How to Recover Data from a Dead PC: The Best Methods Explained

A "dead PC" is a computer that fails to boot or function due to hardware, software, or power issues. Your dead PC may have some important files, and recovering those files can be challenging. Luckily, there are some professional data recovery software and manual methods that you can try to restore lost data from a non-functioning PC.

This guide will explore various approaches to recover data from a dead PC, addressing scenarios like hardware failure, operating system corruption, or power issues.

Is it Possible to Recover Data from a Dead PC?

Yes, you can recover data from a dead PC. The recovery depends on the nature of the failure and the condition of its storage device. Usually, when any data is deleted from your device’s hard drive, it remains intact and can be accessed using various recovery methods.

If the issue lies with non-critical components like the motherboard, power supply or RAM, the recovery becomes quite complex. In such cases, you can also use a professional data recovery software or online recovery services to get deleted data back.

Diagnosing the Problem

Before you apply methods to recover data from a dead PC, it is important to understand why your device fails. Understanding the root cause can help to identify the recovery methods better.

• Power Issues: If the PC doesn’t power on, the problem may be related to the power supply unit (PSU), battery, or motherboard. A dead battery or faulty PSU can prevent the system from booting while leaving the hard drive intact.
• Hardware Failures: There may be problems with your device’s RAM, CPU, or motherboard, which might prevent booting. Again, the storage device could still be functional.

• Operating System (OS) Corruption: Sometimes, the PC powers on but fails to load the OS. In such cases, the data remains present on the hard drive, and you can recover that data using a professional data recovery software or alternative boot methods.
• Storage Drive Failure: If the hard drive itself is damaged, more specialized methods, such as professional data recovery, may be needed.

How do I Recover Data from a Dead PC?

In this part of the blog, we’ll explore some best and proven methods to recover data from a dead PC:

Method 01: Use Professional Data Recovery Software

Let’s begin with the simplest method first. If you are looking for an easy approach to restore lost data from a dead PC, then professional data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Professional will be the best choice. This all-in-one data recovery software supports the recovery of deleted files of multiple types including photos, videos, documents, and many more in a few simple clicks.

Key Features of Stellar Data Recovery Professional Tool:

• Supports recovery of files deleted from formatted, encrypted, or corrupted drives.
• Recover data from completely crashed & unbootable systems.
• Best for recovery of data lost or deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, system failure, or any other reasons.
• Can recover files stored on multiple internal/external storage devices including HDDs, SSDs, USBs, etc.
• Recovers data from NTFS, exFAT, and FAT formatted drives.
• Allows you to preview the recoverable files before saving them on your device.

Here’s how to recover data from a dead PC using this amazing tool:

Step 1: Firstly, download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Professional software on your Windows PC. Also, connect the formatted USB drive to that device. Launch the software and from the homepage, click the waffle icon and select Create Recovery Drive.

Step 2: Now, click Browse and select the connected drive. Also, click the “Create Recovery Drive” option.

Step 3: Click OK to continue. From the Activation Window that appears, enter the Activation key that you have received through mail at the time of purchasing the product. The bootable recovery drive is ready.

Once you are done with the above steps, your USB recovery drive is not ready. You need to connect it to the affected drive and then follow the below steps to get the deleted data back.

Step 4: Enter the Boot menu by turning your device with the Boot key (F12) and select the USB drive (bootable recovery drive).

Step 5: Launch the software and from the PC screen, select Everything or the type of file you need to restore.

Step 6: From the Recover From window, choose the storage drive where your deleted data was earlier stored and click Scan to initiate the scanning process.

Step 7: Once the scan is completed, connect an external drive to your computer and click the Recover button to save the recovered data on it.

Method 02: Use Hard Drive as an External Drive

If your PC is no longer working or is in a dead state, you can access its data by converting the internal drive into an external drive. For this, you need to disconnect the hard drive from the affected PC and then connect it to another working PC using a hard drive connector. Once done, follow the below steps on your working computer to recover your lost data:

• Press the Windows + R keys to launch the Run prompt. Type diskmgmt.msc in the text box and press the Enter key to launch the Disk Management utility.

If any inaccessible hard drive is connected to your device, you can assign a new drive letter to it. For this:

• Right-click on the connected drive volume and then select ‘Change Drive Letters and Paths.’
• Click the ‘Add’ /’Change’ button and select the letter from the drop-down menu.
• Click OK and check if the drive is accessible in the File Explorer.

Method 03: Try Professional Data Recovery Services

If both the above methods to recover data from a dead PC get failed, professional data recovery services may be the best option. These services offer easy recovery of data from severely damaged storage devices, including hard drives with physical damage, logical errors, or corruption. Though these services charge high fees, they guarantee full data recovery from your device, even from dead PCs. Choose a service with robust data security protocols to protect your privacy.

When to Use Professional Recovery Services

• The hard drive is making unusual noises (clicking, grinding, or buzzing).
• The drive is not recognized by any device.
• The driver has been exposed to physical damage (e.g., fire, water, or impact).
• Files are corrupted or inaccessible due to severe logical damage.

Additional Tips to Prevent PCs from Getting Dead

Prevention is better than cure. It is important to protect your device from becoming non-functional or "dead". Some tips that you can consider are:

• Maintain Proper Power Supply: Protect your device from sudden power surges, voltage fluctuations, and sudden outages by using a surge protector or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
• Keep the System Cool: For this, place your device in a well-ventilated area to prevent overheating. Also, clean fans, vents, and internal parts of your device on a regular basis to avoid dust accumulation.
• Update Software and Drivers: Keep your device OS and installed programs up-to-date to fix bugs and security vulnerabilities.
• Install Antivirus Software: Protect your PC from malware and viruses that can corrupt files or render the system unbootable.

Conclusion

Recovering data from a dead PC can be a challenging task, but the above-mentioned tools and techniques can help you to restore your lost data easily. In cases of OS corruption or minor hardware issues, methods like connecting the drive externally can be helpful. For more severe problems, such as physical drive damage or RAID failure, professional data recovery software or professional assistance may be required. Moreover, you can consider preventive measures like regular backups, both locally and on the cloud, to avoid the stress and costs associated with data recovery.