Windows Data Recovery
When Windows will not start, a drive shows as RAW, or files have been deleted, the data is usually still on the disk – as long as nothing is written over it. We recover data from Windows PCs, laptops and servers, from Windows XP through to the latest Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025.
Windows 10 reached end of support in October 2025, and many machines have since been upgraded or replaced. Failed upgrades and hurried migrations are a common cause of the cases we see.
Windows Versions and File Systems
| Category | Supported |
|---|---|
| Desktop | Windows 11 (including 24H2 and 25H2), Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Vista and XP. |
| Server | Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 R2 and 2008 R2, Small Business Server. |
| File systems | NTFS, ReFS, exFAT, FAT32; dynamic disks; Storage Spaces and Storage Spaces Direct. |
| Encryption | BitLocker and Windows device encryption (recovery key required), EFS. |
Common Windows Problems
- Drive shows as RAW, or Windows asks “Do you want to format it?”
- INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE, CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED or other blue screens
- Automatic Repair loop or “Preparing Automatic Repair” on every start
- BitLocker recovery screen and the key cannot be found
- Files lost after “Reset this PC” or a failed Windows upgrade
- Accidentally deleted files, emptied Recycle Bin or deleted partitions
- OneDrive “Files On-Demand” placeholders that were never downloaded
- Ransomware encrypting documents
Finding Your BitLocker Key
If your drive is encrypted, the recovery key is normally saved in the Microsoft account used on the PC – sign in at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey. For work devices, your IT department can retrieve it from Entra ID (Azure AD) or Active Directory. We cannot open BitLocker-encrypted data without it.
Before you send your device – five things to avoid
- Switch the device off and leave it off – every power cycle can make physical damage worse
- Do not run CHKDSK, Disk First Aid, fsck or recovery software on a drive that clicks, beeps or is slow
- Do not open the drive or swap the circuit board – modern boards hold drive-specific adaptive data
- Do not reinstall the operating system or initialise the disk when prompted
- Keep liquid-damaged devices unpowered and bring them in as quickly as possible
Free assessment, no obligation. Call 020 7064 4996 or use the form on this page – an engineer will tell you what can be recovered and what it will cost. Book online · Pricing · Locations