An electromechanical data storage device, called hard drive, is used in desktop and laptops to store and retrieve digital data. Basically, the storage capacity of the hard drive is calculated in gigabytes and terabytes. You can store any kind of data in this drive. In case the drive is damaged or can’t boot, then you may encounter an issue while accessing the data stored on it. If your hard drive stops booting, then the one thing you can do is to recover the data stored on it. But, how can I recover data from a hard drive that won’t boot? There is a way, and it is discussed below to recover data from a hard drive that won't boot.
If your computer’s internal hard drive is not booting, then you can recover the data stored on it by using an external disk enclosure and a data recovery software. To know how the detailed procedure, continue reading. If your external hard drive is not booting, then start from step 4.
Step 1: Get an External Hard drive enclosure
- First, you need to get an external hard drive enclosure so that you can access your internal hard drive as an external one. Most of the disk enclosure offers the USB, FireWire or eSATA port.
- Based on your desire, select the drive enclosure. Make sure to purchase the enclosure from its official site or from a trusted online retail store.
Step 2: Remove non-booting hard drive from your computer
The next step is to take the non-booting drive from your computer. To do so, first, turn off your computer and remove the battery from it (if available). Based on your computer model, the hard drive removal process may vary. So, it is better to refer to your computer’s user guide. Make sure to remove the hard drive correctly.
Step 3: Install the non-bootable hard drive in an external enclosure
Based on the enclosure model, the hard drive installation process will vary. If your enclosure requires the SATA cable, then get one and connect the cable manually. Make sure to install the drive correctly to recover data from a hard drive that won't boot.
Step 4: Connect the external enclosure kit to your computer
Get a USB cable and using it, connect the external enclosure containing the non-bootable drive into your computer. If you’re already using an external hard drive, then connect it directly to your computer. Most of the drives will turn ON automatically when it is connected to the computer. But, some external hard drives need to be connected to an electrical outlet.
Step 5: Recovering the data
Once your drive is turned ON, look for it in the File Explorer window or browse for it using the search bar. If you can access your drive, then copy & paste the data that you wish to recover from your hard drive. If you can’t access the drive, then you can use the data recovery software to restore the data from the hard drive that won’t boot.
That’s how you can recover data from a hard drive that won’t boot.
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