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A1297 · 2011
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011) data recovery & logic board repair
Your files are on a separate drive, so even a completely dead board doesn't mean lost data.
Getting your files back
Good news first: the MacBook Pro A1297 keeps your files on a separate drive (a hard drive, SSD or Fusion Drive, depending on the configuration). If the Mac itself has died, the drive is usually fine and we copy everything straight off it.
If the drive is the part that failed (clicking, very slow, not showing up, or the Mac stuck on a flashing folder), stop using it. We image the drive first, then recover from the copy, so nothing more is lost.
If FileVault was turned on, we need your Mac login password to unlock the copy.
This model
- Model number
- A1297
- Model identifier
- MacBookPro8,3
- Processor
- Intel Core i7
- Released
- 2011
- Where your data is
- Removable drive
Same model number, different year: MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011)
Board faults we repair on this Mac
- Liquid damageTea, coffee and water spills corrode the board within days. Switch off, don't charge, and bring it in.
- No power or not chargingFailed charging chip, MagSafe board faults and shorted power rails.
- No picture or no backlightBacklight circuit, display connector and fuse faults on the board.
- Graphics chip failureThe 2011 15-inch and 17-inch models are known for AMD graphics failures: grey screens, stripes and restart loops.
- Failed previous repairBoards another shop has given up on, or quoted to replace, are worth a second look.
Questions
MacBook Pro A1297: data and repair
Can you recover data from a dead MacBook Pro A1297 with no backup?
Yes, in most cases. The drive can be removed and read even if the Mac won't start.
Will a replacement logic board keep my data?
Yes. The data is on the drive, not the board, so it moves across with the drive.