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Hey guys I am a Computer Tech looking for a hardware attachement to allow recovery of data from a Macbook Air starting in 2018 that won't boot. I know there is a device that connects to the ribbon cable of the logic board in order to recover data in target disk mode on another computer. Anyone have a lead on buying that hardware device?
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Different series offered different options. The 2016/17 MacBook Pro’s offered a Hail Mary solution which allow one to access via a connector to the systems storage using a special recovery tool. The newer T2 based systems started encrypting the data in-line so access to even the raw chips won’t get you the data! The only option was via Target Disk mode, but that requires the system to be running so you can gain access via a second Mac.
The newer MacBook Airs 2018 onward are like the MacBook Pro’s using Target Disk Mode for access as the storage like the MacBook Pro’s is soldered to the logic board. The older MacBook Airs like the 2015 and older MacBook Pro’s have a removable drive which you could install into a case to allow access to the data.
So now in your case the 2019 Air only option is using Target Disk Mode connecting to a second Mac system. But before you go down that path have you tried just using a bootable USB-C thumb drive setup as a bootable macOS drive?
Review this Apple TN on the startup commands for Target Disk Mode and how to select which drive to boot from: Mac startup key combination and review this to setup a bootable drive Create a bootable installer for macOS
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