ERD Commander allows you to browse the hard drive’s file system even if the OS is corrupted. It includes a specific "File Restore" utility that can recover deleted files, and a built-in System File Checker (SFC) that can repair system files offline (repairing the OS image from the recovery stick).
The modern Hiren's runs Windows 11 PE. When you boot it, you get a start menu with "Password Reset" and "Registry Editor" that looks hauntingly similar to the old ERD Commander interface. erd commander windows 11
To access it without a USB: