5 Ways to Access Hard Disk Data Without an Operating System

Can I Access the Hard Disk Without an Operating System?

Q: "What is the most effective method to access my HP laptop's hard drive to retrieve data when the operating system fails to boot?"

Q: "I received a computer from my friend, but the user password is missing. I need to retrieve some data from the HDD. I suppose there must be a way to copy data from the hard drive without an operating system."

Are you aware of the various methods to extract data from a hard drive without booting into Windows? To retrieve data from an unbootable computer, your primary task is to figure out ways to access the hard disk without an operating system. You can utilize any of the following 5 methods to easily access hard disk data without an OS, enabling you to retrieve all your files.

Translation into English:

Solution 1: Recover Hard Drive on Another Computer

Sometimes, it's merely corruption in the Windows OS that prevents your hard drive from booting. In this case, you can simply remove the drive from the deceased computer and connect it to another one. If you can access the hard drive normally, proceed to back up your hard drive data.

Solution 2: Put Your Hard Drive in a Freezer

What if the issue is with the hard drive preventing the boot? Try placing it in a freezer. Numerous hard drives that have stopped functioning can be revived. Although this is not a permanent solution to fix an unbootable hard drive, some people claim that it works for around 20 minutes, which provides enough time to copy all the data from the drive.

Solution 3: Recover Data from Hard Drive Without Operating System

Another effective method to access the hard disk and recover data without booting into the Windows operating system is to boot your computer from a bootable USB drive.

We recommend using Data Recovery Wizard Pro. It's an ideal solution for accessing and recovering data from a hard disk without needing to boot into Windows. This powerful data recovery software allows you to recover data from a dead hard drive as well as retrieve data from a computer that fails to boot.

Tip - Make sure you have a CD/DVD recorder and a blank CD/DVD or USB drive that can be written to. Then, follow the steps below:

To access the hard disk without an operating system:

Step 1. Create a bootable disk This step involves creating a disk that can be used to start up your computer. A bootable disk contains the necessary files and software to initiate the installation process of an operating system or perform system recovery. Here's how you can create one: 1. **Choose the Media**: You will need a blank CD, DVD, or a USB flash drive with sufficient storage capacity. The choice depends on the available options and the requirements of the operating system you're installing. 2. **Download the ISO Image**: Obtain the ISO image file for the operating system you want to install. This is usually available from the official website of the operating system provider. 3. **Use a Bootable Disk Creation Tool**: There are several tools available for this purpose, such as Microsoft's Media Creation Tool for Windows, or Rufus for both Windows and Linux. Download and install the tool appropriate for your needs. 4. **Insert the Disk or USB Drive**: Plug in the blank disk or USB drive into your computer. 5. **Format the Disk**: In the bootable creation tool, select the disk or USB drive as the target media. You may need to format it first, which will erase all existing data. Choose the appropriate file system (FAT32, NTFS, or exFAT) depending on your needs. 6. **Write the ISO Image**: Select the downloaded ISO image file and instruct the tool to write it to the chosen media. This process might take some time, depending on the size of the ISO file and the speed of your hardware. 7. **Verify the Disk**: After the writing process is complete, verify the disk to ensure it was created correctly. Some tools have built-in verification options; otherwise, you can use the tool's manual instructions. 8. **Boot from the Disk**: Now that you have a bootable disk, restart your computer and access the BIOS or UEFI settings by pressing the relevant key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del) during the startup process. Set the disk or USB drive as the first boot device. 9. **Start Installation**: Save the changes and exit the BIOS. Your computer should now boot from the disk and initiate the installation process. Remember to be cautious while working with disks and changing BIOS settings, as incorrect actions could lead to data loss or system malfunction.

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard, choose "Crashed PC Recovery" and click "Go to Recover".

选择一个空的USB来创建可启动驱动器，然后点击“创建”。

Warning: When creating a bootable disk, the Data Recovery Wizard tool will erase all data saved on the USB drive. Back up important data beforehand.

Step 2. Boot your computer from the bootable USB Insert the USB drive into your computer's USB port. Then, restart your computer. While it's booting up, press the key to enter the Boot Menu or BIOS settings (this key varies depending on your computer model, but it's often F2, F10, F12, or DEL). In the Boot Menu, select the USB drive as the primary boot device. Press Enter to start booting from the USB. Once your computer boots from the USB, you will see the installation process for the operating system you've downloaded. Follow the on-screen instructions to install it on your computer.

Connect the bootable disk to the PC that won't start up, and then alter your computer's boot sequence in the BIOS. For most users, pressing F2 simultaneously while restarting their computer typically works to enter the BIOS.

Set the PC to boot from "Removable Devices" (bootable USB drive) instead of the hard drive. Press "F10" to save and exit.

Step 3. Recover Data from a Crashed System/PC

Upon booting from the Tools Data Recovery Wizard bootable disk, select the drive you wish to scan to locate all your lost files. Preview and recover the necessary files to a secure location.

You can also utilize the manual data recovery and Windows repair features of specialized tools. Our professional technical team is available to assist you in resolving any data recovery issues and system errors, including system failures, Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), unbootable devices, and more.

Tools Data Recovery Services

Click here to contact our experts for a free evaluation

Consult with Tools Data Recovery Experts for personalized manual recovery assistance. After a FREE diagnosis, we can provide the following services:

• Repair damaged RAID configurations, unbootable Windows operating system, and corrupted virtual disk files (.vmdk, .vhd, .vhdx, etc.)
• Recover or repair lost partitions and repartitioned drives
• Recover formatted hard drives and repair raw drives (including BitLocker encrypted drives)
• Resolve issues with disks that have become GPT protected partitions

Solution 4: Copy Hard Drive Files via Command Prompt

If you have a Windows installation media available, attempt to boot from the install disc or USB drive. Launch the Windows Command Prompt so you can utilize the robocopy command to effortlessly copy all folders and files from the chosen drive. Enter the following command: robocopy C:\tools D:\backup\tools /e

• The /e modifier instructs robocopy to include all subdirectories, including empty ones.
• Robocopy automatically copies hidden and system files, and it creates new directories if they don't already exist in the target location.

Solution 5: View the Contents of a Hard Drive

When you're unable to access the hard drive, you can still view its contents using Windows Explorer. This tool simplifies navigating through hard drive folders; however, it presupposes that the hard drive is recognizable by the computer.

Step 1: Transform the Internal Hard Drive into an External One

1. Connect the SATA-to-USB adapter's power cable to the L-shaped power connector on the internal SATA drive.

Important: SATA drives have two L-shaped connectors placed side by side. The larger one is the power connector, and the smaller one is the SATA data port.

2. Connect the adapter's SATA connector to the SATA data port on your internal hard drive.

3. Place the hard drive near your computer on a flat surface.

4. Plug the adapter's power cable into a wall socket and slide the "Power" switch to the "On" position.

5. Plug the adapter's USB cable into an open USB port on your computer. Windows will automatically recognize the drive after a few seconds.

Step 2. Open Windows Explorer

1. Click "Start" and choose "PC" to open Windows Explorer.

2. Double-click on the hard drive's assigned letter under the "Hard Disk Drives" section in the right pane to view its contents. To view files within folders, double-click on the respective folder.

3. When you're done browsing the drive, right-click the drive letter and select "Eject."

Step 3. View All Files

1. Click "Organize" in the Windows Explorer toolbar and choose "Folder and Search Options."

2. In the Advanced Settings section, click "View > Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives."

3. In the Advanced Settings section, uncheck "Hide Protected Operating System Files (Recommended)" and confirm by clicking "Yes" on the dialog box that appears. Then click "OK."

Following these steps, you will be able to view all files and folders.

People Also Ask

If you can't access the hard drive or still have questions, read on.

How can I retrieve data from an old hard drive?

1. You can connect the old hard drive to a new PC to retrieve data.
2. The alternative method is to recover data from the old hard drive using data recovery software tools.

How can I access my hard drive without an operating system?

Translate into English: < li >

To access hard disk without OS:

Step 1. Create a bootable disk.

Step 2. Boot from the bootable USB.

Step 3. Recover files or data from a non-bootable PC/laptop hard drive.

Why isn't my hard drive appearing?

If a hard disk has no partitions and all its disk space is unallocated, it will not appear in Windows Explorer. If a newly installed hard drive is not detected by the system BIOS, the issue could be that the disk is not enabled.

Can I transfer my old hard drive to a new computer?

Yes, you can connect the old hard drive to a new computer by using a SATA-to-USB adapter and its power cable.