Recover Files on Computer/Laptop That Won’t Start

When a Computer Refuses to Start

A computer that won’t start feels like a digital nightmare. Whether it’s a Windows PC stuck in a blue screen loop or a Mac showing a gray boot screen, the frustration is universal. The real fear? Your data — years of work, photos, memories, and documents — might be trapped inside.

But here’s the good news: a computer that doesn’t start up properly doesn’t necessarily mean your data is gone. In many cases, the storage drive remains intact; it’s the system files or hardware that prevent booting. Your goal, then, is simple — access the drive and extract your files safely.

This guide explores practical, original, and effective solutions for recovering data from a non-booting computer. You’ll learn methods that balance technical precision with ease of use, including one professional-grade recovery using iDATAPP Data Recovery, compatible with both Windows and macOS.

Why Computers Fail to Start — and What That Means for Your Data

Before we jump into recovery, it’s essential to understand why your computer refuses to boot. The cause defines your strategy. Common culprits include:

• Corrupted System Files – Windows or macOS fails to load the operating system.
• Hardware Malfunction – Faulty RAM, damaged power supply, or dying hard drive.
• Virus Infection – Malware corrupting the boot sector or critical startup files.
• Interrupted Updates – Forced shutdowns during system updates.
• Disk Errors or Bad Sectors – Preventing read/write access to system areas.

Knowing this helps you choose the right recovery path. If your hard drive still spins and isn’t physically damaged, your chances of data recovery are very high.

Solution 1: Recover Data Using iDATAPP Data Recovery (Recommended)

If your computer won’t start but the hard drive is still functional, iDATAPP Data Recovery is the most reliable and user-friendly method. It works on both Windows and Mac and is specifically designed to recover data from unbootable systems, formatted disks, and crashed OS environments.

Win/Mac Data Recovery

Get Back Deleted/Lost Data from Windows/Mac Computer.

Free Download Free Download Learn more

Steps:

1.On a working computer, download and install iDATAPP Data Recovery.

2.Launch the software and choose “Crashed PC Recovery" and click "Start Recovery".

3.Follow the prompts to create a bootable USB drive above 4G and click create.

4. A window will pop up, informing you that the USB device will be formatted. Simply confirm and click "Format" to proceed.

Tip: Always back up your data before formatting.

5.Finished to create a boot disk.

6.Insert the bootable USB into your non-booting computer and restart it.

7.Enter BIOS/UEFI and set the USB drive as the first boot device.

8.Go to BIOS settings, after entering BIOS, use the arrow keys to switch to the boot tab, and select the USB boot device. However, if you can't find the boot disk you created in the boot tab, we can also try the rear USB port.

9.Once the recovery interface loads, select the disk and scan for files.

10.Preview recoverable data, choose what you want, and save it to another drive.

Precautions:

Avoid saving recovered data to the same corrupted drive.

If the disk emits unusual noises, stop scanning immediately — it may indicate mechanical damage.

This solution is ideal for users who want a fast, safe, and professional-grade recovery without deep technical intervention.

Solution 2: Use an External Enclosure or SATA-to-USB Adapter

Sometimes, the simplest tools solve the biggest problems. If your computer won’t boot but the hard drive seems fine, you can remove it and connect it to another working computer using an external hard drive enclosure or SATA-to-USB adapter.

Steps:

1. Power off your computer and remove the hard drive carefully.
2. Insert the drive into an external enclosure or connect via SATA-to-USB cable.
3. Plug it into a working computer — it should appear as an external drive.
4. Open the drive, browse your folders, and copy important files.

Precautions:

• Handle the drive carefully to avoid static or mechanical damage.
• If the drive is not detected, try using Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac) to mount it manually.

This method requires basic technical confidence but provides direct access to your data without software or deep system intervention.

Solution 3: Boot from a Live USB (Windows or macOS Recovery Environment)

When your system files are corrupted but your drive is fine, you can use a bootable USB with a temporary OS (like Linux or Windows PE). This environment runs entirely from the USB, allowing you to access your internal drive and extract files.

Steps:

1. On another computer, create a bootable USB drive using tools like Rufus (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac).
2. Insert it into your non-booting computer.
3. Access BIOS and set the USB as the primary boot option.
4. Once the live environment loads, open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
5. Locate your system drive, copy your files to an external device.

Precautions:

• Choose a lightweight OS image to ensure compatibility.
• If the internal drive doesn’t appear, the issue might be hardware-related.

This solution is perfect for users comfortable with DIY troubleshooting and system tools.

Solution 4: Use Windows Safe Mode or macOS Recovery Mode

Sometimes, your system isn’t completely dead — it’s just stuck. Safe Mode (Windows) and macOS Recovery Mode can help you access your system with minimal services running, allowing you to back up your files.

For Windows:

1. Restart and press F8 or Shift + F8 repeatedly.
2. Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
3. Use commands like xcopy C:\Users\Documents D:\Backup /E /H /C /I to transfer files.

For Mac:

1. Hold Command + R at startup to enter macOS Recovery.
2. Open Disk Utility and check your drive’s status.
3. If accessible, use Terminal to copy files to an external drive.

Precautions:

• Do not reinstall or format unless you’ve backed up your data.
• If the drive is unmountable, move on to a professional recovery method.

Solution 5: Clone the Hard Drive and Recover Data from the Copy

If you suspect your drive is failing, cloning it ensures data safety before further damage occurs. A cloned copy can then be scanned for recovery.

Steps:

1. Connect both drives (the faulty one and a new healthy one) to another computer.
2. Use built-in tools like dd (Linux/Mac) or Clonezilla (Windows) to create a sector-by-sector copy.
3. After cloning, mount the new drive and access files directly.
4. If data is partially corrupted, scan the clone with recovery software like iDATAPP Data Recovery.

Precautions:

• Always clone before attempting recovery on physically damaged drives.
• Do not perform write operations on the original failing disk.

This method is more advanced but invaluable when dealing with drives that are slowly dying.

Extra Insight: Why Data Recovery Software Works Even When Systems Don’t

You might wonder, How can software recover data when my computer won’t even start?

Here’s the secret — the operating system boot failure usually affects system partitions, not the data sectors. Recovery software like iDATAPP operates at a deeper disk level, scanning for recoverable file structures, raw data fragments, and file headers.

In other words, your operating system might be broken, but your photos, documents, and videos often remain untouched until overwritten. That’s why acting quickly — and avoiding reinstallation — is crucial.

Five Common Mistakes That Make Data Recovery Harder

1. Reinstalling the OS on the same disk — it overwrites recoverable data.
2. Running disk repair utilities (like chkdsk or fsck) without backup — they may alter sectors permanently.
3. Continuing to use a clicking or noisy hard drive — this can cause irreversible damage.
4. Saving recovered files to the same corrupted drive — overwrites original sectors.
5. Ignoring early symptoms like slow boot or random crashes — these are signs your drive is failing.

Avoid these pitfalls, and your chances of a successful recovery increase dramatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

A non-booting computer isn’t the end of your data — it’s just a signal to act wisely. Whether you use a bootable USB, external adapter, or professional recovery software like iDATAPP Data Recovery, your data is often retrievable. The key is patience, proper tools, and avoiding hasty system reinstalls.

When disaster strikes, remember: it’s not about reviving your computer — it’s about rescuing your data.

Win/Mac Data Recovery

Get Back Deleted/Lost Data from Windows/Mac Computer.

Free Download Free Download Learn more