How to Recover Files From a PC That Won't Boot

Common causes

A failed Windows update or an interrupted shutdown damaged boot files or the Boot Configuration Data, leaving your documents untouched but the system unable to load.
A faulty driver or recently installed software crashes Windows during startup, causing a boot loop or blue screen before you reach the sign-in screen.
The system drive is failing, with bad sectors or a worn-out SSD, so Windows cannot read the files it needs and your data is at growing risk.
BitLocker or Device Encryption is asking for a recovery key after a firmware update, hardware change, or BIOS setting change, blocking access to the drive.
Another component, such as the motherboard, power supply, or RAM, has failed, preventing the PC from starting even though the drive itself is healthy.
Malware or ransomware has damaged system files or the boot process, which also makes it important to scan recovered files before opening them.
A partition was deleted, resized, or corrupted during disk management or cloning, so the firmware can no longer find a bootable Windows installation.

Step-by-step fixes

Step 1

Stop, listen, and check for encryption first

Before trying repairs, protect what is on the drive. If you hear clicking, grinding, or repeated spin-up sounds, or the PC reports that no drive is detected, turn it off and skip to the professional recovery step, because every power cycle can make physical damage worse. Next, find out whether the drive is encrypted. Many Windows 11 PCs, including Home editions signed in with a Microsoft account, turn on Device Encryption automatically, and Pro editions may use BitLocker. You will usually need the 48-digit recovery key for the methods below to read an encrypted drive. On another device, sign in at aka.ms/myrecoverykey with the Microsoft account used on the PC, or ask your IT team for a work device. Write the key down. Finally, get an external drive or large USB stick ready to receive the copied files.

Step 2

Copy files from the Windows Recovery Environment

When Windows fails to start two or three times, it usually opens the Automatic Repair screen. If it does not, hold the power button to force the PC off while Windows is loading, and repeat two or three times. Choose Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt, and enter your BitLocker recovery key or account password if asked. Plug in your external drive, then type diskpart, list volume, and exit to see drive letters, which often differ in recovery. Copy folders with robocopy, for example: robocopy C:\Users\YourName\Documents E:\Rescue\Documents /E /R:1 /W:1 /XJ. The /XJ switch skips junction points that can cause endless loops. If you prefer a mouse, type notepad, choose File > Open, set Files of type to All Files, and use the dialog to copy and paste folders. Success looks like your files opening from the external drive on another computer.

Step 3

Boot from a Windows installation USB

If the recovery environment is missing or damaged, create Windows installation media on a working PC using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool and a USB stick of at least 8 GB. Creating the media erases the stick, so use an empty one. Plug it into the broken PC, power on, and press the one-time boot menu key, commonly F12, F11, F9, or Esc depending on the manufacturer, then choose the USB drive. When Windows Setup appears, press Shift+F10 to open a Command Prompt, or choose the repair option (Repair your computer or Repair my PC, depending on the version) and go to Troubleshoot > Command Prompt. Use the same diskpart and robocopy commands from the previous step to copy your folders to an external drive. Do not click Install, because that starts Windows Setup rather than recovery. Success looks like robocopy finishing with a summary showing files copied and few or no failures.

Step 4

Use a Linux live USB and a file manager

A Linux live USB gives you a familiar graphical desktop without touching the Windows installation on the internal drive. On a working computer, download a mainstream distribution such as Ubuntu and write it to a USB stick with a tool like Rufus or balenaEtcher, which erases the stick. Boot the broken PC from the USB using the boot menu key and choose the option to try Ubuntu without installing. Mainstream distributions support Secure Boot, so you normally do not need to change firmware settings. Open the Files app, select the internal Windows drive in the sidebar, and copy your folders from Users > YourName to an external drive. If Windows was hibernated or had fast startup on, Linux may open the drive read-only, which is fine for copying. BitLocker-encrypted drives need the recovery key and may not open in some live environments, so Windows-based methods are usually easier for encrypted drives.

Step 5

Connect the drive to another computer

If the PC will not boot from USB, or other hardware has failed, move the drive to a working computer. Shut the PC down, unplug it, and remove the laptop battery if it is removable; if the laptop is under warranty, check whether opening it affects coverage. Identify the drive type: a 2.5-inch SATA drive connects to a SATA-to-USB adapter, an M.2 NVMe or M.2 SATA SSD needs a matching M.2 USB enclosure, and a 3.5-inch desktop drive needs a powered dock or adapter. Many thin laptops have storage soldered to the motherboard, so this option is not possible for them. On the working PC, the drive should appear in File Explorer. If Windows asks to format or initialize the disk, click Cancel. Opening another account's user folder may prompt for permission; click Continue. BitLocker drives ask for a password or recovery key before opening.

Step 6

Use recovery software for missing files or damaged partitions

If the drive is readable but folders are missing, the partition shows as RAW, or Windows says the drive needs formatting, switch to data recovery software instead of repair tools. Connect the drive to a working PC as described above, install the recovery tool on that PC's own drive, never on the drive you are recovering from, and scan the affected disk. Tools such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and Stellar Data Recovery also offer editions that create bootable recovery media, so you can scan the original PC without removing its drive. Preview files before recovering, then save them to a separate drive. If the drive has bad sectors, use a tool that can create a byte-to-byte image first, then scan the image. Do not run chkdsk /f or /r at this stage, because repairs can rewrite file system structures that recovery tools rely on.

Step 7

Use a professional recovery lab for physical failure

Software cannot fix a mechanical or electronic fault. Signs include clicking or grinding noises, a drive that is not detected in the firmware setup or by any computer, a drive that disconnects repeatedly while copying, a burning smell, or damage from a drop, fire, or water. In these cases, power the drive down and leave it off. Do not open a hard drive yourself, because its platters need a clean-room environment and dust can make the data unrecoverable. Do not freeze it or tap it; those old tricks cause more damage. Contact an established data recovery lab, ask for an evaluation and a quote, and check whether it only charges when data is recovered. SSDs with controller or firmware failures also need specialist equipment, so the same advice applies to them.

Step 8

Repair or reinstall Windows only after your data is safe

Once your important files are copied and you have confirmed they open on another computer, you can try to fix Windows without worrying about losing data. Start with the least destructive options in the recovery environment: Startup Repair, Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates to remove the latest update, or System Restore. If those fail, the command-line repairs in our Automatic Repair loop guide, such as sfc, DISM, and bootrec, are the next step, and chkdsk is now reasonable if the drive's health looks good. As a last resort, Reset this PC or a clean install will rebuild Windows. A clean install erases everything on the system drive, so check your copied files one more time first. If the drive showed any signs of failure, replace it before reinstalling rather than trusting it again.

How to prevent it

Keep automatic backups, ideally a full system image on an external drive plus an offsite or cloud copy, so a failed boot is an inconvenience rather than a crisis.
Save your BitLocker recovery key in your Microsoft account and in a second safe place, and confirm you can find it before you need it.
Create bootable rescue media from your backup software, or a Windows installation USB, while the PC is still healthy.
Watch for early signs of drive failure, such as freezes when opening files or health warnings, and replace the drive promptly.
Let Windows updates finish and avoid forcing the PC off during updates, a common cause of damaged boot files.

Tools that can help

If the drive is healthy and unencrypted, the free methods above are usually enough to copy your files. Recovery software is worth it when files are missing, the partition is damaged, or you want bootable media that scans the PC without removing its drive.

Top pick

Disk Drill

Recovers deleted, formatted, and lost files from internal and external drives, with previews, free disk imaging for failing drives, and S.M.A.R.T. health monitoring.

Visit Disk Drill

Best guided recovery

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

A step-by-step recovery wizard with filters and previews, plus bootable WinPE media in paid editions for rescuing files from a PC that won't start.

Visit EaseUS

Best for photos and videos

Stellar Data Recovery

Tiered recovery editions for Windows and Mac, with higher tiers adding lost-partition recovery, bootable media for crashed PCs, and photo and video repair.

Visit Stellar

TechyLeakz may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

What to do next if this fails

Move to the next fix instead of repeating the same step multiple times.
Check the related guides in this cluster before attempting a full reset.
If startup, update, and corruption symptoms overlap, widen the diagnosis instead of treating one error in isolation.

FAQ

Will I lose my files if Windows won't boot?

Usually not. Most boot failures are caused by damaged boot files, bad updates, drivers, or hardware other than the drive, and your documents stay intact. The real risk comes from what happens next: repeated repair attempts, CHKDSK on a failing drive, a Reset, or a clean install can overwrite or remove data. Copy your files to a separate drive first, then repair Windows.

Can I recover files without removing the hard drive?

Yes. The Windows Recovery Environment Command Prompt, a Windows installation USB, a Linux live USB, and bootable media from recovery software all let you reach the drive without removing it. You just need an external drive or large USB stick to copy the files to. Removing the drive is mainly useful when other hardware has failed or the PC will not boot from USB.

What if my drive is encrypted and I don't have the BitLocker key?

Without the recovery key, the data on a BitLocker-encrypted drive cannot be read by any tool, and Microsoft cannot bypass the encryption. Check the Microsoft account used on the PC at aka.ms/myrecoverykey, any other Microsoft accounts you use, your work or school IT department for managed devices, and any printout or USB file you saved when encryption was set up.

Is it safe to run CHKDSK before recovering my files?

Not before you copy your data. CHKDSK with /f or /r fixes file system errors by rewriting structures on the drive, and on a failing drive the extra reading and writing can cause more damage. If the drive has bad sectors, CHKDSK may also move or discard fragments of your files. Copy important files first, check the drive's health, and only then run repairs.

Should I use a Windows USB or a Linux live USB?

Either works. A Windows installation USB gives you a Command Prompt and tools like robocopy, which is familiar if you already use Windows commands. A Linux live USB gives you a full graphical desktop and file manager, which is easier if you prefer dragging and dropping. Linux may struggle with BitLocker-encrypted drives, so Windows-based options are usually simpler when encryption is on.

How much does professional data recovery cost?

It depends on the drive type and the damage. Logical problems like deleted partitions cost less, while mechanical failures that need clean-room work and replacement parts cost significantly more. Reputable labs offer an evaluation and a firm quote before starting work, and many only charge if they recover your data. Get a quote from more than one lab if the data is valuable.