[SOLVED] Reusing a hard drive.

[chocomintmichael]

Got a completely new build with a new SSD that windows is installed on but I have an old drive that has data on it I still want. Do I need to do anything aside from plugging it in for it to work? Or do yall recommend reformating it? I have the data I want backed up on Google Drive accounts so it isn't really a big issue but it is just gonna take way longer for me to get set up.

EDIT: I also want to add that my Downloads, Pictures and Video folder etc etc are all set to be located in my Hard Drive. So I'm not sure whether that would affect anything

 

[USAFRet]

Was this the OS drive, or a secondary drive in the old system?

 

[chocomintmichael]

Was this the OS drive, or a secondary drive in the old system?

A secondary drive

 

[USAFRet]

A secondary drive

Just plug it in.
Your data on it is fine.

What else is on it?

 

[chocomintmichael]

Just plug it in.
Your data on it is fine.

What else is on it?

Games and such which I don't mind reinstalling. Also my downloads folder etc, cause I relocated them from the ssd to hard drive

 

[USAFRet]

EDIT: I also want to add that my Downloads, Pictures and Video folder etc etc are all set to be located in my Hard Drive. So I'm not sure whether that would affect anything

Ah, that may be a semi-minor issue.
If those had been relocated in the OS, then those folders are linked to the original user account.
You'll probably have to go through Take Ownership to actually access that data.

 

[chocomintmichael]

Ah, that may be a semi-minor issue.
If those had been relocated in the OS, then those folders are linked to the original user account.
You'll probably have to go through Take Ownership to actually access that data.

Ahhh, how do I do that and also my Windows is linked to my Microsoft account do I still need to go through the create a new account when I boot up Windows or is there an option to log in?

 

[USAFRet]

This is totally different from your Windows account.

In a Windows OS, each User has its own set of Documents/Music/Download/Videos/etc.
That account is what holds the permissions for those folders.

In the new OS in the new PC...that account does not exist.
Even if it is the same name, it is a different NTFS account.

How to Take Ownership of Files and Folders in Windows

If you've ever been denied access to a file or folder in Windows, chances are you need to take ownership of them with your user account.

www.howtogeek.com

How to Add “Take Ownership” to the Right-Click Menu in Windows Explorer

Taking ownership of files or folders in Windows is not simple. Both the GUI and command line take too many steps. Why not add a simple context menu command that lets you take ownership of any file or folder?

www.howtogeek.com

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3841-add-take-ownership-context-menu-windows-10-a.html

Taking ownership with right-click context menu on Windows 10

In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to take full control of files and folders on your PC by adding a "Take Ownership" entry on the right-click context menu on Windows 10.

www.windowscentral.com

 

[chocomintmichael]

This is totally different from your Windows account.

In a Windows OS, each User has its own set of Documents/Music/Download/Videos/etc.
That account is what holds the permissions for those folders.

In the new OS in the new PC...that account does not exist.
Even if it is the same name, it is a different NTFS account.

How to Take Ownership of Files and Folders in Windows

If you've ever been denied access to a file or folder in Windows, chances are you need to take ownership of them with your user account.

www.howtogeek.com

How to Add “Take Ownership” to the Right-Click Menu in Windows Explorer

Taking ownership of files or folders in Windows is not simple. Both the GUI and command line take too many steps. Why not add a simple context menu command that lets you take ownership of any file or folder?

www.howtogeek.com

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3841-add-take-ownership-context-menu-windows-10-a.html

Taking ownership with right-click context menu on Windows 10

In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to take full control of files and folders on your PC by adding a "Take Ownership" entry on the right-click context menu on Windows 10.

www.windowscentral.com

Thanks for the links! and also thanks for explaining!

 

[chocomintmichael]

This is totally different from your Windows account.

In a Windows OS, each User has its own set of Documents/Music/Download/Videos/etc.
That account is what holds the permissions for those folders.

In the new OS in the new PC...that account does not exist.
Even if it is the same name, it is a different NTFS account.

How to Take Ownership of Files and Folders in Windows

If you've ever been denied access to a file or folder in Windows, chances are you need to take ownership of them with your user account.

www.howtogeek.com

How to Add “Take Ownership” to the Right-Click Menu in Windows Explorer

Taking ownership of files or folders in Windows is not simple. Both the GUI and command line take too many steps. Why not add a simple context menu command that lets you take ownership of any file or folder?

www.howtogeek.com

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3841-add-take-ownership-context-menu-windows-10-a.html

Taking ownership with right-click context menu on Windows 10

In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to take full control of files and folders on your PC by adding a "Take Ownership" entry on the right-click context menu on Windows 10.

www.windowscentral.com

Oh and I forgot! If I dont need those folders anymore, could I just delete them? As there's literally nothing in them

 

[USAFRet]

Oh and I forgot! If I dont need those folders anymore, could I just delete them? As there's literally nothing in them

Assuming you have all of your data elsewhere, delete away!