MacBook Pro laptops are widely used by students, researchers, and professionals due to their reliability and powerful performance. However, when a Mac displays “Error Code -36” while copying files, it often indicates file system corruption, bad sectors, or a failing hard drive, making stored data inaccessible.
This case study details how we successfully recovered a university dissertation and critical academic files for a student in Guildford from a MacBook Pro hard drive, after Error Code -36 prevented file transfers and access to essential documents.
As Guildford Data Recovery, Surrey’s oldest and best data recovery company, we have 25 years of experience using Mac file system repair, deep sector scanning, and forensic data extraction techniques to restore lost data securely.
MacBook Pro Displaying Error Code -36 & Failing to Copy Files
A Guildford-based university student contacted us after their MacBook Pro hard drive failed, with the following issues:
- Error Code -36 appeared when trying to copy files.
- Some files were completely inaccessible or would not open.
- The Finder application crashed when attempting to move or copy data.
- The drive contained an important dissertation and research materials.
Since continued use of a failing hard drive can result in permanent data loss, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the MacBook Pro’s hard drive arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full hardware and file system diagnostic. Our findings:
- Bad sectors on the HDD – Preventing files from being read or copied.
- Corrupt HFS+/APFS file system – Causing Error Code -36 when attempting file transfers.
- No mechanical failure detected, meaning logical recovery was possible through file system repair and deep data extraction.
Since Mac error codes can indicate deeper file system issues, we prioritized non-intrusive data recovery techniques.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging the Hard Drive to Prevent Further Data Loss
To preserve all recoverable data, we:
- Created a sector-by-sector forensic clone of the MacBook Pro hard drive.
- Used specialized Mac recovery tools to extract readable sectors while avoiding corruption.
2. Repairing the File System & Extracting Data
Since the HFS+/APFS file system was corrupt, we:
- Rebuilt the corrupted metadata structures to restore missing directories.
- Extracted all accessible data while bypassing bad sectors.
3. Extracting & Verifying University Dissertation & Research Files
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Recovered the dissertation, research notes, and academic papers.
- Rebuilt folder structures exactly as they were before failure.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external backup device.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our deep forensic scanning and file system reconstruction techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the student’s lost dissertation files, including:
✅ University dissertation, research papers, and notes
✅ Spreadsheets, PDFs, and presentation files
✅ Organized file structures restored for easy access
The student was able to retrieve all essential files and submit their dissertation on time, preventing academic setbacks.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful Mac hard drive recoveries, we are England’s leading MacBook Pro data recovery specialists. Our expertise includes:
✔ Mac Error Code -36 recovery & file system repair
✔ HFS+/APFS metadata reconstruction & deep data extraction
✔ Academic documents, research papers, and dissertation retrieval
✔ Secure & confidential data recovery services
If your MacBook Pro is displaying Error Code -36, preventing file transfers, or losing access to critical documents, stop using the system immediately and contact us for expert Mac data recovery.