Systems and methods provide for using a microcontroller of an extended mobile access device to retrieve diagnostic data from a mobile computing system. In one embodiment, the device retrieves diagnostic data from a mobile computing system while the mobile computing system is in a closed-lid state. Other embodiments include retrieving diagnostic data while the mobile computing system is in an unbootable state or a power-off state. The diagnostic data and/or derivatives of the diagnostic data can be sent to a display of the device as well as sent to a network interface for transmission to a remote service center.