OS doesn't start. Folder with question mark. Liquid spilll on my macbook pro

[britpoprule]

Hi everyone. Unfortunately I'm here writing about my recent disgrace.
Some liquid (mainly water) ended up on my macbook pro AM1502 EMC 2875.
MacBook Pro Retina 13", 2014, 8GB RAM, 256 SSD.
I already had a rubber keyboard cover but apparently the liquid reached the holes in the gap between the screen and the keyboard and I guess entered inside.
The macbook turns on, but the system doesn't start. After a long time a folder with the question mark appears. I did some research and followed the procedure pressing cmd + R. The hard drive doesn't appear, even if I go to Disc Utility. Is the hard drive dead now? Have I lost all my data? Can it be repaired?
I opened the mac and removed the HD. Cleaned it with Isopropyl Alcohol but nothing happened.
I'm using the mac right now to write here and seek help. I know I probably should leave it to avoid even worse damage.
Please I really need your urgent help.
Many Thanks

 

[Raz0rEdge]

There's a ton of info and discussion on this subject in the thread: http://www.mac-forums.com/apple-notebooks/271875-official-spilled-liquid-macbook-thread.html

Water and electronics don't mess. If you've been turning this machine on with the water in there, you are definitely burning stuff. Does the disk seem to spin when powered on? You might want to plug it into another machine or purchase an external USB adapter for it and see if you can get your data back.

 

[britpoprule]

There's a ton of info and discussion on this subject in the thread: http://www.mac-forums.com/apple-notebooks/271875-official-spilled-liquid-macbook-thread.html

Water and electronics don't mess. If you've been turning this machine on with the water in there, you are definitely burning stuff. Does the disk seem to spin when powered on? You might want to plug it into another machine or purchase an external USB adapter for it and see if you can get your data back.

I will certainly buy that cable. Could you please show me what does it look like? So I should be looking for a usb cable for SSD HD?

I have an external HD. Can I use it to install the OS just to be operative in the meantime? I have data in it, can I install the OS without erasing them?

In a video on youtube I read that 95% of the time it's the hard drive data cable that got damaged and has to be replaced. Do you agree?

cheers

 

[IWT]

Hi britpoprule,

Is the hard drive dead now?

Probably, but not necessarily. Data retrieval might be possible.

Have I lost all my data?

That depends on whether you have a Time Machine backup or a cloned backup such as Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper!. If so, the data is safe even if the Mac is damaged. If not......... well, I'm afraid to say that Solid State Drives (SSD) are notoriously difficult from which to recover data.

removed the HD. Cleaned it with Isopropyl Alcohol

Not perhaps the best solution. Better to have shut down the Mac and allowed it to dry out in warm atmosphere, surrounded by rice or other water-absorbent material. Not a good idea to try turning on the Mac before doing this. Exacerbates the problem, sorry.

Does the disk seem to spin when powered on?

. Ashwin, it's a SSD. No moving parts.

Ian

 

[britpoprule]

Before I go to a very expensive shop to lose money, can you please help with some useful informations?
Can you please help me for the external cable/adapter to connect the SSD?
Can you please tell me if it can be true that maybe it’s just the cable that connects the hard drive to the logic board?

 

[IWT]

Good point and well meant. So was my post.

Have you any form of backup along the lines I suggested? If you have, then all is not lost and we can take it from there. If not; well the situation is difficult and data recovery may not be easy or even possible.

That's the situation; I'm being honest, not unhelpful.

It's tough and I respect & understand that.

What's your answer, please?

Ian

 

[britpoprule]

Good point and well meant. So was my post.

Have you any form of backup along the lines I suggested? If you have, then all is not lost and we can take it from there. If not; well the situation is difficult and data recovery may not be easy or even possible.

That's the situation; I'm being honest, not unhelpful.

It's tough and I respect & understand that.

What's your answer, please?

Ian

If I had any form of backup do you think I would be worried about losing data?

 

[pm-r]

I'm confused and lost here, as well as coming in a bit late.

But post #1 in separate paragraphs says:
The Mac won't boot...
And then
It's being used and working now.

So is it not or is working???




Patrick
======

 

[britpoprule]

I'm confused and lost here, as well as coming in a bit late.

But post #1 in separate paragraphs says:
The Mac won't boot...
And then
It's being used and working now.

So is it not or is working???




Patrick
======

Hi Patrick.
Yes the mac would not boot and after a while (instead of the apple), a flashing folder with a question mark inside would appear.
Pressing cmd + R (straight after you turn on the mac) you can go to Disk Utility (but no signs of the hard drive) and between other options there was 'ask help on the internet'. That's how I was typing here.

I opened the mac, cleaned any remains of the liquid (almost nothing) and used Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the hard drive. Turned on the mac, but still the folder with the question mark inside.
After a couple of hours while I was cleaning the keyboard I accidentally pressed the on button and the mac miraculously loaded as normal, and everything was working fine. But after 15 minutes it crashed and the screen blocked. That made me think that there was still something faulty. I turned it off and on again and and it hasn't crashed in more than a couple of hours. It's working as normal.
Saved almost all the data.
I just hope that nothing has been damaged and maybe I just had to wait for the liquid to completely dry. What do you think?
Hopefully it will keep on working as usual.

 

[pm-r]

Hi Patrick.
Yes the mac would not boot and after a while (instead of the apple), a flashing folder with a question mark inside would appear.

OK, and the use of good 99% Isopropyl Alcohol was probably a good idea but I don't know if it would have been an actual benefit but may have helped improve any contacts.

Unfortunately such spill can take their time before any real permanent problem strikes and at other times it never does. Let's hope yours is the latter case!!!

BTW: Do you now have a current backup of your critical data at least???

A bootable clone is best IMHO, like using CCC!!!
https://bombich.com




- Patrick
======

 

[IWT]

BTW: Do you now have a current backup of your critical data at least???

I'll bet he/she does now! See post #7. There was no BU at all, hence the urgency and concern about the data.

And thank you Patrick for your input. I was indisposed and unable to get back to the OP.

Ian

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Ashwin, it's a SSD. No moving parts.

Ian

I saw SSD and then HDD and got confused. Maybe we can check to see if the electrons are flowing.

To the OP: If the MBP isn't picking up the hard drive in the recovery console, then the either the SSD or the logicboard connection is broken. You might try the following two options to make it externally accessible to another Mac.

1 - https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MAU3ENPRPCI/
2 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076KDPZMM/?tag=macforums0e4-20

 

[MacInWin]

I just hope that nothing has been damaged and maybe I just had to wait for the liquid to completely dry. What do you think?
Hopefully it will keep on working as usual.

Sadly, water damage will almost always end up with permanent damage being done, particularly when the power is turned on while the device is still wet. Even just a bit of dampness can provide an electrical path to allow components to be damaged. If I were you, I would start saving for the day the Mac will die. And make backups, you won't get much notice before it just quits.

 

[pm-r]

I'll bet he/she does now! See post #7. There was no BU at all, hence the urgency and concern about the data.
… … …
Ian

You never know, and stranger things have happened.

But possibly and hopefully done in this case.

And maybe this can act as a reminder just in case it hasn't been done has become a "'Round-TuIt".


EDIT:
Just in case someone didn't know what it is:




- Patrick
======

 

[IWT]

Nice one, Patrick.

But I'm very hopeful that britpoprule has now started a backup strategy, maybe even along the lines I suggested.

As for all recording media, whether disks, drives or whatever; it's not "if" it fails, it's "when". They all do eventually.

Ian