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How Do i Access My Old User Account?

Anonymous
2019-05-14T04:49:49+00:00

This is more in-depth than my subject line implies.

So i bought a new computer with Win10 x64 on it. Recently. Created a new computer name for it, but kept my Microsoft ID that my synced accounts have (online, the old one, and the new one). I was going to pull the data off the old one and utilize the drive for external storage (there is nothing wrong with the drive at all, and it's not even that old). It is currently hooked up as an external drive to the new one via SATA. Now, i can access quite a few things on it, but the one crucial thing i can't get to is the old user name in the Users/ folder. It is NOT hidden. I do have administrative rights, and it looks like i have the rights to access the folder. But i can't. Meaning, the entire folder will not acknowledge access at all. I can left or right click on it and nothing happens. All the other folders i can click on and get into. So that of course means that any and all documents/downloads/musics/videos/saves that are under that username i can't access at all. Why? What am i missing? There's got to be a way. And i was wondering if that has to do with the Microsoft account. As in you go online and see all the devices that are attached to the account you're using. Is that what is preventing me from accessing it? Online it says that username is still active and good, as is this new one. Should i have given this new one the same name? Too late for that.

In any case, can someone point me in the right direction or tell me what i missed?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-05-16T03:21:30+00:00

    Those are service accounts and usually don't have anything in them. Windows either use them for services like the Internet Information Server or for archiving files during setup.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-05-16T03:00:57+00:00

    Okay. So i did these things. Ran the disk check, disk checks out as okay. Defraggler and another defrag program show it's not in bad shape there. The diagnostics showed the drive as healthy. I also added the 'Take Ownership' command line to regedit and ran the option.

    Still no dice.  I have like 7 folders in there - Default (hidden)+ Default.migrated + DefaultAppPool + (myfolder) + Public + UpdatusUser   I can click and open 3, but the other 3 (myfolder, DefaultAppPool, UpdatusUser) are unclickable. Nothing happens when i click them still. I did not try the Repair/Boot Mode option you gave. I suppose that is in order next. Barring that, i could always do it the hard way, and reinstall it in the old machine just long enough to pull everything out of there. I was just hoping to avoid that. Never had this problem before; usually i just hooked an old drive up to my external enclosure and boom, off i went. Even damaged ones were accessible. This is why i think it's a Windows 10 thing.

    What else you guys got?

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-14T04:59:16+00:00

    Hi Stadawim

    My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I'm here to help you with your problem.

    Have you tried taking ownership of the folder?

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/take...

    If you are able to take ownership, then you should be able to browse it then copy over your files to your personal folder..

    Information in the above link is sourced from a trusted Microsoft MVP blog.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-05-14T04:58:31+00:00

    Hi, I"m Greg, an installation specialist, 9 year Windows MVP and Independent Advisor, here to help you.

    If you attach the drive as a data drive then it should not block you from accessing the User folders any differently than any other UNLESS he User account is corrupted.

    Try taking ownership of the User folder using the Take ownership shortcut installed as shown here to your right click menu: https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/a...

    If that doesn't help then try accessing the files to USB from Repair or Boot mode using the Command Prompt when Windows has no say, using this same method to rescue files when Windows won't start: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

    If those don't help then run as DIsk Check on the drive (which may lose files if it moves them off a sector to repair it): https://www.groovypost.com/howto/check-hard-dri...

    If that fails then Test the hard drive with diagnostics: https://www.lifewire.com/free-hard-drive-testin.... Best is Seatools bootable Long Test which works on all models:

    http://blog.nowherelan.com/2013/04/04/boot-seat....

    https://www.seagate.com/manuals/software/seatoo...

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post helped you, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

    ________________________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

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