Having a Windows hard drive that won’t boot can be a distressful experience – especially when it contains your valuable data. If your operating system isn’t working, it doesn’t mean that your data is lost forever. Luckily, there are several professional data recovery software tools as well as built-in options available that you can try to recover files from a Dead PC.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through multiple effective strategies to help you retrieve your files from a Windows hard drive that won’t boot safely and efficiently.
Understanding Why Windows Hard Drive Won’t Boot
There are several reasons, ranging from software corruption to a damaged or corrupted hard drive, why your Windows PC fails to boot. Identifying the exact cause helps you to determine adequate troubleshooting workarounds. Some main reasons for this issue are:
Corrupted System Files
Instances such as unexpected system shutdowns, sudden power failures, malware, or software conflicts can damage essential system files, including Winload.exe and bootmgr. In such a case, you might experience errors like Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or error messages such as “Operating System not found” or “Missing operating system“.
Boot Configuration Data (BCD) Errors
BCD contains vital information about how Windows boots. If it becomes misconfigured or corrupted due to disk errors, a failed Windows update, or malware, you will encounter error code 0xc000000f or a similar one.
Damaged or Corrupted Hard Drive
With continuous usage, issues like wear and tear, manufacturing defects, or bad sectors are quite common on your hard drive, and this may prevent its proper functioning.
Malware or Ransomware Infections
Malicious software can corrupt or encrypt boot files, disable boot sectors, or damage partitions. If your device’s hard drive is infected with a virus or malware, you may encounter boot loops, system crashes, and ransomware splash screens.
BIOS/UEFI Misconfiguration
Changes in boot order, disabling necessary settings like AHCI or Secure Boot, or firmware updates can impact booting.
How do I Recover Files from a Windows Hard Drive That Won’t Boot?
Now it’s time to dive into different workarounds to restore your files lost from the Windows hard drive that won’t boot:
Method 01: Use Professional Recovery Software
Let’s start with the simplest approach first. If you are looking for the easiest way to recover files from your Windows hard drive that won’t boot, then third-party professional data recovery software tools like Stellar Data Recovery Professional will be the best choice. This all-in-one recovery tool allows you to create a bootable recovery drive and recover data from a non-booting Windows system — without needing to reinstall Windows first.
The Stellar Data Recovery Professional tool is known for some amazing features, such as:
- It supports recovery of data from non-booting or crashed systems.
- Support various file systems, including NTFS, FAT, exFAT, etc.
- You can use this tool to recover data from formatted, encrypted, or corrupted drives.
- Allows you to preview the recoverable files before saving them on your device.
- The software offers both Quick Scan and Deep Scan modes. Quick for basic recovery while deep for stubborn file loss cases.
Here’s how to recover files from Windows hard drive that won’t boot using the Stellar Data Recovery Professional tool:
Step 1: Firstly, connect a blank USB drive to your working Windows PC.
Step 2: Download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Professional tool on a Windows PC. Launch the software and from the homepage, select the More Tools option, then choose “Create Recovery Drive”.
Step 3: From the drop-down list that appears, select the USB drive you want to use.
Step 4: Now, click “Create Recovery Drive”. Wait till the process completes. Once done, you need to type the Activation key (received at the time of software purchase) in the Activation window that appears.
Step 5: Your bootable media is now ready, allowing you to access and recover files from the non-booting hard drive.
Step 6: After that, connect the bootable USB to the computer that fails to start.
Step 7: Turn on the computer and immediately press F12 to open the boot menu. Verify that the bootable media is detected.
Step 8: Once the PC boots from the USB, the Stellar Data Recovery interface will load automatically.
Step 9: From the “What to Recover” window, select the types of files you want to restore.
Select the affected hard drive for recovery and click the Scan button to start the scanning process. The software will search for any retrievable data.
Step 10: After completion of the scan process, go through the list of all recoverable items and choose specific files or entire folders you want to restore.
Step 11: Click “Recover” and select an external storage device as the destination for the restored files.
And that’s how you can retrieve data from a hard drive that won’t boot using this professional data recovery software.
Method 02: Recover Files Using Backups
If your Windows PC fails to start, then backups can be one of the options to recover your lost files. There are several backup utilities, such as Windows’ built-in backup tools, cloud services, or external storage devices, which you can try to restore files. Let’s check these methods in detail
1: Recovery Using File History Backup
Windows provides a built-in File History backup utility, which, when enabled on your device, automatically saves copies of your files to another drive. To recover files using File History backup, you have to:
- Connect the external drive or network location containing File History backups to your PC.
- Launch the Control Panel on another computer, then open File History.
- Now, select Restore personal files.
- Go through different folders and select the files you want to restore.
- Click the green Restore button to save them to a chosen location.
2: Recover Using OneDrive or Cloud Backups
Along with built-in backup utilities, you can use cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox to back up and restore files online. For this:
- On another computer, log in to your cloud account.
- Browse your synced folders.
- Download the files you want to restore to a safe location.
Method 03: Use Professional Data Recovery Services
If you don’t have a backup of your lost files, and even third-party professional data recovery software fails, then professional recovery labs are the safest option. These experts can help you safely handle and repair physically damaged drives, along with recovering their lost content. Among several professional services, the Stellar Data Recovery Service is known for some amazing features, including:
- ISO-certified cleanroom environment
- Experienced engineers
- High recovery success rate
- Handles all types of storage devices
Follow the steps below to know how you can take the help of these professional experts to recover your lost files:
- You can reach out to Stellar’s professional experts via their website or customer support.
- Once you contact them, you will be guided through the process of securely shipping or delivering your damaged drive to their recovery lab.
- After that, Stellar will assess the damage and provide a recovery cost estimate.
- If you approve, their engineers will use cleanroom technology to extract your files safely.
- After completion of the recovery process, your files are returned on a new storage medium.
Additional Tips to Avoid Future Boot Failures
Now that you are familiar with different methods to recover files from Windows hard drives that won’t boot, it’s time to check some preventive tips to prevent future boot failures. Once you’ve recovered your data, consider the following tips to reduce the chances of another boot failure:
- Maintain Regular Backups: Use cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Keep an external hard drive backup.
- Update Windows and Drivers: Regular updates patch vulnerabilities that can cause crashes.
- Run Disk Checks: Use chkdsk regularly to detect and fix file system issues.
- Use Surge Protectors: Prevents damage from power fluctuations.
Wrapping Up
When your Windows hard drive fails to boot, accessing its data can be challenging. In many cases, the data remains intact and accessible through the right recovery methods and professional data recovery software tools. Whether you use a bootable USB drive, connect the disk to another PC, or deploy professional data recovery software, acting quickly and carefully increases your chances of success. If you suspect hardware damage, stop DIY attempts and contact a professional recovery service to avoid permanent data loss.