Embodiments of recovering data in computing devices and associated methods of operations are disclosed therein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a failure notification indicating that a core of a main processor is experiencing a catastrophic failure causing the core unable to execute instructions. In response, a flush command can be issued to an uncore of the processor via a debug port instructing the uncore to copy any data currently residing in a processor cache of the main processor to a volatile memory. The method further includes issuing a self-refresh command causing the volatile memory to enter a self-refresh mode in which the data copied from the processor cache is maintained and unmodifiable by the main processor during a reset of the main processor.