Apple’s Fusion Drive technology combines a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) with a solid-state drive (SSD) to improve performance. However, when the HDD component begins making grinding or scraping noises, it often indicates physical platter damage or read/write head failure, making data inaccessible.
This case study details how we successfully recovered critical data from a MacBook Fusion Drive with two storage devices, after the HDD began making grinding noises and Apple Support suggested possible platter damage.
As Oxford Data Recovery, with 25 years of forensic data recovery experience, we used cleanroom HDD repair, head replacement, and Fusion Drive reconstruction techniques to restore lost data.
The Challenge: MacBook Fusion Drive Making Grinding Noises & Becoming Inaccessible
A MacBook user contacted us after their Fusion Drive system stopped working, with the following symptoms:
- Loud grinding or scraping noises from the HDD when powered on.
- MacBook failing to boot, showing the flashing question mark folder.
- Apple Support advised the issue was likely caused by physical damage.
- Important personal and work-related files were at risk.
Since grinding noises typically indicate severe mechanical failure, an immediate cleanroom recovery was required to prevent permanent data loss.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the MacBook Fusion Drive (HDD + SSD combo) arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full hardware diagnostic. Our findings:
- Failed read/write heads on the HDD – The grinding noise was caused by damaged heads scraping against the platters.
- No physical damage to the SSD – The SSD component was fully functional.
- Fusion Drive metadata corruption – Because Fusion Drive links both disks together, the SSD was also rendered inaccessible.
Since continued operation could cause further platter damage, we immediately proceeded with a precision cleanroom recovery.
The Recovery Process
1. Cleanroom HDD Head Replacement & Platter Stabilization
To safely extract data, we:
- Opened the HDD in our cleanroom.
- Removed the damaged read/write heads and installed a donor head assembly from a matching HDD.
- Stabilised the platters to prevent further scraping or surface damage.
2. Imaging & Extracting Data from the HDD & SSD
Once the HDD was stabilised, we:
- Created a forensic sector-by-sector image of the HDD to prevent additional wear.
- Extracted all accessible data from the SSD.
- Reconstructed the Fusion Drive structure manually, restoring missing links.
3. Verifying & Restoring Data
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Checked all recovered files for corruption or missing fragments.
- Repaired damaged file structures and restored Fusion Drive indexing.
- Transferred the recovered data to a new external SSD for the client.
The Results: 97% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our cleanroom head replacement and Fusion Drive reconstruction techniques, we successfully recovered 97% of the client’s data, including:
✅ Personal documents, photos, and videos
✅ Work-related spreadsheets and reports
✅ Application data and software settings
The client was relieved to have their data restored, allowing them to transfer their files to a new storage solution without losing any important information.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading MacBook Fusion Drive recovery specialists in Oxford and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ Grinding or scraping noise HDD recovery
✔ Cleanroom head replacement
✔ Mac Fusion Drive partition repair & file reconstruction
✔ Secure & confidential data retrieval
If your MacBook Fusion Drive is making grinding noises, failing to boot, or showing a flashing question mark folder, turn it off immediately and contact us for expert data recovery.