Your computer screen may return a bluescreen error, the operating system may take a long time to boot, the system is too slow in displaying files, or applications that you are trying to access, or you are getting error messages, etc.
These are all the signs that a system might crash or the hard drive is about to die. So it is advised to have a backup of important files especially when you start experiencing such situations.
But system crashes are known to be abrupt and disastrous. If you happen to encounter a disastrous situation where your operating system has crashed, the data residing on the disk becomes completely inaccessible or lost.
It might keep you wondering about a way to recover files from crashed Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, or any other Windows version you’re using
Fortunately, this article guides you with simple methods to handle the drive data recovery from a crashed computer effortlessly. But let us first understand the reasons for the system crash;
Table Of Contents
- What are the causes of an Operating System Crash?
- How to Recover Data from Crashed Windows System
- Steps to Recover Data from Crashed Windows Using Remo Recover
- How to avoid System Crash in the Future
What are the causes of an Operating System Crash?
- Hardware driver conflict
- Corrupt Windows registry
- Physical damage
- Overheating of the system
- Application malfunction
- Corrupted BIOS
- Virus or malware
- Issues related to motherboard or memory
How to Recover Data from Crashed Windows System?
The possibility of data recovery after a system crash depends upon the cause of data loss. If you have lost unsaved data while working on a file and document, you can try to find the files, if the application has an autosave function. If old or existing files or folders have disappeared after a Windows crash you will need a reliable data recovery tool.
Once the operating system crashes and turns inaccessible, you can try to boot the system using safe mode. However, through safe mode and system restore you will only be able to boot the operating system and restore Windows files and settings. Let us know how you can boot Windows in Safe Mode…
Boot the Crashed Windows Computer using Safe Mode:
In the case of a system crash, follow the below methods to boot the operating system.
Method 1: Run safe mode
Safe mode is a diagnostic mode in Windows-based computers. When in Safe Mode the Windows OS loads with default drivers and applications only. This takes care of system crashes that happen due to corruption, driver errors, or malware infection.
- Start your computer, and press the F8 key repeatedly before showing the Windows logo.
- Under the Advanced Boot Options window, select Safe Mode.
- Shut down and restart the computer, then see if the problem is solved.
Method 2: Fix System Crash Errors with Command Prompt using CHKDSK & SFC
If your PC cannot boot normally or in safe mode, you can use the bootable Windows USB or CD/DVD to run advanced repair commands. These commands can often fix the corruption that caused the crash.
Step 1: Check if the Hard Drive is Detected in BIOS
Restart your computer and immediately press F2, Del, or Esc to enter BIOS/UEFI mode. 2. Look for a menu labeled Information, Boot, System Status, or Storage. Confirm that your hard drive or SSD is listed.
Step 2: Open Command Prompt in Recovery Mode
Boot from a Windows Installation USB or CD/DVD if you have one.
Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
Step 3: In Recovery Mode, your C: drive might be assigned a different letter (often D: or E:).
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
diskpart
list volume
Look for the volume with a size your bootable drive that is likely your system drive. Note its drive letter.
Type exit to close DiskPart.
Step 4: Run the CHKDSK Command
Type the following command:
chkdsk C: /f /r
Wait for the process to finish. It may take some time depending on your drive size.
Step 5: Run System File Checker (SFC)
If CHKDSK completes but Windows still won’t boot, system files might be missing.
Type the following command (replace C: with your actual drive letter):
sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows
Method 3: Perform System Restore in Safe Mode
System restore can recover your computer to an early date, including Windows files and settings. If your computer crash is due to registry errors, driver conflicts, or OS errors, you can try to perform a system restore in safe mode.
- Start your computer in Safe Mode.
- Summon the system restore Window. You can click
Start menu > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore.
- Choose a restore point and click Next. In this window, you should check the recommended restore date. But if the restore point is not working as expected, you can still choose a different restore point/date.
- Confirm the settings are correct and click Finish.
Method 4: Recover Data from Crashed Windows using a Data Recovery Tool
Remo Recover is a reliable File recovery tool that can restore lost data from the system after a crash effortlessly. This tool can easily recover your data from crashed Windows OS. Remo Recover works effortlessly on all versions of Windows such as Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11.
Remo Recover tool recovers data from various storage mediums such as flash memory cards, external USB drives, hard disks, etc. Files from FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, exFAT, and many more file systems can be recovered in a short time.
Steps to Recover files from a Crashed Windows using Remo Recover
If your computer is completely dead, the most reliable method is to remove its hard drive and connect it to a working computer.
Connect your drive via disk enclosure or adapter:
- For older laptops/desktops use a SATA-to-USB Adapter.
- For modern thin laptops: An M.2 NVMe-to-USB Adapter.
Remo Recover Windows
Recovers Data from Crashed Windows System
Download Remo Recover software and install on the working computer.
Connect the Drive: Remove the drive from your crashed computer. Insert it into the USB adapter or enclosure, then plug it into the working computer.
Next, launch Remo Recover on the working computer. Your connected drive will appear as an external drive. Select it and click Scan.
Once the scan starts you can click on the Dynamic Recovery View to view and recover files while the scan is still running.
After the scanning process, you can see your lost data under the Lost and Found folder or Lost Partition folder.
You can double-click on any file to Preview the recovered files such as documents, PPTs, excel sheets, photos, videos, etc.
If you are satisfied with the recovery results, select the files you want to restore and click on the Save button and save the file to your preferred location.
How to Avoid System Crash in the Future?
- Do not run too many applications at a time. Close the program that you are not currently using.
- Always check for the available disk space. Try not to overload it.
- Keep your antivirus updated, in order to filter out new viruses entering the internet.
- Upgrade your operating system along with the drivers.
- Try to keep your system clean and dust-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If your computer can still turn on, you can try booting into Safe Mode to copy files. If Windows won’t load at all, you can use Command Prompt fixes (like CHKDSK) or connect the hard drive to another computer to scan it with Remo Recover.
A system crash could result in varied amounts of data loss or data corruption. you could also be forced to deal with a frozen or unresponsive screen.
Common causes include corrupted system files, incompatible drivers, overheating, or sudden power loss. While hardware damage requires physical repair, software crashes can often be fixed using the SFC (System File Checker) or CHKDSK commands mentioned in this guide.
Windows Updates can sometimes create a temporary user profile if the update fails, making it look like your files are gone. Check the C drive user folder to see if your old profile is still there. If the files are missing, they may have been deleted during the rollback process. In this case, Remo Recover can scan the drive to retrieve the deleted files.
