Best Way to Recover Data When PC Won’t Boot

This article describes how to recover data when PC won’t boot by creating a bootable USB or from another computer in 3 proven methods. Scroll down to learn more.

By @Ivy Last Updated January 10, 2025

It will be frustrating if there is any important data when the computer fails to boot, especially for those who don't have backup copies. The possible causes may be power supply issues, corrupted OS, hardware failure, failed Windows updates, driver conflicts, etc.

But it's not impossible to recover data when PC won't boot. Here, we'll show you 3 proven methods in the following. You need to have some hardware knowledge or directly use reliable data recovery software. 

How to Recover Data When PC Won’t Boot 🔥

Way 1. Create a Bootable Disk to Recover Data from PC

When PC won't boot, the simplest method to recover data is to use powerful data recovery software that can create a bootable hard disk to access the computer and retrieve data. 

MyRecover is one such data recovery software in Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Servers. With it, you can create bootable USB, CD/DVD, or export ISO files to boot a failing computer, whether 32-bit or 64-bit system, in legacy or UEFI mode.

 Now, download MyRecover on a Windows PC and connect a prepared USB drive for data recovery as well. 

Download Software Windows 11/10/8/7/Server
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⚠️Note: It's crucial to backup data on the selected drive, as all existing data will be erased during the process.

Step 1. Create a bootable hard disk 

1. Open MyRecover on a working Windows PC. Select the "Crashed PC recovery" option on the left side.

2. Then, select the USB Boot Device option and click the Create button. 

3. A confirmation window will pop up indicating that the USB drive is about to be formatted. Click Yes to continue the formatting process. Wait until you see "Creating a bootable device was successful!"

Step 2. Start the computer that won't boot

To start a won't-boot computer, you need to delve into the BIOS/UEFI settings and change the boot order from the Boot menu. If necessary, consider disabling the Secure Boot.  

1. Connect the bootable USB you created before and restart your computer. 

2. Then, your computer will display a message like “Press ESC to enter BIOS”, usually in the lower right corner. Just press the prompted key. 

3. Go to the Boot many and set the bootable USB as the first option. At last, press F10 to save changes and restart from it. 

Step 3. Recover data from PC won’t boot 

After accessing the recovery environment window, after loading, you will see the main page of MyRecover. 

1. Hover the mouse over the drive of your failing computer, and click Scan.

2. It will automatically run Quick Scan and Deep Scan to scan, analyze and categorize data on the selected drive. You can use the Search or Filter features to find files quickly. 

  • Click the funnel-shaped button to specify the data type, i.e. images, videos, audios, documents, compressed files, etc.,  
  • If necessary, set the size, from less than 512KB to 1GB above as well.
  • Then, type the name or extension in the search box to narrow it down.

3. Once found, double-click them to preview and choose the desired data by ticking the checkboxes or leaving the unwanted files blank.  Then, click on Recover x files and choose a new location to save the recovered files, thus avoiding data overwriting.

Way 2. Recover Data When PC Won't Boot on Another PC

If you still have another computer in hand, attempt to remove hard drive from the failing computer and connect to the new computer for data recovery. It will be regarded as a removable drive. 

⚠️This method will be much easier as you don't need to create bootable hard disk and change BIOS/UEFI settings by yourself. Please refer to Step 3 in Way 1. 

Step 1. Start the new computer. Then, download and install the Windows data recovery software - MyRecover.

Step 2. Hover the mouse over the external hard drive and click Scan.

Step 3. MyRecover will run Quick Scan & Deep Scan automatically to retrieve your files. You can choose to wait or search & filter data during scanning. 

Step 4. After selecting the data you want to recover, click the Recover button. Be sure to select a new location to save recovered data to avoid data overwriting. 

MyRecover
Why Choose MyRecoverz?
  • Top 2 algorithms - Quick & Deep Scan your drive to find as much data as possible.
  • Support various data types, from photos to videos, documents, archive files, emails, and more.
  • Search or filter data quickly through file name, extension, data type, etc.
  • Preview and recover files while scanning.
  • Recover specific files or folders instead of all.
  • Work perfectly with NTFS, ReFS, FAT32, and exFAT file systems. 
  • Recover data from different scenarios, such as accidental deletion, disk formatting, lost partition, virus attacks, etc.

✅ Manual Method to Recover Data from PC that Won't Boot 

If you don't want to use any third-party software, there is also a manual method to recover files from a computer that won't boot. You need to prepare a Windows installation media or recovery drive first. If not, please prepare a USB with 8GB at least and use it to create one manually. 

Step 1.  Download Windows MediaCreationTool

1. Go to Microsoft’s software download page (e.g. Windows 10 or Windows 11) and click Download Now

2. Open MediaCreationTool and accept the license terms.

3. When asked, "What do you want to do?", select Create installation media for another PC and click Next.

4. Select the language, edition, and architecture for your system.

5. Select the USB flash drive and click Next to create a bootable USB drive. 

Step 2. Boot the PC that won't boot

Insert the created bootable media, restart your PC to BIOS, and select the bootable media as the boot drive. Then, press F10 to save changes and restart. Note the BIOS key may be different on different computers.

Step 3. Manually copy and paste files to external drive

1. On the first Windows Setup screen, press Shift +F10 to open Command Prompt.

2. If it fails, click Next. Then, click Repair Your ComputerTroubleshoot Advanced Options and select Command Prompt

3. In the Command Prompt window, type notepad.exe and press Enter

4. In Notepad, click File > Open to access File Explorer. 

5. Locate and select files or folders you want to recover. Then, copy and paste them into the prepared drive. 

What to Do When Windows Won’t Boot? 

It is certainly an annoying thing when you experience a computer that won't boot, and the reasons for this are often many. Don't worry about it much and there are several methods to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. 

Step 1. Assessing Recent Changes

If Windows refuses to boot, please check to see if your computer have made these changes. 

  • Did you recently install a new hardware driver?
  • Have you introduced a new hardware component to your computer?
  • Did any physical adjustments occur when you opened your computer's case?
⚠️A problematic hardware driver or incompatible new hardware could be the culprit behind the Windows won't boot issue. In addition, a loose connection can also cause problems. In this case, it is prudent to disconnect the hard disk and external devices and double-check the cable connections within the computer.

Step 2. Check the Power Supply

Often, the root cause of a system that won't boot is a power-related issue frequently traced back to battery problems. Thus, you can thoroughly explore these power-related aspects (e.g. battery assessment, fuse inspection) to identify the underlying reasons behind the boot failure.

Step 3. Inspect the Display

Equally crucial is the examination of your computer monitor. When your computer powers on, yet the screen remains black, the monitor is worth double-checking. You can connect it to another computer to see if it displays the desktop window.

Step 4. Addressing Specific Errors

When faced with particular error messages during the boot process, targeted solutions can serve as effective remedies.

  • NTLDR Is Missing
  • Operating System Not Found
  • Windows Starts with Blue Screens or Freezes (BSOD)
  • ...

Step 5. Consider Windows Reinstallation

When confronted with a scenario where Windows initiates the booting process but halts midway, the underlying issue may be attributed to either a software or hardware malfunction.

If your system exhibits this behavior, it's advisable to reinstall Windows as a remedy. However, if your PC still fails to boot after reinstallation, it likely indicates a more intrinsic hardware problem.

In Conclusion

It is not easy to recover data when PC won’t boot. The methods outlined here aim to guide you through potential resolutions. MyRecover can be the best solution. It can help you recover files from a computer that won’t boot by creating bootable media.

If you think it's too complex and challenging, especially if you don't know what you can do and how to achieve it, consider seeking the expertise of a professional data recovery service, usually with specialized knowledge and tools.