Current Events > Computer Experts only. Can I retrieve pics from my smashed laptop?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I think the harddrive is fine? Not really sure what it looks like though. The Mac laptop no longer turns on because the screen is detached from the keyboard and the wires severed. Could I somehow hook it up to my working PC and extract the pics?

I am feeling nostalgic and have pics from 2008-2009 I would like to see.
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Say goodbye to them. Memories are all you will have left.
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Aren't there companies that extract info from destroyed computers for forensics? The internal components are not destroyed.
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Have you tried turning it off and back on
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If the hard drive is fine, they do sell adapters to hook up SATA/IDE etc. hard drives to USB cables than you can connect to another computer. Then you can search the old hard drove as if it was a normal USB drive.
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yeah you can probably pay someone to rescue your data. no to connecting the HDD to your PC though as I don't think mac formatted drives are compatable with windows pcs, but it's been a while since I've fucked with apple stuff.
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Take HD out, buy thingie from Best buy. Transfer everything. Return to best buy
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TheBiggerWiggle posted...

If the hard drive is fine, they do sell adapters to hook up SATA/IDE etc. hard drives to USB cables than you can connect to another computer. Then you can search the old hard drove as if it was a normal USB drive.

This is the best chance you've got of rescuing it
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I'll take a pic of it tonight and post it. See what you guys think.
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This should be very easy. Just get a SATA to USB adapter or a USB enclosure for $10 from Microcenter and there's several programs that will help you read the files and just copy them.

Then you can format it and use it as an external.
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gunplagirl posted...

TheBiggerWiggle posted...

If the hard drive is fine, they do sell adapters to hook up SATA/IDE etc. hard drives to USB cables than you can connect to another computer. Then you can search the old hard drove as if it was a normal USB drive.

This is the best chance you've got of rescuing it

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Depends on if there is internal damage to the drive.

If there is no damage you can just install it into a new computer or get an adapter to hook it up. You will probably need to hook up to a Mac so it can read the data correctly.

If the mechanical parts are damaged you would need to use a data recovery service. These can get expensive though so you would have to ask yourself if the cost is worth it.

If the disk itself is broken its unlikly to be recoverable.
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MacadamianNut3 posted...

Have you tried turning it off and back on

heheheh

charey posted...

Depends on if there is internal damage to the drive.

If there is no damage you can just install it into a new computer or get an adapter to hook it up. You will probably need to hook up to a Mac so it can read the data correctly.

If the mechanical parts are damaged you would need to use a data recovery service. These can get expensive though so you would have to ask yourself if the cost is worth it.

If the disk itself is broken its unlikly to be recoverable.

I'm going to post pics tonight. Like I said, I am computer illiteraterate when it comes to this stuff. I don't think it would be damaged but I don't know. The laptop is in two halves.
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DoctorVader posted...

This should be very easy. Just get a SATA to USB adapter or a USB enclosure for $10 from Microcenter and there's several programs that will help you read the files and just copy them.

Then you can format it and use it as an external.

Yeah, there are programs on Windows that can read other file systems. I'm presuming that OSX uses ext3/ext4 (edit: it uses something else). Alternatively, you could use Linux (even just a Live CD) to do it, but the Windows programs should be fine.

If your computer is smashed, can't you just physically remove the picture files? After all, the files are IN the computer?
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It sounds like you'll have to extract the drive and hook it up to another computer. If your laptop screen just separated from the body the hard drive should be fine, unless it took a tumble or something.
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ImTheMacheteGuy posted...

If your computer is smashed, can't you just physically remove the picture files? After all, the files are IN the computer?

Ok Zoolander.
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I don't see why people think you can save your files. Pretty sure Mac uses drive encryption, making it impossible to recover a hard drive if you can't boot into the system. You can of course pay a large fee to get a company to crack the encryption, but it's not worth it.

But yeah assuming there was no encryption all you'd need to do is take the HDD out and plug it into another computer. If I were you I'd take it to a PC shop and ask them what they can do and how much it will cost.
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Yeah totally you just have to receive the hardware from the router port with a USB drive.

P4wn4g3 posted...

I don't see why people think you can save your files. Pretty sure Mac uses drive encryption, making it impossible to recover a hard drive if you can't boot into the system. You can of course pay a large fee to get a company to crack the encryption, but it's not worth it.

But yeah assuming there was no encryption all you'd need to do is take the HDD out and plug it into another computer. If I were you I'd take it to a PC shop and ask them what they can do and how much it will cost.

How do I know if it's encrypted?
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This article should make it obvious

https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/yosemite-filevault/
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Here are the pics




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its in perfect condition. rip that fucker out and put it in a $10 enclosure
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If the drive is damaged, then you're SOL. Otherwise, there are adapters available to connect the hard drive to another PC so that the files can be copied.
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Grindcorp9000 posted...

lol why didnt you just post the question here instead of writing it on the picture? xDDD

yes, it is.
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OK. How can I check if it works? It doesn't look broke.
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Take it out, buy an adapter to convert a USB connection, hook it up to another computer and extract to a thumb drive or said computer.
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OK. Can you transfer Mac to PC? I am really excited. I am going to the store tomorrow to get what I need.
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Good luck
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http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-ways-read-mac-formatted-drive-windows/
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Talks posted...

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-ways-read-mac-formatted-drive-windows/

Does this bypass drive encryption? These days you can't even move a Windows drive without turning encryption off.
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yeah last time i hooked up a mac drive to windows it refused to read without fully reformatiing. it's certainly not as simple as throwing it in an enclosure and connecting it like most people ITT are saying.
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Back_Stabbath posted...

yeah last time i hooked up a mac drive to windows it refused to read without fully reformatiing. it's certainly not as simple as throwing it in an enclosure and connecting it like most people ITT are saying.

That's right there's software involved. Lots of free ones though, it's still that simple.
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I managed to remove the drive and I put it in a ziploc bag.
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Ziploc isn't static proof, but then again I wouldn't worry most about that particular issue.
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P4wn4g3 posted...

Ziploc isn't static proof, but then again I wouldn't worry most about that particular issue.

What should I put it in?
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in your marsupial pouch
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Harddrives are tough. I used to work at an electronic recycling factory. After being wet from rain. and throving into containers, and a lot of other things. Most of them where still functional.

Nikra posted...

Harddrives are tough. I used to work at an electronic recycling factory. After being wet from rain. and throving into containers, and a lot of other things. Most of them where still functional.

depends on the brand. A slightly malicious glance will break a seagate drive.
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Back_Stabbath posted...

Nikra posted...

Harddrives are tough. I used to work at an electronic recycling factory. After being wet from rain. and throving into containers, and a lot of other things. Most of them where still functional.

depends on the brand. A slightly malicious glance will break a seagate drive.

What I mean is that electronics in general can survive a lot more than you think. An example: If you take the battery out of a laptop, you can then sink the laptop into a bathtub full of water. When it dry up again, you can insert the battery again and it will start up and work just fine.

@P4wn4g3 posted...

Talks posted...

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-ways-read-mac-formatted-drive-windows/

Does this bypass drive encryption? These days you can't even move a Windows drive without turning encryption off.

You have literally no idea what you are talking about, drives are not encrypted by default.
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You mean despite that article I posted saying that they have been for years?
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