Should I just give up or should I try to get SSD data recovery on an OEM Apple SSD? Overwrote Sierra on it. Is there any way to get files off it still?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Any suggestions on SSD data recovery? Overwrote SIERRA on it, need data
- Thread starter California
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Installing Sierra does not remove your data, unless you chose to erase the SSD first. That would mean that you specifically went to Disk Utility, and chose to erase the drive, then quit Disk Utility, and only then reinstalled macOS, which would mean that you have only the Sierra system installed.
Again, a simple reinstall of macOS (even upgrading from an older OS X system) does not write over your own files and apps, unless you chose to do that erase first (you would know that erase happened).
And, if you DID erase the drive first, then installed Sierra, that's pretty much made your erased data toast.
And now, pretty expensive to attempt to retrieve whatever data can be rescued with a commercial data recovery service.
SSDs are WAY more challenging than a spinning hard drive to recover erased data --- if anything at all can be recovered.
Again, a simple reinstall of macOS (even upgrading from an older OS X system) does not write over your own files and apps, unless you chose to do that erase first (you would know that erase happened).
And, if you DID erase the drive first, then installed Sierra, that's pretty much made your erased data toast.
And now, pretty expensive to attempt to retrieve whatever data can be rescued with a commercial data recovery service.
SSDs are WAY more challenging than a spinning hard drive to recover erased data --- if anything at all can be recovered.
If all you did was install a new copy of the OS, your OLD DATA in your old home folder should still be there.
If you re-initialized the drive (erased it) before installing, that data is probably "gone for good".
If the drive was encrypted, forget about it.
Data recovery is possible on platter-based hard drives, but it becomes much more problematic, in some cases almost impossible, on SSD's. Perhaps the NSA can get it, but few others can...
Final thought:
This is what BACKUPS are for.
If you don't know about the concept of backing up, it's time you found out!
If you re-initialized the drive (erased it) before installing, that data is probably "gone for good".
If the drive was encrypted, forget about it.
Data recovery is possible on platter-based hard drives, but it becomes much more problematic, in some cases almost impossible, on SSD's. Perhaps the NSA can get it, but few others can...
Final thought:
This is what BACKUPS are for.
If you don't know about the concept of backing up, it's time you found out!
Thanks, I get it.If all you did was install a new copy of the OS, your OLD DATA in your old home folder should still be there.
If you re-initialized the drive (erased it) before installing, that data is probably "gone for good".
If the drive was encrypted, forget about it.
Data recovery is possible on platter-based hard drives, but it becomes much more problematic, in some cases almost impossible, on SSD's. Perhaps the NSA can get it, but few others can...
Final thought:
This is what BACKUPS are for.
If you don't know about the concept of backing up, it's time you found out!
My bigger question is, what recovery program do you guys recommend for the "once over" Sierra install?
[doublepost=1505081229][/doublepost]
Thank you for this detailed response.
What recovery program do you recommend for the "once over" Sierra install?
Exactly! You would remember that you used Disk Utility to erase the drive, then reinstalled macOS.
Those two things have to happen.
Otherwise, if you mean a "once over" as simply reinstalling macOS - as a simple reinstall or update of your system, then you should be safe, with your data still exactly as you left it.
If you DID erase the drive first, and without a backup of the existing drive, then perhaps someone else can recommend something (I have not ever been successful with a recovery of an erased SSD )
If you have not used the system, at all, since you did a wipe and reinstall, then my suggestion would be https://www.drivesaversdatarecovery.com --- but that's just my experience with recoveries on a erased drive (not so good!)
chabig has a good question, which will help determine if you have ANY chance at all: Did you have the drive encrypted (using FileVault)? If the answer is Yes, then there's nothing to recover if you erased an encrypted drive.
Those two things have to happen.
Otherwise, if you mean a "once over" as simply reinstalling macOS - as a simple reinstall or update of your system, then you should be safe, with your data still exactly as you left it.
If you DID erase the drive first, and without a backup of the existing drive, then perhaps someone else can recommend something (I have not ever been successful with a recovery of an erased SSD
)If you have not used the system, at all, since you did a wipe and reinstall, then my suggestion would be https://www.drivesaversdatarecovery.com --- but that's just my experience with recoveries on a erased drive (not so good!)
chabig has a good question, which will help determine if you have ANY chance at all: Did you have the drive encrypted (using FileVault)? If the answer is Yes, then there's nothing to recover if you erased an encrypted drive.
It's an SSD, not a platter-based drive.
Data recovery (following erasure) is FAR more difficult, essentially impossible on an SSD.
If the OP re-initialized the drive (erased it), he almost certainly isn't going to get the data back.
The OP can't even tell us what he actually -did- while installing the new OS...
Data recovery (following erasure) is FAR more difficult, essentially impossible on an SSD.
If the OP re-initialized the drive (erased it), he almost certainly isn't going to get the data back.
The OP can't even tell us what he actually -did- while installing the new OS...
If you did erase the data, beyond just whether or not FV2 was enabled...
How long did you continue to use the system before shutting it down and removing power from the SSD? (so its controller would not 'clean' deleted data during periods of inactivity)
Was TRIM enabled? (if this is an OEM Apple SSD, the answer is presumably yes - this is bad news)
How much money is this recovery worth to you?
How long did you continue to use the system before shutting it down and removing power from the SSD? (so its controller would not 'clean' deleted data during periods of inactivity)
Was TRIM enabled? (if this is an OEM Apple SSD, the answer is presumably yes - this is bad news)
How much money is this recovery worth to you?