Extracting data from a defective computer

Using advanced tools to read files from a faulty disk

Oct. 15, 2020 - Willem L. Middelkoop

This week I received a message from someone with a iMac that crashed. It contained more than 50.000 photos, covering two decades of personal history. As there was no backup, it was up to me to attempt to safe as much as I could. Could I possibly recover the personal photos?

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Ultimately I was able to rescue all other photos!

Crashed iMac on my desk - ready to be opened

Some iMacs require a special cutting blade to cut through the adhesive tape holding the glass on to the Aluminium frame

Reading files from the salvaged disk - if you understand Dutch you’ll understand the personal nature of these photos (‘bevalling’ means birth)

Connecting the salvaged disk to another Mac

Removing the glass panel using suction caps

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Articles (148)

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