1. Using the Command Prompt

The first method for recovering data from an unbootable hard drive is to use the Command Prompt. On the Windows installation screen, click Repair your computer on the bottom left side. Do not click Install Now. You will enter Windows Recovery Environment. Now, click Advanced Options > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.

In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands and hit Enter after typing each command.

diskpart

list volume

The commands above will show you all disk partitions with their drive letters. Those without the drive letter do not contain your data. Therefore, you need to focus only on the disk volumes that have a drive letter. Look at the drive letters and size. The hard disk volumes, with sizes in GB, contain your data. Note down the drive letter for each such disk volume.

Now, exit Diskpart by typing exit. Now, the next step is to confirm the drive volume that contains your data. For this, you have to use the dir command. Check all the disk volumes. Start with any one volume, let’s say, C in my case.

Now, change the directory to C by using the following command:

C:

After that, type the following command and press Enter.

dir

The command above lists all files and folders in the directory. To recover your data, use the xcopy command as follows:

xcopy "folder name" "complete path" /s /e /h /i /c /y

For example, if you want to copy all the files inside the New folder to the external storage device, the command will be as follows:

xcopy "New folder" "G:\Backup Folder" /s /e /h /i /c /y

The above command will automatically create a folder named Backup Folder on the removable storage drive G and copy all the files from the New folder to it.

The /s /e /h /i /c /y parameters are used with the xcopy command to ensure that all files and subfolders are copied and no files are left behind.

Repeat the above process to copy all your data to the external storage device.

2. Using UI in Windows Recovery Environment

This method is easier than the one above, but it does not show a progress bar while copying your files. Launch the Command Prompt in Windows Recovery Environment using the method explained above.

Now, type the following command and press Enter.

notepad.exe

This will launch Notepad in Windows Recovery Environment. Go to File > Open, or press the Ctrl + O keys. This will open the File Explorer in the Recovery Environment. Now, you can easily view and copy your data to the external storage device. Navigate to This PC and then open all the folders one by one. If you do not view all your files, select All Files in the Files of Type drop-down. Now, select all your files, right-click, and select Copy.

After copying all your files, open the external storage device and navigate to the location where you want to paste these copied files. Open the targeted folder, right-click, and select Paste. Since the progress bar is not shown in Windows Recovery Environment, you have to refresh your screen. After refreshing your screen, you will see how many of your files are copies. Right-click and select Refresh. Keep refreshing your screen from time to time until all your files are copied.

Repeat the steps to copy all your data to the external storage device.