Data Recovery for Macbook Air when repair efforts failed

My computer is unable to boot and stays on the gray screen. I've tried to repair my computer with every method up to disk utility but nothing will work, so I want to back up my computer if possible before reinstalling the software. I don't use time machine, so I was wondering if there is a way to do it by external hard drive.
Thank you for any suggestions!

There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to fully boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
1. Boot into Recovery (command-R at startup) or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) Launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in the support article linked below, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
How to back up and restore your files
2. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode by holding down the key combination command-T at the startup chime. Connect the two Macs with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable. The internal drive of the machine running in target mode will mount as an external drive on the other machine. Copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode
3. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.

Similar Messages

Advice re: sim card data recovery for MacBook Pro?

Looking for a "safe" program download for MacBook Pro to retrieve info from an old Blackberry Sim card.
Anyone have experience with this that they'd like to pass along?
Thanks,
TB

Scraggy78 wrote:
Hi, I'm looking at two scenarios I need help with. I still have a contract for another 12 months with EE which gives me 2gb of data monthly on my ipad mini. If I sell the ipad mini can I use the micro SIM card in a......
A) a new iPod Air
Or
B) a new MacBook Pro with Retina.
After researching this topic, I found the placing an old SIM card in a new iPad would be impossible. There is no way for consumers to remove the back cover... Without dropping it off a building. My best suggestion: Use the current plan up first. Then buy a new plan.

HT1338 erased the hard drive on my macbook air, when it starts up show a flashing folder unable to find wifi to do internet recovery

erased the harddrive on my macbook air when it starts up show a flashing folder unable to connect to wifi to do internet recovery

Reboot holding command and r keys down to boot into Lion Recovery
How to reinstall just OS X or erase/install OS X
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents

I am tryin to access old macbookpro harddisk on macbook air,when i connect it via usb i see the folders,but i dont see any files e.g. photos,movies,docs are not there,its shows that 220gb is used,but no data is visible...can u pls adv how to access data?

i am tryin to access old macbookpro harddisk on macbook air,when i connect it via usb i see the folders,but i dont see any files e.g. my saved photos,movies,docs are not there,its shows that 220gb is used,but no data is visible...all folder are empty.......can someone pls adv how to access data?

i am tryin to access old macbookpro harddisk on macbook air,when i connect it via usb i see the folders,but i dont see any files e.g. my saved photos,movies,docs are not there,its shows that 220gb is used,but no data is visible...all folder are empty.......can someone pls adv how to access data?

Why has Apple decided that online orders for Macbook Air display and speak VO when first opened from the box? I"m guessing 1%or 2 % of your customers know what it is or want it.

Why has Apple decided that online orders for Macbook Air display and speak VO when first opened from the box? I"m guessing 1%or 2 % of your customers know what it is or want it.

You are not talking to Apple, we are just users like you. Only Apple knows that answer.

Factory settings for MacBook Air

Hi, I have added a user in user&groups and have been strugling for few days with the settings. Since there are no data on the MacBook Air I need, I am ready to just re-install the whole laptop. The Apple helpdesk advised me to do it. But after I restared the laptop with command-R holding and re-installed Mac OS X Lion, the old desktop and my settings have come back. All I want is to be able to start all anew with the laptop with the facotry settings but I cant find a way to do it.

Hi there. Yes and now I did it again, but now with the alt key insted of ctrl-R. As per instruction of Apple staff whoem I explained the problem and who instructed me to do it. They even send me a file explaining me how to do it.
Please help :-). So how do I erase the drive and then reinstall it ? I dont understand what you mean by 'erase with the Disk Utility when booted to the recovery partition'.
Now that I have reinstalled twice, I am no any closer to my sollution. Problems with authorisations on files and folders still remain. Othe rproblem is that I put eg Word or Excel icons into the dock and after logging out and back in they are gone.
Best regards, Pavel

I have not been able to back up for2 days. Time machine error message: /Volumes/Data/David's MacBook Air.sparsebundle" is already in use.

I have not been able to back up for2 days. Time machine error message: /Volumes/Data/David’s MacBook Air.sparsebundle” is already in use.
What now?
Macbook Air.
Was working fine for the past year until now.

See more like this on the right.. this is the most common error reported here since mountain lion came out..
Or read C12.. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Or just restart the whole network.. in right order from off.. modem.. router / TC.. clients 2min gap.

Apple's Replacement Program for Macbook Air mid-2012

Hi everyone, I just wanted to know more about apple's replacement program for Macbook Air mid-2012. I updated the said firmware and then my mac air stops working. However, according to the program, they are replacing it free of charge. I just went to an authorized service provider here in the Philippines and I just want to know if I will be paying any. I can't find good discussions in Google. Thanks.

You should not, as the replacement program is worldwide. In case the reseller refuses to repair your Mac for free, print this website and take it with you

Webcam not working for Macbook Air 2013 after upgrading to OSX Mavericks? Yahoo/ Google/Skype cam chats not working. Facetime works though. Any updates of Mavericks released to fix this?

Webcam not working for Macbook Air 2013 after upgrading to OSX Mavericks? Yahoo/ Google/Skype cam chats not working. Facetime works though. Any updates of Mavericks released to fix this?

I have a MacBook Pro Retina display: 15.4-inch late 2015 with OS X Mavericks install, only on second week.
Insight works on FaceTime, Skype, but yahoo program does not show insight cam in dropped down.
Now when I got my new MacBook Pro, I down loaded all new Skype (worked tested), FaceTime (Worked Tested), Yahoo (not worked)
Fix:
With the new Maverick you have to use there messager program Version 8.0 (4218). Once I add my yahoo account video works again.
It also supported AOL, AIM, Google Talk, Jabber.
Guess I miss it frist time... hope this helps...

IPhoto in MacBook Pro 2013 only shows "place holders," but no photos, after data transfer from Macbook Air 32011

I am trying to transfer data from my MacBook Air 2011 to a "new" MacBook Pro 2013. Both are running Yosemite 10.10.2. Since Migration Assistant WOULD NOT WORK (the MacBook Air couldn't "see" the MacBook Pro), using my WiFi network, I transferred the necessary data to a 500GB drive and THEN to the MacBook Pro. However, two programs didn't transfer well - or at all! iTunes only transferred the Music (Media?) files, but not iTunes U, Podcasts, Audiobooks, etc. I have had to drill down into the storage files, retrieve the non-transferred files and add them, one by one - a most laborious task. But, this is nothing compared to the problem with iPhoto (9.6), which shows only 6 events and 4 Faces transferred, with the rest only place holders (black boxes and grey dotted squares) in all the folders in my iPhoto.
I "Showed Package Contents," and found the missing files - of which there are many! - and started adding them, again, one by one.
Can anyone tell me what happened to my iPhoto (Yosemite 10.10.2)? It's fine on my MacBook Air, but simply WON'T TRANSFER to my MacBook Pro?
PLEASE - someone tell me how to CORRECTLY transfer my iPhoto files and/or HOW TO MAKE THE MACBOOK AIR "SEE" THE MACBOOK PRO in Migration Assistant?

Hello Mary,
Sorry to hear that you are having issues with moving your data over to your new Mac. There are a few alternatives that you can do to migrate that data if you are not seeing it in Migration Assistant. The first is make a Time Machine back up to that 500 Gb external hard drive and then use that in Migration Assistant to copy the entire data over. If you do that you will want to remove any data that you have on your MacBook Pro after the transfer completes as it will create another user with the data from the MacBook Air. Another option is to use a Thunderbolt Cable that you can purchase online if you want and use the option from another disk to copy that over. Take a look at the articles below for more details.
Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250
Move your data to a new Mac
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350
Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2.0 m) - White
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD861ZM/A/apple-thunderbolt-cable-20-m
Regards,
-Norm G.

Can I use "SuperDrive for MacBook Air" with my Macbook 13"?

My Optical Drive from my Macbook is dead. I tried to repair it but it is far too expensive. My question is: can I use a 'Superdrive for Macbook Air' (http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC684ZM/A#overview) as an external optical drive for my old Macbook 13" (bought in 2008)?
Thank for your help

No, it only works on Macs that lack an internal optical drive (MacBook Air and Mac Mini).

Adding another screen for MacBook Air

I have a late 2008 MacBook Air, and am looking to add an additional screen when working in my home office---drag and drop screen to screen. Does anyone have suggestions on docking station or way to this?

BTW: I am aware on how to do this, when you can plug the mointor directly into the laptop or there is a specific docking station. I am just looking for the best options available for MacBook Air.
Thanks!

How can i install Flash Player for MacBook Air?

Please if somebody knows how to help me to install Flash player for Macbook air?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
You can download Adobe Flash Player from the Adobe site > http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer After downloading it, run the installer to install Flash Player, and when the installation finishes, restart your Mac. You will be able to use Adobe Flash Player with all your Internet browsers

How do I find out the purchase date of my MacBook Air?

I need to find out the purchase date of my MacBook Air so I can register it as a product in my Apple ID. I bought the MacBook from a friend, and he doesn't remember the date it was purchased on.

Giving away / Selling your Mac / Resetting the computer to the factory condition
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5189
http://www.thesafemac.com/how-to-prepare-your-mac-for-sale/

Compatible at-home printer for MacBook Air 13"?

Can anyone recommend an at-home printer for MacBook Air 13" for my granddaughter? High school now requires papers typed and printed. Thanks.

Personally I like Canon inkjet printers. When I connected it to the USB port, the MacBook immediately recognized it and it worked without a hitch. If you're going to be printing mostly B/W then there are many inexpensive laser printers that typically print faster and crisper for text. IMHO.

Data Recovery for Macbook Air when repair efforts failed

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for