At Coventry Data Recovery, we bring over 25 years of experience in specialist Apple Mac data recovery. If your Mac Mini has lost important files or folders due to file system corruption, our engineering team can provide advanced recovery solutions using forensic-grade tools and methodologies. Whether your system uses HFS+, APFS, or Fusion Drive architecture, we have the expertise to recover your data effectively.

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Common Mac Mini Data Loss Symptoms

Files and folders disappear without warning
Finder fails to display full directory contents
Disk Utility fails First Aid or shows “corrupted file system”
macOS cannot mount the drive or displays “Drive Not Recognised”
External backup (Time Machine) not available or out-of-date

Technical Cause: File System Corruption

File system corruption in a Mac Mini can result from several underlying issues:

Unexpected shutdowns (e.g. power loss during disk write)
macOS updates interrupted or failed
Bad sectors on SSD or HDD affecting metadata structures
Fusion Drive sync errors (for hybrid setups)
Logical corruption of the APFS container or HFS+ catalog file
TRIM command issues on SSDs unintentionally erasing valid data

Step-by-Step: Our Mac Mini Data Recovery Process

1. Drive Isolation & Write Protection

We begin by removing the internal drive or connecting it via a forensic bridge. The drive is mounted in a read-only mode to prevent data overwrites.

2. Bit-Level Imaging

Using forensic hardware tools like DeepSpar, MRT Ultra, or PC-3000 Mac Module, we clone the entire drive sector-by-sector. This includes areas marked bad by macOS.

3. File System Metadata Analysis

Our engineers inspect the file system structure (e.g. APFS container or HFS+ volume header) to identify corruption in:

Journaled file systems (HFS+): Catalog B-trees, extents, and allocation files.
APFS: Container superblocks, checkpoint structures, snapshots, and volume metadata.

4. Logical Reconstruction

We manually rebuild corrupted directory structures using:

Hex-level analysis for orphaned files
File carving to extract known file types by signature (e.g. JPEG, MOV, DOCX)
Metadata reconstruction using inode recovery (APFS) or catalog node mapping (HFS+)

5. Verification & Extraction

Recovered files are validated for integrity. We verify file headers, timestamps, and test media files where applicable (e.g. QuickTime .mov, Final Cut Pro libraries, Adobe project folders).

6. Data Return

Recovered data is securely backed up onto a brand-new external storage device, formatted to the user’s specifications (HFS+, APFS, or exFAT for cross-platform access).

Supported Apple File Systems and Configurations

macOS File Systems: APFS, HFS+, HFS Journaled
Storage Types: SATA HDD, PCIe/NVMe SSD, Fusion Drive (logical volume groups)
macOS Versions: OS X El Capitan to macOS Sonoma
Encryption: FileVault 2 encrypted volumes supported (with user credentials or recovery key)

Why Choose Coventry Data Recovery for Your Mac Mini

Forensic-Grade Tools: PC-3000, DeepSpar, and BlackBag MacQuisition
Certified Engineers: Apple file system and SSD recovery specialists
No Data – No Fee Policy
Cleanroom Facilities: For physical Mac Mini SSD or HDD failures
Secure Handling: Data processed in compliance with GDPR and UK data protection laws

How to Start Your Mac Mini Recovery

Turn Off the Mac Mini: Avoid further use to prevent overwriting lost data.
Contact Our Team: We’ll offer a free diagnostic and shipping instructions.
Send or Drop Off: Bring your Mac Mini or its storage media to our Coventry lab.
Recovery in 2–4 Days: Typical turnaround, with urgent 24-hour options available.