Hard drives have grown to play a significant role in our daily lives. A significant amount of data is produced, downloaded, viewed, and consumed every day and is effectively stored by storage devices. But what if these troves of our priceless data suddenly stop functioning?
No matter how much data is lost, it still feels tragic because it makes us part with things that we once owned. However, that is no longer the case, and this guide will explain why.
This article on how to recover data from a laptop hard drive that won’t boot will discuss various solutions you can use in these situations. So let’s get started on our fixes so that we can get your hard drive up and running!
Can You Get Files Off from Hard Drive That Won’t Boot
The inability to boot into the operating system is caused by the hard drive. As a result, you lost access to all of your hard drive’s contents, including installed software, games, and personal data.
As long as you use the right technique, accessing a hard drive without an operating system is not a big deal unless the drive is dead, dying, or irreparably damaged.
So, the issue is: how can data be recovered from a computer or laptop hard drive that won’t boot? If you are experiencing this issue, keep reading to learn about two solutions that will help you recover your data from a hard drive that won’t boot on a Windows computer.
Simply follow the instructions below to remove files from a non-bootable hard drive right away.
What You Need to Recover Data from Unbootable Disk?
There are a few things you must have in order to start the process of recovering data from your unbootable hard drive. The process will be quick and simple with this equipment set. Let’s discuss these items and why you might need them.
- A tool to recover data from hard drives
- A second bootable hard drive, USB drive, or bootable CD/DVD:
- A functional computer
How to Recover Data from Hard Drive That Won’t Boot in Windows 10/8/7
You can use the Stellar Data Recovery Professional program to recover data from a Windows computer hard drive that won’t boot and save all of the information from the failed hard drive to another safe external storage device when your computer is unable to boot from a hard drive.
To fix the hard drive won’t boot error right away without losing any data, simply download and install Stellar Data Recovery program with bootable media on a working computer.
Step 1. Create a bootable disk
- Open the Stellar Data Recovery program, select “Crashed PC Recovery,” and then press “Go to Recover.”
- Click “Create” after selecting an empty USB to start the bootable drive.
Step 2. Boot your computer from the bootable USB
- Change your computer’s boot sequence in the BIOS by connecting the bootable disc to the PC that won’t boot. The majority of users find that restarting their computer while simultaneously pressing F2 to enter BIOS works well.
- Select “Removable Devices” (a bootable USB disc) as the first boot option when starting the computer. To save and leave, press “F10”.
Step 3. Recover data from a crashed system/PC
- Select the drive you want to scan to locate all of your lost files after starting the computer with the Stellar Data Recovery program bootable disc. You should preview and save the necessary files to a secure location.
- After that, you can attempt to reinstall Windows on the non-booting computer’s hard drive, after which you can copy the recovered data back to your computer and use it once more.
How to Manually Recover Data from Laptop Hard Drive That Won’t Boot?
Using a hard drive enclosure is one of the best ways to remove files from a hard drive that won’t boot. First, however, let’s define a hard drive enclosure.
A hard drive enclosure functions as a cover for your drive. It safeguards the hard drive and enables its connection to the PC via USB, FireWire, eSATA, and other ports.
A hard drive enclosure is available online or from a nearby computer parts store. Once you’ve brought it, proceed as described below.
- After purchasing an enclosure, the first thing you should do is put your hard drive inside. Depending on the brand, this procedure may vary. For doing it, it is advised to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Simply connect the enclosure to your PC once the hard drive is inside. When the enclosure is detected, the PC will handle it like any other external storage device.
- You could successfully recover data from a drive that won’t boot by simply copying the data onto your computer once the drive is connected.
Tips to Boot the Hard Drive
- Because the internet is the main source of viruses, use caution when browsing. For protection, keep an antivirus program installed on your computer.
- If your hard drive makes a clicking or grinding noise, stop all operations right away.
- You should regularly back up your data because disaster can happen at any time. To prevent physical damage, make sure the drive is stored securely. Hard drives can be destroyed by extreme heat and humidity, so proper safety measures should be taken when storing a drive.
- To prevent unexpected errors, regularly update your driver software.
- Frequently check the connections to your hard drive. As soon as you notice any old or exposed wires or peripherals, replace them.
Bottom Line
Hard drives that won’t boot are a challenge, but there are ways to access the data they contain. Making sure your drive’s cables and connectors are in good working order will usually help you find a solution to your issues.
You can try reading from an external enclosure even if your drive is internal. Despite the difficulty of these methods, you can easily recover your data by using third-party data recovery tools.
You can access drives that even your system can’t read and then recover your data from them using software like Stellar Data Recovery program.
