How Do I Get Files From a Computer That Won’t Boot?

❓ If your computerwon't boot for some reason, there are a couple of approaches to try to get files off its hard drive.

❓ Get files from a machine that won't boot
The most important thing you can do is prepare for this situation by backing up regularly. That way you can easily get the files you need from your most recent backup. Failing that, there are two approaches: boot from a Live CD or USB and use that operating system (often a Linux distro) to copy your files to a thumb drive; or place the hard disk of the unbootable machine into an external USB enclosure and connect it to a working machine.

✅ Watch next ▶ How Long Does a Hard Drive Last? ▶

Chapters
0:00 Files From a Computer That Won’t Boot
0:40 Use your backup
1:15 The hardware option: extract the disk
4:10 A scenario for possible failure
4:25 Encryption

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#askleo #boot #files

[palladini]

I have used Linux Mint ISO on a USB Thumb drive to fix a computer, just as you say. I fired up the ISO image, got all the DATA off of the Windows operating system, moved all of that data to external Hard Drive. I then removed the Linux Mint USB Thumb Drive, Inserted a USB Thumb Drive I had Windows 10 on and reinstalled the Windows Operating System, moved all the DATA back to Windows Machine, erased the DATA that was on the external drive, and gave the Computer back to person who owned it

[NoEggu]

I believe that BitLocker will not prevent you from retrieving files from a non-bootable machine, as long as the drive is working.

When you plug that BitLocker encrypted drive into some other Windows computer, it should ask you for your password for that drive. Enter it, and you should be good to go.

[kenzostaelens]

i'm a year late but you can also boot into a terminal and xcopy your files over if you really have to (this happened to me today, my pc was running into a self repair it couldn't fix)

[lcarliner]

Assuming that decent internet connectivity is available at your location or home, the use of a subscription to a cloud backup service like Carbonate would be close to ideal. However, a local full image backup would still be needed as Carbonate does not provide ijmage backup service.

[mrd]

Your channel rocks! Very informative videos!

[robertlewisvideo]

Could you have previously created a Thumb Drive that was bootable and use that to Boot the computer to access the internal drive? I have taken your advice and I do have automatic backups.

[hectorrivera]

Your are the best, were I can see those process Thank you

[Chris-tfgi]

Recently had a situation where I plugging a pulled HD into another system prevented me from going into the "users" folder saying I didn't have permission to go in there. Not like it was critical because I did have a backup! Still, if I didn't?? I wanted to poke around to make sure there wasn't something I wanted. Looked up how to change permissions, etc and found . . . nothing concrete. One site even said to format the drive and then use a data restore program to get the files back. (Ummm??? No!) Easier way to do that? I'll note, I stopped using the Documents, Video, Downloads default folders in Windows a while ago having noticed that if the system needs a refresh, Windows just wipes them out! Files seem safer anywhere else but under the default Windows folders. While Windows installs don't seem to have a problem wiping those particular folders out, Windows sure seems to have a fit about letting people back into them when accessing the files as an external HD! I can't say I've ever seen anyone ever talk about this and would appreciate someone doing so sometime. Thanks!

[johnmundy]

JUST TO BE CLEAR...
If I extract the drive from the broken laptop and insert it into an external enclosure, I WILL be able to access files with no additional hardware or software? I'm just wondering why everyone wants me to buy software and create a bootable drive if I don't have to?! 🤷‍♂