MacBook Pro devices are widely used by creative professionals, including graphic designers, due to their powerful performance and reliability. However, storage failures can still occur, leading to data loss and workflow disruption.
This case study explores how we successfully recovered critical design files from a MacBook Pro that displayed a flashing question mark folder, indicating no bootable drive was detected. The device belonged to a graphic designer whose Mac stored client projects, Photoshop files, and creative assets.
As Ireland’s oldest and most trusted data recovery company, we applied advanced SSD and APFS recovery techniques to retrieve the lost data.
The Challenge: MacBook Pro Flashing Question Mark Folder
The graphic designer contacted us after their MacBook Pro failed to boot. The issues reported included:
- Flashing question mark folder on startup, indicating macOS could not locate a bootable drive.
- MacBook Pro not recognizing the internal SSD in Disk Utility or macOS Recovery Mode.
- Important client projects stored on the drive, with no backup available.
Since the client’s work depended on recovering these files, a fast and reliable data recovery solution was essential.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the MacBook Pro arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full hardware and software diagnostic. Our findings:
- Internal SSD failure – The MacBook Pro’s NVMe SSD was not being detected, suggesting controller or firmware corruption.
- Corrupt macOS file system (APFS) – The SSD’s APFS structure was damaged, making the data unreadable.
- Possible T2 chip security issues – The Mac’s T2 security chip was preventing standard recovery methods.
Because MacBook Pro SSDs are soldered to the motherboard in newer models, a specialized chip-level recovery approach was necessary.
The Recovery Process
1. SSD Chip-Level Access & Data Extraction
Since the MacBook Pro’s SSD was not removable, we used:
- Direct NAND chip access tools to bypass the failed controller.
- Custom firmware repair techniques to communicate with the storage module.
- Specialized Mac data recovery software to extract raw APFS data.
2. Rebuilding the APFS File System
Once we had access to the raw data, we:
- Reconstructed the damaged APFS volume, ensuring the client’s files were recoverable.
- Extracted lost Photoshop files, Illustrator projects, and media assets.
- Manually repaired corrupted design files to restore usability.
3. Verifying & Transferring the Data
After recovery, we:
- Verified the integrity of all recovered design files.
- Transferred the data to a secure external SSD for the client.
- Advised the graphic designer on backup solutions to prevent future data loss.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our advanced SSD and APFS recovery techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the designer’s critical files, including:
✅ Photoshop (PSD) and Illustrator (AI) files
✅ High-resolution images and project assets
✅ Client invoices and business documents
The designer was able to resume work immediately, avoiding costly delays.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading Mac data recovery experts in Ireland and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ MacBook Pro SSD & T2 chip data recovery
✔ APFS, HFS+, and encrypted disk recovery
✔ Logic board and NAND chip-level recovery
✔ Secure & confidential recovery for professionals
If your MacBook is displaying a flashing question mark folder, failing to boot, or showing missing drives, don’t attempt DIY fixes—contact us for professional data recovery.