MacBook models with Fusion Drive setups combine a high-speed SSD with a traditional HDD, offering a balance of speed and storage capacity. However, when a MacBook displays a flashing question mark folder on startup, it usually indicates a failed Fusion Drive configuration, SSD corruption, or mechanical HDD failure, making critical data inaccessible.
This case study details how we successfully recovered research data for a school pupil in Leeds after their MacBook 2023 Fusion Drive setup failed to boot.
As Leeds Data Recovery, with 25 years of experience, we used Fusion Drive reconstruction, SSD firmware repair, and deep sector-level HDD data extraction techniques to restore lost research files.
The Challenge: MacBook Displays Flashing Question Mark Folder & Won’t Boot
A school pupil in Leeds contacted us after their MacBook 2023 version failed to boot, with the following issues:
- MacBook only displayed a flashing question mark folder on startup.
- macOS Recovery Mode was unable to detect the internal Fusion Drive.
- Disk Utility showed the SSD and HDD as separate drives instead of a unified Fusion Drive.
- The Mac contained important school research projects and coursework.
Since Fusion Drive failure can lead to data fragmentation across both drives, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the MacBook 2023 Fusion Drive (1 x SSD, 1 x HDD) arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full diagnostic assessment. Our findings:
- Fusion Drive split due to SSD corruption – The SSD was no longer recognized as part of the Fusion setup.
- HDD developed bad sectors – Preventing normal data access.
- No mechanical damage to the SSD – Meaning logical data recovery was possible.
Since Fusion Drives rely on combined storage architecture, we had to rebuild the Fusion setup manually to extract the missing data.
The Recovery Process
1. Separating & Cloning Both Drives
To prevent further corruption, we:
- Created sector-by-sector clones of the SSD and HDD separately.
- Bypassed unreadable sectors using forensic-level imaging tools.
2. Rebuilding the Fusion Drive Structure
Since macOS could no longer recognise the Fusion Drive, we:
- Analyzed and reconstructed the CoreStorage volume linking the SSD and HDD.
- Rebuilt file system structures to restore missing data pathways.
3. Extracting & Verifying Research Data
Once the Fusion Drive was successfully reconstructed, we:
- Recovered missing research files, project documents, and coursework.
- Repaired corrupted Word, PDF, and spreadsheet documents.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external SSD.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our Fusion Drive reconstruction and SSD/HDD data extraction techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the pupil’s lost data, including:
✅ School research projects and coursework
✅ Class notes, assignments, and essays
✅ PDFs, presentations, and multimedia learning materials
The pupil was able to continue their studies without losing any important academic work.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading MacBook Fusion Drive data recovery specialists in Leeds and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ Fusion Drive repair & CoreStorage volume reconstruction
✔ SSD corruption recovery & HDD bad sector extraction
✔ macOS startup disk failure troubleshooting
✔ Secure & confidential academic data retrieval
If your MacBook is showing a flashing question mark folder, failing to detect the Fusion Drive, or has lost access to important school files, stop further attempts and contact us immediately for professional Mac data recovery.