Asus ZenBook laptops are known for their lightweight design and high performance, making them a popular choice for photographers, professionals, and creatives. However, when a laptop displays the error “Operating System Not Found,” it often indicates a corrupt boot sector or partition table, making the stored data inaccessible.
This case study details how we successfully recovered important photography files for a novice photographer from an Asus ZenBook laptop hard disk, after boot errors prevented access to stored data.
As Leeds Data Recovery, with 25 years of experience, we used boot sector repair, partition reconstruction, and deep file extraction techniques to restore lost photography files.
Asus ZenBook Laptop Failing to Boot Due to Boot Sector or Partition Corruption
A novice photographer contacted us after their Asus ZenBook laptop failed to start, with the following issues:
- The laptop displayed “Operating System Not Found” on startup.
- BIOS detected the hard drive, but the operating system would not load.
- Attempts to run Windows Startup Repair or reinstall the OS failed.
- The drive contained photography projects, RAW image files, and edited portfolios.
Since reinstalling Windows or using disk repair tools could overwrite existing data, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Asus ZenBook’s hard disk arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full hardware and software diagnostic. Our findings:
- Corrupt Master Boot Record (MBR) and partition table – Preventing Windows from loading.
- File system inconsistencies (NTFS/exFAT) – Making stored data unreadable.
- No mechanical failure detected – Meaning a logical recovery approach was possible.
Since boot errors can lead to further file system damage if mishandled, we prioritized sector-level cloning and partition recovery.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging the Hard Drive to Prevent Data Loss
To preserve original data, we:
- Created a sector-by-sector clone of the Asus ZenBook’s hard drive.
- Used advanced recovery tools to bypass corrupted sectors and extract readable data.
2. Repairing the Boot Sector & Partition Table
Since the partition table was corrupted, we:
- Rebuilt the Master Boot Record (MBR) and GPT structures.
- Repaired the NTFS/exFAT file system to restore missing file paths.
3. Extracting & Verifying Photography Files
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Recovered thousands of RAW and JPEG images from damaged sectors.
- Repaired corrupted Lightroom and Photoshop project files.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external SSD.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our boot sector repair and deep file extraction techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the photographer’s lost files, including:
✅ RAW images and high-resolution photography projects
✅ Edited files from Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop
✅ Organized photo albums and portfolio presentations
The photographer was able to recover all critical photography work, preventing loss of creative content.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading laptop hard drive data recovery specialists in Leeds and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ Boot sector repair & partition table reconstruction
✔ RAW image file recovery & corrupted photo repair
✔ NTFS/exFAT file system restoration
✔ Secure & confidential data retrieval for photographers & creatives
If your laptop is displaying “Operating System Not Found,” failing to boot, or preventing access to your photography work, stop using it immediately and contact us for expert data recovery.