When a computer boots directly into BIOS instead of Windows, it typically indicates a missing or corrupt bootloader, a failing storage device, or firmware-related issues. This case study explores how we successfully recovered data from a HP Omen gaming computer belonging to a student in Dublin, who was unable to access their files due to a corrupt bootloader preventing Windows from loading.
As Ireland’s oldest and most trusted data recovery specialists, we applied advanced techniques to recover the student’s critical data, including academic projects, coursework, and personal files.
The Challenge: Computer Stuck in BIOS & Drive Not Detected
The student contacted us after their HP Omen laptop suddenly stopped booting into Windows. The issues reported included:
- The system automatically loading into BIOS instead of booting Windows.
- The internal SSD/HDD not appearing in the boot options.
- Error messages related to missing boot devices or bootloader corruption.
Since all their academic work was stored on the laptop, they needed a fast and reliable data recovery solution.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
Upon receiving the laptop at our cleanroom lab, we conducted a full system analysis. Our findings:
- Corrupt Windows bootloader – The boot sector and partition table were damaged, making the OS unbootable.
- Drive partially undetectable – While the SSD was physically functional, its firmware had minor corruption preventing BIOS from reading it correctly.
- Potential bad sectors – Some areas of the drive contained unreadable data, likely due to degradation or unexpected shutdowns.
These issues confirmed that a standard OS repair would not be enough, requiring manual recovery techniques.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning the Drive to Prevent Further Damage
To ensure the best recovery chances, we first cloned the entire drive using specialised imaging tools that bypass bad sectors. This prevented further degradation and allowed us to work on a safe copy of the data.
2. Rebuilding the Bootloader & Partition Table
Once we had a stable copy, we:
- Repaired the Master Boot Record (MBR) and GUID Partition Table (GPT).
- Restored the Windows Boot Manager to allow the OS to load correctly.
- Fixed corrupted file system structures, making user data accessible.
3. Extracting & Verifying Student Data
After successfully rebuilding the file system, we extracted the student’s critical data, including:
✅ University coursework and assignments
✅ Research papers and project files
✅ Personal photos and documents
Once verified, we transferred the recovered data to a secure external drive for the client.
The Results: Full Data Recovery & System Restoration
Thanks to our specialised bootloader repair techniques, we achieved:
✅ 100% data recovery success
✅ Bootable drive restoration
✅ Minimal downtime for the student
The student was able to continue their studies without losing any important work.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading experts in boot failure and hard drive recovery in Ireland and the UK. We specialise in:
✔ Bootloader repair & missing OS recovery
✔ SSD, HDD, and NVMe drive recovery
✔ RAID, NAS, and external drive recovery
✔ Chip-level recovery & firmware repair
If your laptop boots to BIOS, shows a missing boot device error, or has OS corruption, don’t risk further damage—let the experts recover your data.