How do I get files off a dead computer?

A computer that will not start usually has a perfectly intact drive. The data is generally recoverable by connecting that drive to another machine, which is routine work rather than a specialist job.

What makes it harder or impossible:

• Continuing to run a failing drive. If it is clicking or the machine keeps freezing, every additional hour of power reduces what can be recovered. Turn it off.
• Someone reinstalling Windows to "fix" it. This is the single most common way recoverable data becomes unrecoverable. If a repair shop suggests it before recovering your files, say no.
• Drive encryption without the key. If BitLocker is on, which it increasingly is by default, the recovery key is required. It is usually in the Microsoft account the machine was set up with. Find it before handing the drive to anyone.

Physically damaged drives, meaning dropped, burned, or water damaged, are a different and considerably more expensive category handled in a clean room. We will tell you honestly when that is what you are facing rather than running up a bill first.

For business machines under our management, this rarely comes up, because the data is already backed up.