Tips and Tricks for Recovering Data from a Computer That Won’t Boot

3. Booting from Live USB/CD

Steps to Set BIOS to Boot from USB/CD

  1. Restart the Computer: Restart your computer.
  2. Enter BIOS/UEFI: During the boot process, press the appropriate button to enter BIOS/UEFI (usually F2, Del, Esc, or F12).
  3. Navigate to the Boot Menu: Use the arrow keys to navigate to the Boot menu.
  4. Set Boot Priority: Change the boot order so that the USB drive or CD/DVD takes precedence first.
    • Select the USB drive or CD/DVD and move it to the top position in the boot order list.
  5. Save and Exit: Save the settings by pressing F10 and selecting Yes to exit the BIOS/UEFI.

Tips and Tricks for Successful Booting

  • Make sure the USB Drive/CD is connected: Make sure the USB drive or CD/DVD is connected to the computer before restarting.
  • Compatibility Check: Make sure the operating system on the Live USB/CD is compatible with your computer’s hardware.
  • Check USB Connection: If using a USB drive, make sure the USB connection is stable and not damaged.
  • Try a Different USB Port: If your computer won’t boot from a USB drive, try using a different USB port.

Recover Data with Software Recovery

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1. Using MiniTool Power Data Recovery

Superiority:

  • Intuitive and easy-to-use user interface.
  • Supports a wide range of file formats and storage devices.
  • It has a preview feature of files before recovery.

Deficiency:

  • The free version has a limit on the amount of data that can be recovered.
  • The scanning process may take a while depending on the size of the drive.

2. Using Recuva

Superiority:

  • The free version is quite complete with basic data recovery features.
  • Simple and easy-to-use interface.
  • Effective in-depth scanning options.

Deficiency:

  • Advanced recovery features are limited compared to other paid software.
  • It doesn’t always work for data recovery from a severely damaged drive.

Alternative Methods of Data Recovery

1. Using a Docking Station or Enclosure Hard Drive

Docking Station and Enclosure Hard Drive are devices that allow you to connect your computer’s internal hard drive to another computer as an external drive. This is especially useful if your computer won’t boot but the hard drive is still working.

  • Docking Station: A tool that usually has multiple slots for different types of hard drives (HDD or SSD), which allows you to easily install and access the hard drive.
  • Enclosure Hard Drive: A protective case that can hold a single hard drive, turning it into an external drive that can be connected to another computer via USB or other connections.

How to Connect a Hard Drive to Another Computer

  1. Remove the Hard Drive from the Computer: Turn off your computer and carefully remove the internal hard drive.
  2. Attach to a Docking Station or Enclosure: Insert the hard drive into the Docking Station or Enclosure Hard Drive according to the instructions of the device.
  3. Connect to Another Computer: Connect the Docking Station or Enclosure Hard Drive to another computer via a USB cable or a suitable connection.
  4. Hard Drive Access: The hard drive will be recognized as an external drive on another computer, and you can access, copy, or recover the necessary data.

2. Using the Command Prompt on Windows

Command Prompt is a command-line tool in Windows that allows you to run commands to manage files and systems. Here are some basic commands for data recovery:

  • dir: Displays a list of files and folders in a directory.
  • cd: Change the directory.
  • copy: Copying files from one location to another.
  • xcopy: Copy files and directories, including subdirectories.
  • robocopy: Copy files, directories, and attributes with additional features.

Examples of Use of xcopy and robocopy

xcopy D:\Data\** E:\Backup\ /s /e /h

Explanation:

  • D:\Data*.*: The location of the data source to be copied.
  • E:\Backup\: The destination location where the data will be copied.
  • /s: Copying directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
  • /e: Copy all subdirectories, including empty ones.
  • /h: Copying hidden and system files.

Using robocopy:

robocopy D:\Data E:\Backup /MIR /Z /R:5 /W:5

Explanation:

  • D:\Data: The location of the data source to be copied.
  • E:\Backup: The destination location where the data will be copied.
  • /MIR: Reflects source and destination directories (deletes files in destinations that are not in the source).
  • /Z: Copies files in restartable mode (resume from last position if disconnected).
  • /R:5: Attempts to re-copy files that fail up to 5 times.
  • /W:5: Wait for 5 seconds between repeat attempts.

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