Data Clinic - Data Recovery Services
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Call Us Free: 0800 151 2207
  • Data Recovery Home
  • Data Recovery Services
    • Hard Drive Recovery
    • External & USB Drives
    • RAID / Server Recovery
    • NAS
    • SSD
      • SanDisk SSD Data Recovery
      • Lenovo SSD Data Recovery
    • SD Cards
    • Mobile Phones & Tablets
      • >How The Process Works
      • Android Data Recovery
      • iPhone Data Recovery
      • Samsung Data Recovery
      • Sony Xperia Data Recovery
      • Nokia / Windows Data Recovery
      • Water Damaged Phones
    • CCTV & DVR
    • Macs
    • Windows Computers
    • Lost & Deleted Files
    • Advanced Forensic Data Recovery (ADR) Services
    • Forensic Investigation
    • Encrypted Volumes
      • Bitlocker
      • Check Point Endpoint
    • Tape Recovery
    • Tape eDiscovery & Conversion
    • Advanced Recovery Service
    • Spare Parts & Donor Drives
    • Disk Manufacturers
      • Seagate Hard Drive Data Recovery
      • Western Digital Hard Drive Data Recovery
      • Toshiba Hard Drive Data Recovery
    • SCSI Data Recovery
    • SQL Recovery
    • How Do Hard Drives Fail ?
  • Locations
    • Belfast
    • Birmingham
    • Glasgow
    • Leeds
    • Leicester
    • Liverpool
    • London – Chiswick
    • London – City
    • Manchester
    • Northampton
    • Sheffield
  • Help & Advice
  • News
  • About Us / Contact

Soldered MacBook SSD’s and the T2 Security Chip

apple customer data migration tool connectorFrom 2016 onwards Apple began the rollout of two hardware ‘features’ in their laptops that hamper data recovery attempts: soldered SSD’s and the T2 security chip.

In addition to this, from 2018 Apple also removed the Customer Data Migration connector from the motherboard (pictured right). This was a connection that allowed data to be transferred from machines where the motherboard had failed.

Soldered SSD’s

First seen in the MacBook Pro, Apple started to solder the system’s SSD hard drive directly to the computer’s motherboard. This meant that the average user or IT repair shop could no longer remove the hard drive to attempt data recovery or upgrade their storage. This design feature is now common to all modern Mac laptops.

T2 Security Chip

apple t2 security chipSince 2017 Apple added the T2 security chip to the motherboard. This is a separate processor that further locks down the Mac and it’s data. It also makes data recovery more complicated. We have found that we can fix the Mac and allow a 3rd party OS to be booted which will allow a clone of the SSD to another device, or to recover it via TDM (Target Disk Mode). The game has recently changed with the introduction of the Catalina update to Apple OS which has introduced a ‘Safe Boot‘ option that is enabled by default, this prohibits the booting of a 3rd party OS – basically Apple do not want anyone besides Apple to gain access.

Currently the ONLY option for data recovery is to get the Mac to boot via TDM, but any damage to the NAND or T2 chip renders it unrecoverable. If you have a MacBook you need to recover the data from please contact us.

Links

  • Data recovery from SSD hard drives
  • Data recovery on Apple devices
macbook running catalina

A Macbook running Catalina

For an Immediate Quote
Call FREEPHONE
0800 151 2207

or, Request a Callback

Data Clinic Reviews

Data Clinic Ltd
Data Clinic Ltd
4.5
Based on 103 reviews
Write a review
Elliot Mikes
Elliot Mikes
06:29 14 Jan 21
Will Man
Will Man
15:45 13 Jan 21
Lost all my data on my iPhone, rang this company to see whether it was all retrievable. Within a week had my device backed up and all tracked with DHL courier. Definitely recommend to others who maybe experiencing issues with lost data.

LONDON
68 Lombard Street, EC3V 9LJ
Tel: 0207 111 0964

BELFAST
The Mount, Belfast BT6 8DD
Tel: 0800 151 2207

BIRMINGHAM
11 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1RB
Tel: 0121 629 0436

GLASGOW
Tay House, 300 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JR
Tel: 0141 301 1677

LEEDS
Building 3, City West Business Park, Gelderd Road, Leeds, LS12 6LN
Tel: 0113 254 9741

LEICESTER
3rd Floor, St. George's House, 6 St George's Way, Leicester LE1 1QZ
Tel: 0800 151 2207

LIVERPOOL
Horton House, Exchange Street East, Liverpool, L2 3PF
Tel: 0151 268 5255

MANCHESTER
The Pavilions, Bridge Hall Lane, Bury, BL9 7NX
Tel: 0161 761 0620

NORTHAMPTON
Victory House, 400 Pavilion Drive, Northampton Business Park, Northampton, NN4 7PA
Tel: 01604 529356

SHEFFIELD
The Balance, 2 Pinfold Street, Sheffield, S1 2GU
Tel: 0114 208 6027


(c) 2020 Data Clinic Ltd - Data Recovery Services. Click to visit Data Clinic's DATA RECOVERY homepage.