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Apple Seemingly Unable To Recover Data From 2018 MacBook Pro With Touch Bar When Logic Board Fails (macrumors.com)
An anonymous reader shares a report: In 2016, when Apple introduced the first MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models, the repair experts at iFixit discovered the notebooks have non-removable SSDs, soldered to the logic board, prompting concerns that data recovery would not be possible if the logic board failed. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. Apple has a special tool for 2016 and 2017 models of the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar that allows Genius Bars and Apple Authorized Service Providers to recover user data when the logic board fails, but the SSD is still intact. [...] But, unfortunately, it appears the tool will not work with the latest models.
Last week, iFixit completed a teardown of the 2018 MacBook Pro, discovering that Apple has removed the data recovery connector from the logic board on both 13-inch and 15-inch models with the Touch Bar, suggesting that the Customer Data Migration Tool can no longer be connected. MacRumors contacted multiple reliable sources at Apple Authorized Service Providers to learn more, and based on the information we obtained, it does appear that the tool is incompatible with 2018 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models. Multiple sources claim that data cannot be recovered if the logic board has failed on a 2018 MacBook Pro. If the notebook is still functioning, data can be transferred to another Mac by booting the system in Target Disk Mode, and using Migration Assistant, which is the standard process that relies on Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Last week, iFixit completed a teardown of the 2018 MacBook Pro, discovering that Apple has removed the data recovery connector from the logic board on both 13-inch and 15-inch models with the Touch Bar, suggesting that the Customer Data Migration Tool can no longer be connected. MacRumors contacted multiple reliable sources at Apple Authorized Service Providers to learn more, and based on the information we obtained, it does appear that the tool is incompatible with 2018 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models. Multiple sources claim that data cannot be recovered if the logic board has failed on a 2018 MacBook Pro. If the notebook is still functioning, data can be transferred to another Mac by booting the system in Target Disk Mode, and using Migration Assistant, which is the standard process that relies on Thunderbolt 3 ports.
And coincidently they have discontinued the Time Capsule router/NAS, so you can't do wireless backups to a local device you paid a one-time purchase price on. Gotta be getting everybody on a perpetual payment plan.
...or just buy a "computer" that works for you, and not to the manufactors agenda of complete and total vendor locking...
Because lots of other "vendors" have "stores" all over the place where you can take your "computer" to have the data restored.
Oh, and for God's sake, turn on backups people.
W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
Apple devices will back up to a regular NAS though, even a USB drive hooked up to a "regular" non-Apple router. The latest Time Capsules were terrible designs anyway -- it was basically impossible to upgrade the HDD. THEORETICALLY, the hard drives would just slide out after removing the bottom cover. But no. Apple routed critical cables under the drive, with the connectors deep within the unit. Basically impossible to release the cables without breaking the connectors. This could have been solved with a slightly longer cable, but no -- Apple likes to push planned obsolescence.
(Even if encrypted, as long as the user knows the appropriate passphrases.)
Unless the passphrase is made more secure by having it only gain access to the key through a secure enclave chip (so that you can't brute force the password). That chip is on the touch bar in these models.
I agree that sacrificing repairability to make a computer slimmer is a terrible idea, but it's 2018. If you're not encrypting a portable device then you shouldn't leave the house with it.
Until it doesn't. It seems common for it to pop up and say that a backup is corrupted, and prompts you to erase the stored backup and start fresh.