Computer Crashed: How to Recover Files Effortlessly

Can You Recover Data After a Computer Crash?

👉“My Windows 10 suddenly crashed and stopped working. I've tried various ways to fix the problem, but none of them worked. Now, I am going to take my laptop to a repair store. Before that, I want to get back my files. Is there any way to recover data from crashed Windows 10?”

Computer crashes can be very frustrating. Apart from the inconvenience of a blue or black screen of death or an unbootable operating system, a crash can lead to massive data loss. The first order of business is usually to restore the system to its normal working condition.

However, repairing the operating system can be a daunting task for most everyday Windows users. So, what about your data? Is it possible to recover files when computer crashes?

The good news is that it is possible to recover data from a crashed computer. In this article, we will cover the 2 best methods to recover data from a crashed Windows 10/11 system. In addition, we will also guide you on how to protect your operating system and data from future crashes.

3 Common Causes of Computer Crashes

Before we get into the recovery process, it is helpful to understand the cause of a computer crash. Knowing the cause can sometimes make the recovery process easier and help prevent future incidents.

💥Hardware failure: Hardware failure is one of the most common causes of computer crashes. This can include problems with the hard disk, motherboard, memory, or other critical components. When these components fail, the computer or hard drive won’t boot at all, causing file recovery to seem impossible.

🎇 Software issues: Software issues (such as corrupted operating system files) can also lead to crashes. These problems are usually caused by failed updates, software incompatibilities, or malware infections. In many cases, the computer may boot up but not function properly.

🎃 Human error: Let's face it, we all make mistakes. Accidentally deleting critical system files or improperly installing software can cause a crash. Sometimes it's as simple as clicking on the wrong link or opening a suspicious email.

How to Recover Data after Windows 10/11 Crashed (2 Ways)

When your Windows computer or hard drive stops working and crashes, recover your important data as soon as possible to avoid more serious damage. Here are 2 proven ways to recover data from crashed hard drive/computer.

1. Recover Data After Windows 10/11 Crash via Bootable Media

Recovering data from a crashed Windows 10 system is simple if you have a backup, allowing you to restore files with ease. But if you don't have a backup, don't worry - computer crash recovery software MyRecover can help you. With it, you can successfully recover data from crashed Windows 10 even if your computer does not boot up properly. Here are the key features of MyRecover.

• It offers a simple interface to create a bootable USB/ CD/DVD for Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 easily.
• Recover lost Word document, Excel, PPT, PDF, PPTX, MP4, ODP, CSV, WPS files, and other 200+ file formats with 3 clicks.
• It automatically performs both quick scan & deep scan to recover all lost or deleted files and keep their original filename, directory, and path.
• MyRecover supports recover deleted files from USB, SD card, HDD, SSD, external hard drive, and other storage devices.

How to recover data from crashed Windows 10 efficiently? Please follow these steps:

⚠ Notes:

• Please prepare a blank or new USB/CD/DVD, because the process of creating a bootable disk will erase all data on the drive. Or, use this free Windows backup software like AOMEI Backupper Standard to protect your data beforehand.
• Download and install this best bootbable data recovery software - MyRecover on a normal PC.

Step 1. Create a bootable drive

1. Connect a blank USB drive or insert a CD/DVD into the PC. Run MyRecover on your working PC, and choose "Crashed PC Recovery".

2. Select the empty USB or CD/DVD bootable drive and click "Execute".

🤞 Tips: Here are 3 ways to create a bootable drive.

• USB Boot Device: create a bootable USB drive.
• Export ISO file: Create a bootable ISO file, then use a third-party burning program to burn it, or use it to boot virtual computers.
• Burn to CD/DVD: Create a bootable CD/DVD.

You can also use the "Add Drivers" feature to include additional drivers in your boot disk, ensuring broader device compatibility in WinPE.

3. When you create a bootable USB drive, it will delete all data saved in your USB drive. Please make sure you have the file backup beforehand. Then click Yes.

4. It will take a few minutes to complete. Once the bootable drive is created, you'll see a success message with instructions to boot from the bootable drive. Start recovering data from crashed computer.

Step 2. Boot your PC from the bootable USB disk

• Connect the bootable USB drive to the crashed computer.
• Press F12, F2, F10, F11, Del, or Esc to enter the BIOS.
• Change the PC’s boot sequence in BIOS to boot from the USB drive.
• Save the changes by pressing F10 and exit.
• Reboot the PC and select the bootable USB drive as the boot media.

Step 3. Recover data from crashed Windows computer

1. Launch MyRecover and choose PC Recovery, and hover the drive you want to scan. Click Scan.

2. MyRecover will perform a Quick and Deep Scan of your hard drive. Use the Search Box or the Filter feature to quickly find specific data.

3. Once the required data is identified, select the files and click "Recover X Files". Choose a new location to save the recovered files.

• The Free edition allows you to recover deleted files up to 500MB. For unlimited data recovery and recover a large number of files effortlessly. Consider upgrading MyRecover to the Pro or Tech version.
• Apart from support computer crashed recovery, MyRecover applies to all-inclusive data loss scenarios, such as lost or deleted partitions, virus infection, formatted disks, recycle bin recovery, etc.

2. Recover Files After Computer Crashes by System Restore

How to recover data after Windows 10 crashed? System Restore, a built-in Windows utility that can restore computer to earlier date (including system files, installed apps, Windows Registry, and system settings) to a previous point in time. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1. Connect the Windows installation media (bootable USB drive/CD/DVD) that is created by MyRecover to your PC. If your PC is off, hold down F9/F12 and then press the power button to enter Windows Recovery Environment (RE). Click Next.

Step 2. On the install Windows screen, click Repair your computer to start Windows 10 in safe mode.

Step 3. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.

Step 4. Click Next on the System Restore window. Select a system restore point from the list provided. Then, click Next and follow the prompts to restore your system to the chosen point.

How to Protect OS and Data from Crash (6 Tips)

Protecting your Windows operating system and data is critical to preventing interruptions and data loss from operating system crashes. Here are some simple but effective tips you can take:

1️⃣ Make regular backups: You can use the Windows built-in backup tools such as File History and Backup and Restore. File History automatically backs up your files, while Backup and Restore create a full system image, which is a complete snapshot of your system.

Or, back up your data to an external hard drive or use a cloud storage service such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or free backup software - AOMEI Backupper Standard to create schedule automatic backup of your data in Windows 10/11.

2️⃣ Keep software up to date: Turn on automatic updates for Windows and all software. Updates usually fix security issues and bugs that can cause crashes. Keep your hardware drivers up to date. Outdated drivers can cause system crashes and instability.

3️⃣ Install reliable antivirus software: Install a trustworthy antivirus program such as Norton, Bitdefender, or Kaspersky. And, perform regular anti-virus and security-malware scans to remove ransomware virus that can cause system crashes.

4️⃣ Maintaining Hardware: Dust can cause overheating and damage to hardware. Clean your computer regularly to keep it running properly. Use a tool such as CrystalDiskInfo to check the health of your hard disk drive. Early warnings can help you back up your data before a crash.

5️⃣ Disable unnecessary startup programs: Running too many programs at startup can slow down your system. Use Task Manager to disable unnecessary startup programs.

6️⃣ Create a recovery drive: create a recovery drive for Windows 10/11 will help you recover your system if it fails to boot.

Closing Words

Now you know the solution to the question, "Computer crashed, how to recover files?" When you need to recover files from a computer that has suffered logical damage, your best option is to use data recovery software like MyRecover. It's a reliable and user-friendly solution that can recover your data in just a few clicks.

MyRecover can also help you recover deleted files in Windows 10/11/8/7 when you lose data with a high recovery rate. Download it now to enjoy 500MB of free file recovery!

To protect your data and OS, it's crucial to create scheduled file backups or system backups that keep your backup data up-to-date. This way, if your computer crashes, you'll have the latest backup of your data and programs.

FAQs

1. What happens to data if a computer crashes?

When a computer crashes, data recovery is often still possible. Most storage devices don't immediately erase data when it’s deleted or overwritten; instead, they mark the space as available for new data. This means the data might still be recoverable unless it has been overwritten or the device is physically damaged beyond repair.

2. How to recover Excel file when computer crashed?

It is possible to recover Excel file after crash. Go to File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Workbooks in Excel, or Recover Unsaved Presentations in PowerPoint.

3. Can I recover files from a dead hard drive?

Yes, you can use an external hard drive enclosure to connect the dead drive to another computer. If the drive is still functional, you should be able to access and recover your files.

4. Are professional data recovery services worth it?

Professional data recovery services can be expensive but are worth considering if your data is extremely valuable and other recovery methods have failed. They have specialized equipment and expertise to recover data from severely damaged drives.