenshots/resume-scan/2.jpg
3) https://www.stellarinfo.com/screenshots/mac-screenshots/resume-scan/3.jpg
Let me know.
Hey there, my MacHD failed and I’m trying to fix it somehow. Or just get the data that’s on it.
The computer just doesn’t boot anymore. So I tried booting with cmd+r and fixing the HD but First Aid fails on partition, whereas it’s successful on the disk itself. I went to Single-user mode and tried the fsck which returns with: The volume Macintosh HD appears to be OK. So something must be working, right?
Then I installed MacOS on a USB flash drive and entered the computer from there.
1. Is there any way to access the damaged HD from there?
2. Do you think Target mode will work on this disk?
3. Can I somehow backup the data on the damaged HD at this point?
Thanks!
Yes. You can try TDM. Also, advise you to run the demo version of Stellar Mac Data Recovery tool to scan your troubled hard drive for data recovery. Download the tool on a healthy Mac and when your drive is connected through Target Disk Mode you can try the tool on your troubled hdd. Let me know.
Ok, thank you Vishal! I just found out that my “damaged” drive is probably encrypted. How would you go about in this situation? Of course I know the password, I just don’t know how to unlock the disk via TDM. Thanks again 😉
IMO, when you will double-click your drive it should ask for the password for a further access. Stellar supports Mac data recovery from an encrypted drive when the password is intact. So, run the tool and select your drive << provide the password and perform recovery. See this article: https://www.stellarinfo.com/support/kb/index.php/article/recover-encrypted-mac-drive-files
Thank you, and can I do all this with a demo version first? To see if works at all before I purchase the software?
Yes. The demo allows you to start data recovery on a hard drive, run the scan and preview all recoverable files. To save the recoverable files, registration is required.
Could you please share steps to recover a failed hard drive with Stellar Mac Data Recovery through Target Disk Mode?
i have a question, what happens when i hit the hard drive because i did a few time over time i used it (not on purpose) and now, my mac won’t get passed booting screen aka “the boot loop” is it still possible to get my data off of the hard drive and is it also possible that i messed up data by hitting it? i know that i ruined the hard drive but is the data still able to survive?
Hi Violet,
It is quite possible that hard drive may have failed due to unintentional damages. For data recovery, I recommend you register Stellar Mac Data Recovery (Rescue CD) to boot your Mac and perform file recovery. Please read: Macintosh HD not Booting? How to Recover Mac Hard Drive Data?
I ran Disk Drill 3 on my Macintosh HD but its taking forever time to complete the scan. I quit DD3 and downloaded DriveDx and it detect bad sectors in large numbers. Now i know why Disk Drill failed. Can Stellar Mac data recovery software recover data from bad sectors hard drive?
Hi Jennie,
Yes. Stellar Mac Data Recovery software will recover data from a bad sector hard drive. You need to download the software and run ‘Create Image’. It’s a helpful feature to create a disk image (.dmg) file that can be resumed later for recovering files from it. Read more – What is Create Image in Stellar Mac Data Recovery. Thanks.
Emergency: Disk utility just declared my hard drive failing backup as much data as possible: Invalid B tree node size? What is all this crap? how can I repair my Macintosh HD?
Hi Clarice,
We have the solution to your problem. Please download Stellar Volume Repair tool and perform below steps:
i) Create a bootable USB of your Mac using Volume Repair. Read More
ii) Boot from the USB and repair your startup disk drive (Macintosh HD)
Hope this helps!!!!
External Mac hard drives failing and not getting visible in Finder. How can I stop the failure?
I tried replacing the enclosure and cables but still, cannot repair it.
Hi George,
Have you backup all your data? Is the hard drive appearing in the Disk Utility panel? You can try free scan with Stellar Mac Data Recovery software to preview all the recoverable files. Recover your data and replace the failing hard drive. Thanks.
After tried fsck thrice to get my Mac running again I think fsck Mac command will not be able to recover my Mac hard drive? Any suggestions you have for me Vishal?
Hi Shane,
If FSCK is unable to boot your Mac then I must recommend you Stellar Mac Data Recovery software to startup your macOS and start performing data recovery from your corrupt disk drive. After salvaging the critical data from the Macintosh HD, you can replace the hard drive and restore Root Folder (recovered data).
Thanks.
My boyfriend gave me a drive that he said was taken out of his old macbook pro. It’s around 4/5 years old, and I took it to use for extra storage. I could tell it wasn’t in the best physical shape as I could hear something knock from side to side when it was moved. It worked for a while, dropped it lightly a few times and it continued to work. I recently dropped it, no harder than previously, but it popped open on one side and slid out. Since then, no icon appears when I plug it into my Mac, and no light/no sound at all. Can I recover any of my files from it?
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for writing to us.
Did you try changing the cable/enclosure of the hard drive and check if it mounting as before? The problem could be more severe.
With no light and sound indication, we assume that the external hard drive is a dead and only possible way to retrieve data from the dead hard drive is going for data recovery services. How much data does your external hard drive had and what amount of GBs you want to recover?
You can check out our data recovery services over here https://www.stellarinfo.com/services/data-recovery.php Also, I am sharing the important contact details for your help:
support[@]stellarinfo[dot]com
877-778-6083
Thanks.
Vishal,
My MBP late 2011 just stopped working. It started with a frozen screen and a spinning wheel of death spinning forever. I decided to force shut down as it was not letting me do anything anymore.
When I turned it back on, it couldn’t go thru and was stuck on a full loading bar with a gray apple logo. I’ve tried so many things, SMC reset, NVRAM reset, Recovery mode to disk utility and did first aid, tried startup disk, verbose mode no matter what I enter it would say no such file or directory. I got too frustrated and tried re-installing the OS ( MacOS Sierra) is what it is.
The re-installation went through successfully, it was working normal until it froze again on the same day and ruined everything. No matter how I tried, it wouldn’t work no more.
I went to the authorized Apple Center, they ran some diagnostics and told me I have a failed hard disk and it needs to be changed provided with the cost which is outrageously expensive.
Anything else than can be done that might help me with my problem? I have no other material with me beside the MBP and it’s original charger.
I am desperately needing help.
Thank you!
Hi Ann,
While reading your comment mid-way, I suspected the hard drive failure which you later confirmed at the end of the comment. I can understand it’s a bad situation right now. Here is my solution:
1) If data recovery is a priority, then you must try Stellar Mac Data Recovery software and scan your hard drive to preview all recoverable files. Don’t worry; the demo is free to try but saving recovered data will require you to register the application in $99.
2) If you want to repair hard drive (hoping that it’s the directory corruption and not a physical failure), then you can try Stellar Volume Optimizer application to fix a corrupt hard drive directory structure.
For a technical assistant, please reach us at 877-778-6087 or drop us an email at support[@]stellarinfo[dot]com.
Regards
Vishal
Do you mean that your hard disk is broken mechanically? If this is the case, then it’s not a data corruption issue that is causing a problem with starting up of Mac OS X, but maybe a dangerous mechanism. If the drive is broken & data needs to get recovered then please visit https://www.stellarinfo.com/services/data-recovery.php
How I can recover the data from a bad hard drive?
Hello Vishal,
I read that putting the failed hard drive into the freezer can fix it and make it work again. Do you have any information or have you tried it?
Hi Seth,
It might work at times but I think its completely a hit and trial method. If your data is precious and should be recovered at any cost then go for a professional data recovery services. Hope this helps!!
Vishal, I have Macbook pro from about 2013. Got flashing folder with question mark. Attempted to repair in safe mode but ended up losing start up disk HD in the process. Now nothing is allowing me to boot any further than “repair disk” mode.
Will purchasing the Mac Stellar data recovery software help me in this situation or should i just seek out a whole new hard drive?
Hi Cary,
Did you try repairing the disk with the OS X Utilities? If you have the latest backup of your working Mac, then you can restore it via Time Machine in OS X Utilities. In the case of no backup and a non-booting Mac hard drive, you can use the Stellar Mac Data Recovery software (Recovery CD) to make your Mac boot and recover data from the Macintosh HD (Startup disk). Please go through this helpful blog post. Macintosh HD not Booting? How to Recover Mac Hard Drive Data?
Thanks.
My hard drive fell from the computer table and went dead, though blue light still turns on. I tried your data recovery application but it couldn’t mount the disk. I can understand that it might be beyond recognizing but how can it possibly be recovered?
Hi Simon,
NO data recovery software guarantees recovery of files from a physically damaged hard drive. But no worries since we have Class 100 Clean Rooms to salvage inaccessible data from burned, broken and failed hard disk drives. Do visit Stellar Data Recovery Services.
How I can recover the data from a bad DVD?
Hi chand, you need to use Stellar Data Recovery for Mac for recovering the deleted data from a bad DVD. This data recovery software provided data recovery from FAT, ExFAT, NTFS based hard drive. You can check the detail features of this software from here. I hope, the answer will satisfy your problem.
I downloaded the free edition of Stellar Mac data recovery but the file which I want to recover have size of 1.29 GB. Your software isn’t allowing me to recover and save this file. Do I need to purchase the registered version just to recover those extra MBs?
Hi Joe, Free Edition allows 1 GB of free recovery but to recover more files from the hard drive you need to upgrade to the Stellar Mac Data Recovery Pro Edition.
Hey Author,
I am looking to repair my Macintosh HDD but FSCK and Target Disk Mode doesn’t see my hard drive. Is there other way out to repair the disk. I only want to repair the hard drive since I have the backup of my files elsewhere.
Hi Chad,
I recommend you download and install Stellar Volume Repair application which is a Mac disk repair software. This software will help you create a bootable media with which you can boot up the Mac and repair Macintosh HDD (startup drive). Additionally, it enable Journaling on Mac volumes.
Vishal, I have a Samsung J series smartphone whose 16 GB memory card is damaged. I have no idea as to how to fix it on Mac with terminal or fsck methods. Could you please let me know so that I can repair and recover the files from this memory card?
Hi Evelia,
Stellar Mac Data Recovery Platinum Edition is recommended utility for repairing a corrupt Mac hard drive or HFS / FAT formatted storage media. The same Edition allows data recovery from storage media too. Go for it.