new installation, can't access old drive

[michaelhall]

Hi....

I installed a new hdd and unplugged the data cable on my old drive (with windows on) I then installed a fresh copy of windows on the new drive, plugged the data cable back into my old drive with all my docs pics movies and old system on and it won't let me into the drive to retrieve my stuff before I wipe the drive any help would be much appreciated. . Thanks in advance.. mick

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

do you mean you cant see the old hard drive in Explorer (no drive letter)
(go to Disk Management to assign a drive letter to each partition)

or you can see but can't access any files on the old drive
try running chkdsk on old drive

or you cant get to see files in
\users\<user name>
on old hard drive


then take ownership of folder to get permission to access the files folders

\users\<user name>

by right clicking on folder in Explorer

Googling 'windows 8 take ownership of files & change folder permissions'

gives you a number of tutorials & videos on subject

does not mattter if Win 8 or 7 or vista or XP same principles apply
except XP uses C:\Documents & Settings\ instead of C:\users\

regards
Mike Barnes

 

[michaelhall]

I can see it.. windows does detect it but it won't let me access it

 

[michaelhall]

I tried everything except take ownership ,, it says something I forgot what.. but I'm not at the pc right now when I get back I'll post

 

[michaelhall]

Sorted thanks for your knowledge