Can I back up MacBook hard drive this way?

sharingan_sasuk · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:37

Hi all, I have a MacBook that is only displaying a white screen with a folder icon and question mark. I know this means the hard drive is dodgy, but I would like to still see if any data can be read and backed up.

With Windows computers, I would normally just take the hard drive out and stick it in a USB caddy and then connect it to another Windows computer. Then I would just copy whatever I can.

With Mac, do I need to use a Mac to read it or can I read it on my Windows computer? And is it even possible to connect a MacBook hard drive via caddy for data backup or can it only be read on its host computer?

Regards

Fr0dders · 21 Sep 2011 at 22:23

You can, but only with 3rd party software.

"andy" · 22 Sep 2011 at 06:52

you will most likely (unless at some point you reformatted to FAT) need something that can read the macs HFS filesystem. theres free stuff about but I'm struggling with names.

you could also use another mac. if your hard drive is dodgy though id buy a new one , install your OSX and then just use that to read the old disk (if its working well enough)

the hard drive will fit in any 2.5 sata caddy or hook up to any sata port/cable

DELETED_108974 · 22 Sep 2011 at 12:02

If your hard drive decides to let you in one day I'd recommend using an application called Carbon Copy Cloner. It's free and lets you clone the hard drive.

So pick yourself up a 2.5" HDD and a USB caddy, clone your dodgy hard drive if you can to the new HDD and then install that hard drive into the MacBook. Loads of people recommend it and you'll have your same work environment with no data loss

Hope it works out for you and your hard drive works long enough to let you do it!

sharingan_sasuk · 22 Sep 2011 at 19:36

Thanks for the suggestions. I connected it via USB caddy to my MBP and Disk Utility would pick it up only once. After I tried to verify the disk, it no longer picked it up. On closer inspection, I could hear the hard drive struggle to start up. So it's dead I'm afraid!

feriso · 23 Sep 2011 at 12:40

You could have tried starting up in Target Disk Mode and then connecting to another mac via firewire?

Deleted member 77746 · 23 Sep 2011 at 15:32

sharingan_sasuk said:
Hi all, I have a MacBook that is only displaying a white screen with a folder icon and question mark. I know this means the hard drive is dodgy.

Hold down ALT on boot after the chime to see if it gives you your disk menu, I had this and I fixed it by holding ALT.