My PC froze a couple of hours ago, so I shut it down, expecting a normal restart to fix the problem. Since then, it will not boot into Windows and only reaches the BIOS or Automatic Repair screens. System Restore fails with a message saying that no files were changed, and Safe Mode will not start either. I also tried running chkdsk /f from the recovery Command Prompt, but it says it cannot read the files because the drive is locked. Is there anything else I should try before replacing the computer? If the drive or Windows installation has failed, will I still be able to transfer my files to a new PC?
2 Answers
A failed boot after a freeze can mean the hard drive or SSD is failing, especially if recovery tools cannot access the Windows volume. However, the fact that the drive appears in the BIOS only means the hardware is detected; it does not prove that the drive is healthy or that its data can be read. Avoid repeatedly attempting repairs if the files are important. Connect the drive to another computer or boot from a recovery USB and copy the important files first. If it is unreadable or making unusual sounds, consider professional data recovery before replacing it.
Before buying another computer, check whether the storage drive is healthy. Run chkdsk from an elevated recovery Command Prompt, but remember that the Windows recovery environment may assign the Windows drive a different letter. You can also check the drive’s S.M.A.R.T. status through the BIOS or the manufacturer’s diagnostics. If the drive is reporting errors, back up your files as soon as possible and replace it. An external drive can be used to copy or back up data if the old drive is still readable.
The Command Prompt in the recovery menu says it is running as administrator, but chkdsk still cannot read the volume. I’m not sure where to find the Windows diagnostic tools or how to run a S.M.A.R.T. test. I may create Windows installation media on a USB drive to try additional recovery options.
The drive still appears in the BIOS, so I wasn’t sure whether that ruled out a drive failure. I’ll focus on backing up the files and checking the drive’s health before trying more repairs.