Forum menu
Accessing MacBook w...
 

[Closed] Accessing MacBook with damaged screen

Posts: 9387
Full Member
Topic starter
 
[#10787133]

I recently checked red wine all over my MacBook, insurance company have dealt with it well and are paying out, I'll have replacement by the weekend.

Nearly everything is saved in the cloud but I want to do a sweep of the damaged machine to check for anything saved locally. It appears to be powering up but screen is totally goosed. Is anyone aware of any options to connect either new macbook or an iPad to the old device to use as a screen, therefore being able to access the device?


 
Posted : 29/08/2019 11:17 am
Posts: 23334
Free Member
 

plug in an external monitor?


 
Posted : 29/08/2019 11:18 am
Posts: 1335
Full Member
 

Target disk mode - start it up and press the key combination (google / search Apple support) and it'll turn into a big USB drive. You can mount it from your new computer and browse.

Here's one article about it

If your goosed mac is encrypted, it will ask you for the password to access the files (according to Apple - but that's different from the advice in the article)


 
Posted : 29/08/2019 11:35 am
Posts: 11468
Full Member
 

Or if target disk mode doesn't work, simply remove the hard drive, stick it in an external USB housing and access it as an external hard drive from your new Mac.


 
Posted : 29/08/2019 2:58 pm
Posts: 9387
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Or if target disk mode doesn’t work, simply remove the hard drive, stick it in an external USB housing and access it as an external hard drive from your new Mac.

IS that easy to do on a MacBook? I've done it before on a windows machine.


 
Posted : 29/08/2019 3:08 pm
Posts: 11468
Full Member
 

I guess it depends on what model it is, but should be doable. With my mid-2012 MBP it's pretty straightforward. Good instruction resource at:

https://www.ifixit.com

I'd try Target Disk Mode first though, which is more straightforward, but you might as well salvage the hard disc whatever. You might even be able to fix the whole thing with aftermarket parts if you can be bothered.


 
Posted : 29/08/2019 7:00 pm