If your MacBook (white & black, 2006–2010) needs data recovery, our London technicians can help, usually with a quote on the same day you bring it in.
With a standard SATA drive and no hardware encryption, data recovery from these MacBooks is usually very successful. If the laptop won’t start, we remove the drive and image it on our recovery equipment. If the drive has mechanical faults, we treat it as a physical recovery. We also recover from FileVault 1 home folders if you have the password.
About this model: The white and black polycarbonate MacBook was Apple’s first Intel notebook and sold in huge numbers, so plenty are still in use. The A1181 models are known for cracked or discoloured palm rests and for batteries that swell.
Signs it needs data recovery
- MacBook won’t start but files are needed
- Drive clicking or not detected
- Accidental deletion
- Liquid spill killed the MacBook
How we do it
Your data is on a standard drive, so first we take it out of the Mac and connect it to our recovery equipment through a write-blocker, which means nothing is written to the drive. We make a full image and work only on the copy.
If the drive has physical problems such as clicking or not spinning, it goes through our physical recovery process instead.
Typical recoveries include Photos libraries, Mail archives, music collections, business documents and creative projects from Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro or Adobe apps.
At a glance
| Years | 2006–2010 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Duo / Core 2 Duo |
| Storage | Standard SATA drive |
| Memory | Socketed, upgradeable |
| Battery | Removable |
| Power / charging | MagSafe 1 |
Before you bring it in
Check iCloud, Time Machine and any external drives first: you may have more backed up than you think. Then bring the Mac in with a short list of the files you need most.
Which model do you have?
This page covers the MacBook white & black polycarbonate (13-inch, 2006–2010) (MacBook1,1 to MacBook7,1; A1181 and A1342). Open the Apple menu, choose About This Mac, then More Info or System Report. The A-number is also printed in small text on the underside. Not sure? Bring it in and we’ll identify it for you.
Price
Logical data recovery from £150 + VAT; physical recovery from damaged drives from £350 + VAT. All prices are subject to inspection, and nothing is done without your approval.
Questions we’re often asked
Will you need my password?
Only if FileVault encryption was switched on. Without it, we can read the drive directly. With it, we need your login password or recovery key.
Do I pay if you can’t fix it?
No. If the repair isn’t possible, you don’t pay for it, and the free initial assessment costs nothing.
Book a repair
Call us on 020 7394 2528 or email info@mac-repair.london to arrange a time to drop it off.