How to Recover Data from Surface Pro That Won't Turn On

Sometimes, when you try to turn on your Surface Pro, it won't turn on even after a restart. It's frustrating, isn't it, especially if your important files are locked inside. Whether it's hardware failure, power issues, or software bugs, etc., your first thought will be: “how to recover data from a Surface Pro that won't turn on?

Thankfully,  your data isn’t necessarily gone. However, you need to identify of the type of Surface Pro malfunction, don't mix it up. We’ll show you how to recover files from a dead Surface Pro, along with six handy fixes to get it running again.

⭐Part 1: Recover Data from a Surface Pro That Won’t Turn On

If your Surface Pro can’t load OS, or it’s dead, it is necessary to recover data from a Surface Pro as any operation may cause data overwriting. We recommend you use an easy-to-use and powerful data recovery software - MyRecover.

It is integrated with the Crash PC Recovery feature, which allows you to recover data from Surface Pro without OS. It supports creating a WinPE USB drive, CD/DVD, or ISO file to start your Surface in Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, and servers, both 32-bit and 64-bit, and in BIOS or UEFI mode.

To get started, please download MyRecover to have a try!

Step 1: Create a bootable USB drive on a working PC.

On another working computer, download and install data recovery software - MyRecover. Then, open it, and click Crashed PC Recovery.

Select USB Boot Devices and click Create > Yes to format it and create a bootable hard disk.

Step 2: Restart Surface Pro.

After creating a bootable USB, remove and plug it into the Surface Pro via a USB port. Restart your computer, press a prompted key (e.g. F2, F10, ESC) to access BIOS, and set the bootable USB as the first boot option. Press F10 to save changes and boot from it.

Step 3: Scan the Surface Pro’s drive.

After loading, you will see MyRecover again. This time, click PC Recovery. Select the drive on your Surface Pro and click Scan. It will run Quick Scan & Deep Scan automatically to find all recoverable files on Surface Pro.

Step 4: Filter and preview files.

During scanning, click the Filter button to specify the data type and then search for the file name or extension. Once found, preview them to confirm. Or wait until the process is complete and select all of them.

Step 5: Start the Surface Pro data recovery.

Select the ones you need and click the Recover button to save them. Always save the recovered files to a different drive where they were originally on to avoid data overwriting.

⭐Part 2: Try to Fix the "Surface Pro That Won’t Turn On" Error

Okay, let’s get your Surface Pro back to life now. The problem could stem from drained batteries to buggy software. Here are some practical methods to fix the “Surface Pro won’t turn on” error. You don't need to try them one by one, just pick the one that suits you.

#1. Check the Power Supply

You’d be surprised how often this simple step fixes things. A drained or faulty battery could be the culprit. Here’s how to check:

Step 1. Plug your Surface Pro into a working charger and make sure the LED light is on.

Step 2. If not, or flashes white, the power supply is damaged. Try to check the end of the cable connecting to Surface Pro to be sure.

Step 2. Also, the battery may be the problem. Just charge for around 30 minutes and turn on your Surface Pro again.

#2. Try Surface keyboard shortcuts

If your Surface Pro does not respond while pressing the Power button, try keyboard shortcuts.

#3. Disconnect All Peripherals

Believe it or not, sometimes external devices are the problem. If you plug in accessories, like USB drives, docking stations, keyboards, mice, etc., which may be messing with your Surface Pro.

#4. Perform a Hard Reset

Sometimes, your Surface Pro just needs a nudge to wake up. A hard reset can refresh the operating system without losing any data. Here’s how:

For Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, Surface Pro 3, and Surface Pro 4:

• Press and hold the Power button for 30 seconds.
• Release and immediately press the Power and Volume Up buttons for about 15 seconds.
• Wait 10 seconds after releasing the buttons. Then, press the Power button to turn on your Surface.

For SurfacePro (5th Gen), Surface Pro 6, Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X:

• Press and hold the Power button for 20 seconds until your Surface restarts.
• Release the Power button when you see the Windows logo screen.

#5. Boot into Safe Mode

Your Surface Pro might be stuck due to corrupted drivers or software issues. You can try to boot into Safe Mode to identify the cause.

Step 1. Press and hold the Power button for 10 seconds until your Surface turns off. Then, turn it on. As long as you see the Surface logo, press and hold the Power button to turn it off again. Repeat this process two more times.

Step 2. Once in the recovery environment, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings. Click Restart and press 4 or F4 when your Surface Pro restarts. It will start in the Safe Mode.

Step 3. Once in Safe Mode, check for any suspicious software and uninstall them if necessary.

#6. Update Your Firmware via USB

Outdated firmware can sometimes be the root of the problem. Here’s how to update it, which resolves any software bugs related to system updates.

Step 1. On another working PC, download the latest Surface Pro firmware and save it to a USB drive.

Step 2.  Connect the USB drive containing the firmware update to your Surface Pro.

Step 3. Restart your Surface Pro and install the firmware update through the UEFI firmware settings.

Conclusion 

Dealing with a Surface Pro that won’t turn on can feel like you’ve hit a dead end, but with the powerful data recovery software, you can easily recover data from a Surface Pro that won’t turn on in 5 easy steps.

Also, there are 6 practical methods to fix this issue. Read them carefully and pick up the one that suits you best. In addition, it’s suggested to back up data on Surface Pro regularly using reliable backup software like AOMEI Backupper Standard.

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