New MacBook Pro does not have port for data transfer in case of logic board failure

Since the generation before the current one, MacBooks Pro have a crucial difference in relation to all the past models of the line (and the… well, most computers): the storage unit of the machines is soldered to the logic board – that is, any repair on the computer that involves replacing the sign means that you will have a brand new storage unit when the pet comes back from assistance.

At the time, the change raised some doubts: so if my logic board fails and I don’t have a backup, did my data go to bag? For the previous generation of MacBook Pro, Apple solved this problem with a hidden connector on the board – a connector that was accessible only by authorized technical assistance and, with the help of a special accessory, transferred the data from the SSD (if it was still functional, of course) for a brand new MacBook Pro.

Now, apparently, this is no longer the case.

When iFixit disassembled the new 13 ″ and 15 ″ MacBooks Pro, the firm detected that the special connector on the logic board was no longer present in the new models. THE MacRumors, then contacted some sources within Apple Authorized Service Centers and confirmed that the latest versions of the machine do not support the data transfer accessory – in other words, if your logic board fails and you have not a backup, you can say goodbye to your files.

Data recovery tool for the new MacBook ProGood night, sweet prince

The only chance to recover your data is if the MacBook Pro is still minimally functional to the point that it can be started in Target Disk – in this case, the computer works as a kind of external drive and you can connect it to another machine through the Thunderbolt 3 port to transfer your files. Otherwise, nothing done.

Apple, of course, did not comment on the case – and therefore it is not possible to know with certainty the reason for the withdrawal. It is speculated, however, that the change has to do with the introduction of the T2 security chip: the component is responsible, among other things, for encrypting the data present in the internal storage unit of the new MacBooks Pro, by default. Therefore, an external accessory, theoretically, could not recover this data without an authentication of the chip itself (which, in this case, would be inoperative).

THE MacRumors also found that internal documentation for stores and CSAAs guides technicians and salespeople to encourage consumers to always back up with Time Machine – after all, now, this is the only way to have your data saved in the event of a general machine failure . The document also says that consumers who cannot recover their files can consult third-party data recovery companies – but no one specifies exactly how they could help.

Absurd, inconvenient or understandable? You who say.