Share via

Recovering user files from old hard drive from dead PC

Anonymous
2021-09-15T07:45:29+00:00

I had an all-in-one PC that died about a year ago and have just managed to get my hands on a hard drive caddy to try and recover the files that I had on the old PC's HDD. However, when I go into the disk I cannot access the files - when I try to go into my old user profile on the file explorer, it simply doesn't go anywhere (no errors - just doesn't access it. The public area does access correctly though.)

I need to know if I have to do something with profiles to be able to access the data - what I'm trying to recover is a series of picture sets that I don't have anywhere else. Not the end of the world if I don't, but very frustrating. I'm presuming that it isn't allowing me to access or see them as they were 'another windows user' in the eyes of the PC.

A couple of added points - The data is definitely there, as I can see that the hard drive is pretty much full. Windows on my new PC keeps wanting to 'fix' the hard drive, but I don't know if this will lose me data or not. The hard drive also has multiple partitions on it - only one of them has the files I need, the others were for factory image or recovery (pre-done when the machine was delivered 82,000 years ago)

Any help would be most appreciated.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. DaveM121 871.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-09-15T08:20:51+00:00

    Hi EotL,

    I am Dave, I will help you with this.

    1

    Use the steps provided on the page below to add 'Take Ownership' to the right click context menu in File Explorer, then right click the Users folder on that old hard drive and select 'Take Ownership' and wait for that command to complete, then see if you can access those files.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3841-add-ta...

    2

    if that still does not allow you to access those files, right click the Users folder and choose Properties, then select the Security Tab and click Advanced.

    Click the Change button beside owner and add a new user named Everyone

    Apply that and check if you can then access the files.

    ________________________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

    .

    8 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

1 additional answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2021-09-15T08:12:20+00:00

    Hey there, Speed here.

    Windows.old trick almost works everytime. Just put another Windows OS using the Custom installation without formatting it, then access the files through Windows.old.

    Also, before doing that, try booting to the old disk drive and move the files to the new PC's hard drive.

    0 comments