How to get files from old hard drive

[rosweed]

My HP computer died, but the hard drives are okay. I now have a Dell computer. The files on my old drives show up as swm and wim files. Any idea how to get the to change back to their original file types?

 

[Nigel Spike]

Check this for explanation and tool: http://file.org/extension/swm

Nigel

 

[Swirlz]

What operating system do you have?

Use this- http://www.poweriso.com/tutorials/open-wim-file.htm

I think you can use winrar also.

 

[rosweed]

Thanks for your quick responses. Please help me understand how this works. I see one wim file, but dozens of swm files. How do they all relate to each other?

 

[rosweed]

Nigel, Malwarebytes is blocking that site.

Swirlz, I am using Windows 10 pro.

 

[Nigel Spike]

You have to open the files to see if they include other files, that you recognize as yours, inside.

I however suspect that what you see is the recovery image of the operating system of the HP (see the explanation in my link above). Files usually don't get converted into other files by themselves.

[Edit] I have Malwarebytes also, and I'm not blocked. Sorry, don't know how you can unblock it [/edit]

Nigel

 

[Nigel Spike]

Copied from my linked URL

Opening SWM files
Did your computer fail to open a SWM file? We explain what SWM files are and recommend software that we know can open or convert your SWM files.
What is a SWM file?
Files that contain the .swm file extension are most commonly associated with the ImageX command line application.

The ImageX command line application is used to create Windows disk images. These disk images are saved in the WIM file format. The WIM file format was developed by Microsoft and was used to deploy Windows operating systems, versions Vista and later.

Sometimes the WIM file would need to be split into smaller volumes. When a WIM file is split into separate volumes, the split volumes are given the .swm file extension.

The Supportworks software application also uses the .swm file suffix. These SWM files contain ESP message files that are used by the software program.


Software that will open, convert or fix SWM files
Programs for Windows PCs

PowerArchiver, UnzipLite, WoopieZIP, WinArchiver, 360

Try a universal file viewer
In addition to the products listed above, I would suggest that you try a universal file viewer like Free File Viewer. It can open over 200 different types of files - and very likely yours too!

 

[rosweed]

Thank you. I tried PowerArchiver and I was able to folders like Programs, Users, etc. But when I open those folders, I see a lost of files, type unknown, that are just numbered. Any idea where to go from here?

BTW, you're correct, it appears to be HP backup/recovery files.

 

[Nigel Spike]

To recover lost files you could try https://www.piriform.com/recuva. Usually it's used to restore deleted files, but may work in your case aswell.

Nigel

 

[rosweed]

Well, thanks. I've tried everything and I can't seem to get the folders to show their content in the original file extensions. I give up.

 

[Nigel Spike]

Sorry to hear that, but sometimes you just have to decide when to give up.

Nigel