New Hard Drive, Want my old files. Still there, can't find.

[Guest]

I installed a new hard drive and set up my old drive as a slave. When I
installed Windows XP I had my old hard drive connected and it installed XP on
it instead of the new drive. I've fixed that problem but I can't find my old
files (audio files, documents, etc.). The drive is still full so I think the
files are still there but I can't get to them because the new windows I
installed.

Is there anyway to reverse the XP installation and get to my old files?

 

[DL]

disconnect your old drive, leaving only the primary hd, a cd drive (no media
readers connected)
Clean intall winxp, install mobo chipset and other hw specific drivers from
manu sites. Update win, once ok, shutdown and connect your other devices.
Copy data to new, you may have to 'take ownership of files' on your old
installation
Once all done use Disk management to format/partition the old drive

 

[Rock]

I installed a new hard drive and set up my old drive as a slave. When I
installed Windows XP I had my old hard drive connected and it installed XP
on
it instead of the new drive. I've fixed that problem but I can't find my
old
files (audio files, documents, etc.). The drive is still full so I think
the
files are still there but I can't get to them because the new windows I
installed.

Is there anyway to reverse the XP installation and get to my old files?

How did you fix that problem of XP being installed on the old drive? Also,
if the original files are still on that drive you should be able to see the
original account folders or some variation of their name, though you might
not be able to access them, getting an access denied error. If that's the
case you need to take ownership of them and possibly set the permissions on
them to allow access.

From Start | Help and Support search on Ownership and also Permissions, or
see these articles:

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421

How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308418/en-us

How to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and
folders in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419/en-us

If the folders and files are not there, then you would need to use some sort
of data recovery software, which, given how much writing was done to the
drive, might not be very successful. In that case your only other resort
would be to see if a professional data recovery service could salvage any of
the data. That is very expensive.

www.drivesavers.com
www.ontrack.com
https://www.seagatedatarecovery.com/

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your suggestions. I didn't "fix" the problem of the OS on the 2nd
drive I just installed a new OS on the new drive. I think that the problem
I'm having is that the folder I want was created in an old OS and I can't get
back to it because I loaded a new OS on it, so I don't think I can change
permissions, although I'm not too familiar with that. The files are there
because I used a data recovery program and found them but I need to buy the
whole program to get them recovered. I keep getting the access denied
message. I changed the sharing on the folder so I can get into it but I can't
get into any subfolders now. Have any other suggestions?

 

[Rock]

Thanks for your suggestions. I didn't "fix" the problem of the OS on the
2nd
drive I just installed a new OS on the new drive. I think that the problem
I'm having is that the folder I want was created in an old OS and I can't
get
back to it because I loaded a new OS on it, so I don't think I can change
permissions, although I'm not too familiar with that. The files are there
because I used a data recovery program and found them but I need to buy
the
whole program to get them recovered. I keep getting the access denied
message. I changed the sharing on the folder so I can get into it but I
can't
get into any subfolders now. Have any other suggestions?

What you say is unclear. You state you think the problem is that the folder
you want was created in the "old OS" and "I can't get back to it because I
loaded a new OS on it". Do you mean you think the new OS install overwrote
this folder and it's files? If that's the case then you need file recovery
software.

But then a bit further on you state you are getting an access denied
message. So be specific. We can't see your computer. What are you getting
the access denied on? What do you see in windows explorer? Is it the
folder you want? If it was an issue of the old files being overwritten then
you wouldn't be able to see any files or folders in windows explorer, and so
there wouldn't be any reason to get an access denied message unless this
message is popping up when you try to view the files inside some sort of
viewer window that's part of the file recovery program.

In any event be more clear on what's happening, and what you are doing.

If you can see the parent folder in windows explorer, then you be able to
get access to it by taking ownership. I gave you the two articles for how
to do that.

I'm signing off for the night so I wont' be back to this thread until at
least tomorrow.

 

[Rock]

Sorry for being unclear. I have just been trying so many things and I
tried
to say that in my message. Here's what happened: I had an old 80 GB HD
with
Win XP on it. I filled it up so I got a new 250 GB HD. I want my old
files
that are on the 80 GB. When I tried installing Win XP on the new drive I
messed up and it went onto the old HD. After I did that I could not get
into
the user folder (in documents and settings) from my old XP account, but
it's
still there and the files are still taking up the 74 GB.

The part where I'm confused is the ownership documents you sent me. I
don't
see a security tab when I go into the folders properties. I clicked on the
sharing tab and enabled sharing on network. I can now get into the user
folder but no subfolders inside of it. I'm still getting an access denied
message.

Do you think I have to use a data recovery program? Is there a way of
taking
off the XP that I put on the 80 GB HD without erasing my files? Is the new
XP
I put on the 80 GB what's causing the Access Denied message? Do you know
of
any Data Recovery Programs that are full versions for free?

I really appreciate your patience and help, sorry for being unclear.

Is this XP Home or Pro? If Pro disable simple file sharing. Open My
Computer | Tools | Folder Options | View, and untic "Use Simple File Sharing
(Recommended)".

If XP Home boot into safe mode, login as the Administrator, an then do the
ownership/permissions.

 

[Guest]

Rock, thank you so much. I figured out how to take ownership of the files in
safe mode. You are a savior and you had it from the begininning. Thanks so
much!!!!!! I got my files back and you are my savior!

To anyone else with this problem just go into safe mode as the administrator
and take ownership of the files. It wokrs!

 

[Rock]

Rock, thank you so much. I figured out how to take ownership of the files
in
safe mode. You are a savior and you had it from the begininning. Thanks so
much!!!!!! I got my files back and you are my savior!

To anyone else with this problem just go into safe mode as the
administrator
and take ownership of the files. It wokrs!

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? You are welcome, and
thanks for posting back.

Now take some time to set up a backup solution so you don't have to be so
concerned about loosing the files when a mishap occurs. Invest in something
like a drive imaging program, Acronis True Image seems to be the favorite
these days, but there is also Norton Ghost and Terabyte Unlimited's Image
for Windows. These programs create a compressed image of the drive which
can be stored on external media such as an external, USB connected, hard
drive. If something hoses the system (technical term there), the image can
be restored quickly. Image the system regularly and you have a means to
recover either data, or the whole system. Plus image before making any
significant changes, such as hardware or software. When changing an OS make
sure you can use the image in the new operating system.

Have fun.