Corsair PCs are popular for high-performance gaming, business operations, and creative workflows. However, when a computer boots directly to BIOS instead of Windows, it usually indicates a missing or corrupted bootloader, preventing access to stored data.
This case study details how we successfully recovered Sage accounts and till data for a local bar from a Corsair PC hard drive, after bootloader corruption left the system unable to start Windows.
As Cambridge Data Recovery, with 25 years of experience, we used boot sector repair, file system reconstruction, and deep database extraction techniques to restore the business-critical financial records.
Corsair PC Booting to BIOS Instead of Windows
A local bar owner contacted us after their Corsair PC failed to boot, with the following issues:
- The system went straight to BIOS instead of loading Windows.
- The hard drive was detected in BIOS but was not accessible.
- Attempts to run Windows Startup Repair or reinstall Windows failed.
- The drive contained all Sage accounts and till transaction data essential for business operations.
Since attempting a reinstall could overwrite critical business data, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Corsair PC’s hard drive arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full hardware and software diagnostic. Our findings:
- Corrupt Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) – Preventing Windows from recognizing the system files.
- File system inconsistencies (NTFS/FAT32) – Making stored data unreadable.
- No mechanical failure detected – Meaning logical data recovery was possible without hardware repair.
Since bootloader corruption can prevent normal system access, we prioritized sector-level imaging and partition table recovery.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging the Hard Drive to Prevent Data Loss
To preserve the original data, we:
- Created a forensic sector-by-sector clone of the Corsair PC’s hard drive.
- Used advanced recovery tools to bypass corrupted sectors and extract readable data.
2. Repairing the Bootloader & File System
Since the boot sector and partition table were corrupted, we:
- Rebuilt the Master Boot Record (MBR) and GPT structures.
- Repaired the NTFS file system to restore missing directory paths.
3. Extracting & Verifying Business Data for the Bar
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Recovered all Sage accounts and financial transaction records.
- Repaired corrupted database files containing till transactions.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external backup.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our boot sector repair and database recovery techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the bar’s lost financial data, including:
✅ Sage accounting software files and financial records
✅ Till transactions and sales history
✅ Customer invoices, staff payroll data, and business reports
The business was able to fully restore its accounting and transaction records, preventing financial loss and operational disruptions.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading hard drive and business data recovery specialists in Cambridge and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ Bootloader repair & partition table reconstruction
✔ Sage accounting & financial database recovery
✔ Till transaction data retrieval & NTFS file system restoration
✔ Secure & confidential data recovery for businesses
If your PC is booting to BIOS instead of Windows, failing to load, or preventing access to critical business data, stop using it immediately and contact us for expert data recovery.