Is my iMac Pro data forever lost?

[Turnpike]

So back when I switched to Apple for my work I replaced a dozen computers over time, all different ones that I used for different projects, etc. so I had half dozen 27" iMacs. I eventually got a 2017 iMac PRO that was refurbished back when they were still pretty new, and had used that as both a work and personal computer, saving tons of stuff to it. At the time, I still didn't understand Time Machine, and thought that using a 2TB external SSD as my boot drive was a form of super-careful operating procedure because should anything happen on my iMac Pro, I could just plug that external SSD into another Mac and either boot from it or pull the files from it (in a worst case scenario).

Well it turns out one day my iMac Pro quit. I left to get some water, came back and it was off. I often ran a zillion tabs open, it was warm sometimes, but I don't remember ever hearing the fans go or anything. But I couldn't get anything to power on, or show even any evidence that it was getting power. Someone on here a long time ago told me that my external hard drive is likely encrypted by default to this logic board (an iMac PRO feature only, no other iMacs have this by default) and that if I can't get it fixed, I likely lost whatever was on the hard drive.

I brought it to Apple, they said the power source is the first thing to try, they swapped it, still super dead, and that the next thing to change is the logic board (which would make it like a new computer, new serial # and everything, which defeats the purpose) so I said to stop there.

Is this encrypted-by-default-on-iMac-Pro thing real? Is this the end of everything I had on those drives? If anyone has any suggestions or input on this, let me know. I'd love to fix the iMac Pro, even at a cost, but my priority right now is being able to recover the info on the external hard drive. I plugged it into other iMacs with the same version OS and they don't even recognize the drive.

Thanks in advance for anything you might be able to share.

 

[Terraaustralis]

So you have a working external boot drive?
Just reconnect to another Intel Mac and apply the passwords necessary upon request to get past encryption and you will have no problem using the external data source.

When TM is set up, the user is asked to choose and name a drive, choose to encrypt or not to encrypt. Encryption is on by default and must be deliberately switched off. Encryption default is not a special Mac Pro feature; it is a standard TM disk selection procedure on all OSX since inception. I switch encryption off because it slows TM incredibly and costs disk space. I have no security concerns in my situation.

That said, encrypted data can be also be recovered via Recovery, (Command R at startup). Follow these recovery options: https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/mac-help/mchl338cf9a8/mac

As to fixing the 2017 MacPro, it is a cost benefit issue.
1. Buying a replacement Motherboard from Apple will cost a lot, assuming Apple have old stock available. Unless you intend upgrading yourself you must pay a technician to do the upgrade. A better option is buying a used 2017 - why not buy a later - 2019 Intel iMacPro from Ebay or from the used/refurbished market, which will be far more cost effective and can be economically updated in future?. For now, that simply replaces your previous Mac.

2. Others may suggest put the money into an M1 or M2 series Mac Mini. Also spend on a conversion kit and make your 2017 iMac Pro with its 27: 5k screen, a monitor for the Mini. Assuming you are capable, this way you get a great monitor, a much more powerful Mac Mini with PCIE 4.0. Speed and power at minimum, double your iMac Pro.

3. Just buy a regular 24" M series you can afford. That too is PCIE 4.0 and at least twice as powerful as your MacPro.

Finally, if you like a challenge, you can read MacFixit, look at the video’s and decide whether you would like to take on the challenge of buying a used, working Logic board and installing it your self in your 2017 iMacPro. That requires attention to detail, good research on this blog, care and dexterity. During upgrade add internal 2TB WD Black SN770 NVME SSD and increase drive performance by 600% to 3000MB/s transfer rate. Retain mechanical drive for archiving.

It all depends upon the type of work you do and how much money you are prepared to spend.

Tell us what you decide.

 

[chrfr]

Is this encrypted-by-default-on-iMac-Pro thing real? Is this the end of everything I had on those drives? If anyone has any suggestions or input on this, let me know.

Yes, this is true, the data is encrypted whether or not you use FileVault, but if you could somehow get the computer to boot from an external disk you might be able to access it. I assume you have no external backup of your data.

 

[Turnpike]

So you have a working external boot drive?
Just reconnect to another Intel Mac and apply the passwords necessary upon request to get past encryption and you will have no problem using the external data source.

When TM is set up, the user is asked to choose and name a drive, choose to encrypt or not to encrypt. Encryption is on by default and must be deliberately switched off. Encryption default is not a special Mac Pro feature; it is a standard TM disk selection procedure on all OSX since inception. I switch encryption off because it slows TM incredibly and costs disk space. I have no security concerns in my situation.

That said, encrypted data can be also be recovered via Recovery, (Command R at startup). Follow these recovery options: https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/mac-help/mchl338cf9a8/mac

As to fixing the 2017 MacPro, it is a cost benefit issue.
1. Buying a replacement Motherboard from Apple will cost a lot, assuming Apple have old stock available. Unless you intend upgrading yourself you must pay a technician to do the upgrade. A better option is buying a used 2017 - why not buy a later - 2019 Intel iMacPro from Ebay or from the used/refurbished market, which will be far more cost effective and can be economically updated in future?. For now, that simply replaces your previous Mac.

2. Others may suggest put the money into an M1 or M2 series Mac Mini. Also spend on a conversion kit and make your 2017 iMac Pro with its 27: 5k screen, a monitor for the Mini. Assuming you are capable, this way you get a great monitor, a much more powerful Mac Mini with PCIE 4.0. Speed and power at minimum, double your iMac Pro.

3. Just buy a regular 24" M series you can afford. That too is PCIE 4.0 and at least twice as powerful as your MacPro.

Finally, if you like a challenge, you can read MacFixit, look at the video’s and decide whether you would like to take on the challenge of buying a used, working Logic board and installing it your self in your 2017 iMacPro. That requires attention to detail, good research on this blog, care and dexterity. During upgrade add internal 2TB WD Black SN770 NVME SSD and increase drive performance by 600% to 3000MB/s transfer rate. Retain mechanical drive for archiving.

It all depends upon the type of work you do and how much money you are prepared to spend.

Tell us what you decide.

None of this is relevant, this has nothing to do with TM, it wasn't even used. This is about a default encryption that is on the iMac Pro. An encryption that I did not set up, that requires the iMac Pro itself to access the data on the boot drive aside from passwords. I understand the stuff you're saying, but it doesn't apply here. I have an M4 MBPro, etc.

 

[Turnpike]

Yes, this is true, the data is encrypted whether or not you use FileVault, but if you could somehow get the computer to boot from an external disk you might be able to access it. I assume you have no external backup of your data.

Thanks. Yeah, the computer is likely toast, it's most likely the logic board, and changing that would change the part the encryption needs to match. The computer won't start up, boot, or do anything without it.

 

[chrfr]

Thanks. Yeah, the computer is likely toast, it's most likely the logic board, and changing that would change the part the encryption needs to match. The computer won't start up, boot, or do anything without it.

Correct, even though the storage on the iMac Pro is modular, the data is inaccessible if the storage is moved to a new logic board, regardless of whether or not FileVault is enabled.

 

[Bigwaff]

I'm pretty sure T2 Macs (iMac Pro has T2 security chip) don't automatically encrypt external storage devices, even external boot devices. One has to change boot security to even be able to boot from an external device. To encrypt the external device, one must explicitly enable File Vault on the external boot device, which would then present a Recovery Key, then one is prompted to store the Recovery Key in iCloud or write it down. If you lose the Recovery Key, the data is lost.

I plugged it into other iMacs with the same version OS and they don't even recognize the drive.

Do you mean the drives do not mount? Or do you mean the drives do not even appear in Disk Utility?