How to Recover Data From a Hard Drive That Won’t Boot?

Summary – To recover data from a hard drive that won’t boot, first identify the cause. If software-related, use free data recovery software. If your hard drive is not booting due to mechanical failure or physical damage, send it to a professional data recovery service like Stellar Data Recovery. Get FREE Quote

A hard drive stores your data on a spinning platter. A mechanical arm moves across this spinning platter to read and write your data.

Because a hard drive has moving parts, it is classified as a machine. And like all machines, failure is a question of “when”, not “if”.

If any of the delicate components inside your hard drive malfunction, your hard drive will become unusable. However, this does not mean that your data is lost — it’s just inaccessible.

In this article, we will show you how to recover data from a hard drive that won’t boot, and what to do if you can’t.

Table Of Contents

Through the course of the article on how to recover data from a hard drive that won’t boot, you will learn the following things –

1. Why Your Hard Drive is Not Booting?
2. How to Retrieve Data From a Hard Drive That Won’t Boot?
3. Which Method Should You Use (First or Second)?
4. Frequently Asked Questions

And without any further ado, let us get right into understanding how to recover data from unbootable hard drives.

Hard Drive Is Not Booting – Top Causes

To get data off a hard drive that won’t boot, you need to know the root causes first.

There are three main types – software issues, mechanical component failure, and physical damage.

Software Issues	Mechanical Failure	Physical Damage
Corrupted Boot Sector	Failed Read/Write Head	Impact Damage
Operating System Failure	Spindle Motor Failure	Water or Heat Damage
Malware or Virus Attack	Damaged Platters	Electrical Surges
File System Corruption	Actuator Arm Failure	Wear and Tear
Bad Sectors	Power Supply Issues	Dust and Contaminants

Now, let’s understand these causes in more detail:

1. Hard Drive not Booting because of Software Problems

• Corrupted Boot Sector – The section of the drive that initiates the boot process might be damaged. Telltale sign: System fails to start or displays boot error messages.
• Operating System Failure – The installed OS could be corrupted or missing crucial files. Telltale sign: Frequent crashes or inability to load the OS.
• Malware or Virus Attack – Malicious software can corrupt or encrypt the drive’s data. Telltale sign: Unusual activity or unauthorized changes in files.
• File System Corruption – The system that organizes data on the drive might be corrupted. Telltale sign: Missing files or errors when accessing folders.
• Bad Sectors – Parts of the drive where data is stored might become inaccessible. Telltale sign: Slow performance and difficulty accessing certain data.

2. Hard Drive not Booting because of Mechanical Problems

1. Failed Read/Write Head – The component that reads data from the drive might be damaged. Telltale sign: Clicking or grinding noises from the drive.
2. Spindle Motor Failure – The motor that spins the platters might have stopped working. Telltale sign: The drive does not spin up or vibrate abnormally.
3. Damaged Platters – The physical disks inside the drive where data is stored could be scratched or damaged. Telltale sign: Inconsistent read/write errors.
4. Actuator Arm Failure – The arm that moves the read/write head could be malfunctioning. Telltale sign: Drive is unresponsive or makes repetitive sounds.
5. Power Supply Issues – Inadequate or fluctuating power supply can prevent the drive from booting. Telltale sign: The drive powers on and off intermittently.

3. Hard Drive not Booting because of Physical Damage

• Impact Damage – Dropping or jarring the drive can cause internal components to misalign or break.
• Water or Heat Damage – Exposure to liquids or extreme temperatures can damage the drive’s internal components.

• Electrical Surges – Sudden power surges can fry the drive’s electronic components. Telltale sign: Burnt smell or mild “hissing’ from the drive.
• Wear and Tear – Over time, the drive’s moving parts can degrade.
• Dust and Contaminants – Accumulation of dust or other particles can interfere with the drive’s operation.Telltale sign: Overheating or unusual noises during operation.

And now, two methods to recover data from a hard drive that won’t boot.

We will also explain which method you should use further down in the article.

How to Recover Data From a Hard Drive That Won’t Boot?

Method 1 – Use Free Data Recovery Software to recover data from a Hard Drive That Won’t Boot

Free Data Recovery Software can easily recover data from hard drive that won’t boot.

Among other things, they can also recover data from crashed computer systems and corrupted drives as well.

How to Recover Data from a Hard Drive That Won’t Boot with Stellar Data Recovery Professional Software?

Stellar Data Recovery Professional Software offers a viable solution to recover data.

Follow these straightforward steps:

1. Prepare the Tools: Connect a blank USB drive to a functional Windows PC.
2. Software Setup: Download and launch Stellar Data Recovery Professional Software. From the main interface, select “More Tools” and then “Create Recovery Drive”.

3. Drive Selection: Choose the USB drive from the drop-down list.
4. Create Bootable Drive: Click ‘Create Recovery Drive’. Post-completion, an ‘Activation’ window appears. Input the “Activation Key” received at purchase.
5. Data Recovery: The bootable media is now ready, enabling you to access and recover data from the unbootable hard drive.
6. Initiate the Connection: Plug the bootable USB drive into the PC that isn’t booting.
7. Start the PC: Power on the computer and immediately press F-12 to access the boot menu. Ensure the bootable media is recognized.
8. Launch Recovery Software: Once the PC boots from the USB, Stellar Data Recovery’s interface will be displayed.
9. Select Data Types: On the “Select What to Recover” screen, specify the types of files you wish to retrieve.

10. Scan for Data: Choose the problematic drive for recovery and initiate a scan. The software will begin searching for salvageable data.

11. Recover Files: Post-scan, the software lists all recoverable files. Select the needed files or entire datasets.
12. Save Recovered Data: Click ‘Recover’ and select an external hard drive as the destination for the saved files.

And that was how you can recover data from hard drive that won’t boot using free software.

While this Method is efficient, it’s crucial to consider its limitations:

• You need access to a working computer to create the bootable drive.
• Some users may find the process technical, particularly in creating and using bootable media.
• Incorrect steps during the recovery process can lead to permanent data loss.
• If the inability to boot or data loss is due to a mechanical issue within the hard drive, such as physical damage or wear and tear, software-based recovery methods are ineffective. In these cases, the intricate physical components of the drive itself may be compromised.

For all these reasons, professional data recovery services might become a more viable option.

Method 2 – Use Professional Data Recovery Services

If the free software route does not work for you, it is time to call in the professionals.

At Stellar Data Recovery Service, we have the necessary tools and clean room environments to safely handle and repair physically damaged drives, ensuring the best chance of recovering your valuable data.

How to Retrieve Data from an Unbootable Hard Drive with Data Recovery Services?

1. Go to our Hard Drive Data Recovery page and click on “Get FREE Quote” as shown below.
2. Select your device type and click “Next”.
3. Select whether the device is working or not. For hard drives that are not booting, select “Not Working”, as shown in the following image. Click “Next”.
4. Click on “Need Consultation”, and then click “Next”.
5. Click on “Request for a Call”, and hit “Next”. One of our data recovery scientists will call you back to guide you further about the process.

Stellar Data Recovery offers hard drive data recovery services, and you can get a cost estimate completely for free.

With offices in 14 major Indian cities, Stellar’s hard drive data recovery services can offer turnaround times as low as one week.

There are three “tiers” of service offered: economy, standard, and priority.

Note: We advise against giving your hard drive to an amateur data recovery lab, or trying to correct faults by yourself. The parts inside a hard drive are very sensitive, and they must be disassembled for analysis inside a Class 100 Clean Room.

Our clean room is the biggest in India, and we have the largest database of donor parts that might be needed to restore the health of your faulty hard drive before data can be recovered from it.

In addition to the above, Stellar Data Recovery has a “no recovery, no charge” policy for the standard and priority tiers of service.

With over 30 years of experience, 3 million satisfied customers, and a team of 100+ engineers, we will surely be able to get data off a hard drive that won’t boot.

Which Method Should You Use (1 or 2)?

And now you must be wondering which method you should use. The answer is very simple.

To recover data from a hard drive that won’t boot is easy when you’ve identified the causes.

For software-related problems, you can DIY fix the issue, as we will show in method 1.

For mechanical and physical problems, we strongly advise against DIY fixes. If your hard drive is not booting due to a mechanical or physical problem, don’t fiddle with it.

Cease using the drive immediately to avoid further damage, and use method 2 to recover data from unbootable hard drives.

In short, if your drive is not booting because of a software problem, use method 1. For everything else, use method 2.

It is better to be safe than sorry with your data, so don’t try to DIY repair any physical/ mechanical problems.

FAQs – Recover Data from a Hard Drive That Won’t Boot

1. What if my hard drive is encrypted? Can I still recover data?

You can still recover data if you use drive encryption (like Bitlocker). Recovery is possible, but you’ll need the encryption key. Without it, even professional services may struggle.

2. How do I know if my hard drive boot failure is due to a mechanical issue or software problem?

Mechanical issues often come with physical signs like strange noises, while software issues may display error messages or system crashes.

3. If my hard drive is still under warranty, should I attempt recovery?

No, attempting recovery might void the warranty. Contact the manufacturer first, and only then get in touch with data recovery services.

4. Will formatting my non-booting hard drive help fix it?

Formatting might resolve some software issues, but it also erases data. Use it as a last resort and only if data backup is available.

5. Do I risk losing more data by trying to recover it myself?

DIY methods, especially with software issues, are generally safe. However, with physical damage, self-attempts can worsen the situation. As a rule of thumb, when trying to recover data from a hard drive that won’t boot, it is safer to use professional data recovery services. They can do everything that a software tool can.

Additional Reading: Recover data from Unbootable PC