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How to Recover Data from Hard Disk without OS

Wondershare Recoverit Authors

Jan 27, 2024 • Filed to: Answer Hard Drive Problems • Proven solutions

How to Recover Files from a Hard Drive That Won't Boot?

I need a way to access a hard drive to recover data when the Windows OS doesn't boot. Any advice? Thanks a lot!

If the installed operating system on your computer is not able to load or boot, then you need to take some added measures to access your data. Our content is primarily stored on our hard disk, which is accessed by the respective OS. Without any OS, the data becomes inaccessible. Therefore, you need to use another bootable media to recover data from disk without OS. In this post, we have taken the assistance of Windows 10 to recover data from hard drive without OS.

  • Part 1. Access Hard Disk Without OS via Windows Startup Repair
  • Part 2. Recover Data from Hard Disk Without OS in Simple Clicks

Part 1. How to Access Hard Disk Without OS via Windows Startup Repair

Windows 10 Startup Repair is one of the simplest ways to help us repair minor system errors and access hard drive data. And the steps on using it to recover corrupted OS are also not so steep.

  1. Turn your Windows computer on and off three times to access Startup Repair.
  2. Click "Advanced Options" when entering the "Automatic Repair" interface.
  3. Go to "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced Options" > "Startup Repair".
  4. Wait for a while until the Windows system finishes the automatic system repair.

Sometimes, the Windows startup problem can be fixed, and the computer will automatically restart in a normal mode. However, most of the time, you are still unable to get the Windows OS loaded and booted. To access the hard drive without OS, there is another comprehensive, viable, and simple way. That is to create a bootable media with Recoverit Data Recovery, which can help you fix "Windows OS won't boot" and also recover data from hard drive storing OS files. Read on and get the full solution.


Part 2. How to Recover Data from Hard Disk Without OS

Since the installed OS won’t be able to load on your system, you have to create another bootable media to start it. This will let you recover data from hard disk without OS by loading the Windows Preinstallation Environment. You can take the assistance of Recoverit Data Recovery to do the same. The latest update of the tool now supports Windows PE and can create bootable media without much trouble.

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Your Safe & Reliable Hard Disk Data Recovery Software

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Part 2. How to Recover Data from Corrupted OS Hard Drive

Download and install Recoverit Data Recovery on a workable computer and get a new USB drive connected to the computer. Follow the next steps to create a bootable drive and retrieve data from Windows operating system.

Step 1: Create a bootable media

Select "System Crash Data Recovery"

Launch Recoverit. To access hard disk without OS, click "System Crash Data Recovery" on the start menu to continue.

create bootable drive

Choose a USB drive mode.

Select the option, USB, or CD/DVD, which you want to create a bootable drive and then click the "Create" button to move on.

create usb bootable drive

Format the USB drive

Click the "Format now" button to store the OS data. Before formatting, it is recommended to back up the data initially stored on the USB drive.

create usb bootable drive

Create the bootable drive

Wait a while until the bootable drive is completed. During the process, do not eject the USB drive.
After the bootable drive is created, you can follow the simple steps to recover data from hard disks without OS.

create bootable media


Step 2: Retrieve data from hard drive with bootable media

You will need to change the computer boot sequence, and restart the computer. With Recoverit bootable drive, you can quickly recover files from hard drive without OS.

Choose the OS hard drive.

Different hard drives on the Windows computer will be displayed here. Choose the hard drive with OS data and click "Start" to go on.

Access the hard drive with OS

Scan the OS hard drive

An all-around scan will be launched immediately. All data stored on your OS hard drive will be scanned thoroughly. A deep scan requires some time to be finished.

Access the hard drive with OS

Retrieve data from hard drive

Finally, you can preview the scanned files, select the files to be recovered, and click "Recover" to get data off a hard drive that won't boot.

Access the hard drive with OS

Tips on Using Operating System

  • Do not overuse your hard drive with the Windows operating system.
  • Check how much space system resources have occupied regularly.
  • Keep Deleting or uninstalling programs safely and securely.
  • Fix the Windows system problems timely when you receive the prompts.
  • Protect the existing and used DLL files to avoid them being overwritten.

Following the above tips on OS, data protection can help you keep your operating system and hard drives safe and durable for a longer time. By the way, please always keep it in mind that Recoverit Data Recovery is your loyal and reliable friend who is still beside you and help you. Whenever the OS doesn't boot, call for this hard drive recovery software to help you access hard drive without OS and recover data from the disk.

Recoverit author

Theo Lucia

chief Editor

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