Apple’s MacBook Pro 13-inch is a preferred choice for interior designers who need a powerful and reliable device for handling high-resolution design files, CAD software, and creative projects. However, when a MacBook suddenly shuts down and won’t boot, it often indicates hard drive failure, file system corruption, or power delivery issues, leading to data inaccessibility.
This case study details how we successfully recovered critical interior design files for an interior designer in Glasgow from a MacBook Pro 13-inch hard drive, after the laptop suddenly powered off and refused to boot.
As Glasgow Data Recovery, Scotland’s oldest and best data recovery company, we have 25 years of experience using APFS/HFS+ partition repair, deep sector imaging, and forensic data recovery techniques to restore lost creative files.
MacBook Pro Shutting Down & Not Booting
A Glasgow-based interior designer contacted us after their MacBook Pro suddenly turned off and would not restart, with the following issues:
- The MacBook powered off unexpectedly and did not boot again.
- Apple’s macOS Utilities (Recovery Mode) failed to detect the internal drive.
- The laptop showed a blinking folder with a question mark on startup.
- The drive contained essential AutoCAD, Photoshop, and SketchUp design files for client projects.
Since hard drive failures in MacBooks can lead to permanent data loss if mishandled, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the MacBook Pro 13-inch hard drive arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full hardware and software diagnostic. Our findings:
- Hard drive failure – The drive was unresponsive due to read/write head degradation.
- APFS file system corruption – Making stored data unreadable.
- No visible platter damage – Indicating a high likelihood of successful recovery.
Since Apple’s macOS Recovery and Disk Utility could not repair the drive, we prioritized deep imaging and file system reconstruction.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging the Failing Hard Drive to Prevent Further Data Loss
To preserve all recoverable data, we:
- Created a sector-by-sector forensic clone of the MacBook’s hard drive.
- Used specialised recovery tools to extract readable data despite drive degradation.
2. Repairing the APFS File System & Rebuilding the Partition Table
Since the file system was damaged, we:
- Rebuilt the APFS partition structure to recover missing files.
- Extracted directory metadata to restore folder hierarchies.
3. Extracting & Verifying Interior Design Files
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Recovered all AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Photoshop project files.
- Restored design portfolios, floor plans, and high-resolution images.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external SSD.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our deep imaging and file system reconstruction techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the interior designer’s lost data, including:
✅ AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Photoshop design files
✅ 3D renderings, floor plans, and project drafts
✅ Organized file structures restored for easy access
The interior designer was able to retrieve all critical design projects, preventing business disruptions and client delays.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful Mac recoveries, we are Scotland’s leading MacBook data recovery specialists. Our expertise includes:
✔ APFS & HFS+ partition repair & data extraction
✔ Deep sector imaging for failing Mac hard drives
✔ Interior design project & creative file recovery
✔ Secure & confidential Mac data recovery services
If your MacBook Pro is shutting down unexpectedly, not booting, or preventing access to important design files, stop using it immediately and contact us for expert Mac data recovery.