Forum Discussion

Bucky_Badger's avatar
Bucky_Badger
Explorer
Feb 28, 2014

problem getting files of HDD

So I just installed a new SSD in my computer, I'm trying to get my files off my old HDD, I tried keeping it in the computer, and tried a USB housing.


Here is what i'm doing, My computer, click on the drive, users, MAIN, and when I click on MAIN, it says something like "You don't have access to this" click continue to get permanant access. I click continue, and then I get a green bar. The bars goes all the way across, but thats as far as it goes. Just so I'm clear, this HDD is the one that had the operating system on it. I do have a back up HDD with my files, but just wondering why I can't get these off.

Drive has no windows passwords

Win 7 Pro 64

18 Replies

  • CloudDriver wrote:
    For what it's worth, this is what I did a couple of weeks ago when installing an SSD.

    Backed up all data files from the old 500GB hard drive to an external hard drive. Disconnected old hard drive and connected the SSD. Installed Win 7 on SSD. Installed new 2TB hard drive for data storage to avoid filling up SSD. Set Windows to write documents, music, pictures, videos to new 2TB hard drive. Restored data files from external backup onto new hard drive. Installed programs onto SSD. Left old hard drive in machine just in case I missed something in the original back up.


    This is exactly what i'm doing, Like I said in my OP I do have a back up , but am wondering why i can't get the files off the old drive.
    I'm goig to look into MrWizards comments a little later about the read only being checked
  • cKarlGo wrote:
    The better process would have been to back up your data to an extrnal drive, then replace the old HDD, reinstall Windows and then restore from backup.

    Re read OP
  • For what it's worth, this is what I did a couple of weeks ago when installing an SSD.

    Backed up all data files from the old 500GB hard drive to an external hard drive. Disconnected old hard drive and connected the SSD. Installed Win 7 on SSD. Installed new 2TB hard drive for data storage to avoid filling up SSD. Set Windows to write documents, music, pictures, videos to new 2TB hard drive. Restored data files from external backup onto new hard drive. Installed programs onto SSD. Left old hard drive in machine just in case I missed something in the original back up.
  • The better process would have been to back up your data to an extrnal drive, then replace the old HDD, reinstall Windows and then restore from backup.
  • Ok, my mistake
    Right click on the file name and check the file properties
    It might be set to read only, or archive only
    Change to read write

    If that doesn't work the file might be corrupted
    Will the original program that created the file still open it,
    Have you tried to open it with that program to verify the file is good

    Maybe open it, then save to the new location
  • MrWizard wrote:
    Boot sector and certain key operation files, can not be "copied"

    You will have too make an "image" of the old drive onto the new ssd
    For this too work the ssd will have too equal or larger the space being used by the win OS on the old drive
    If it was me, I would partition the old drive
    All non OS even installed programs all data and music etc would be in one partition
    I would then resize the OS partition to equal or smaller than the ssd
    Then I could image the OS partition to the ssd


    I did a clean install of W7 on the 256GB SSD
    I only want to copy the DATA files off the old 2 TB drive. I'm using the SSD for windows and progs
  • Boot sector and certain key operation files, can not be "copied"

    You will have too make an "image" of the old drive onto the new ssd

    For this too work the ssd will have too equal or larger the space being used by the win OS on the old drive
    If it was me, I would partition the old drive
    All non OS even installed programs all data and music etc would be in one partition
    I would then resize the OS partition to equal or smaller than the ssd
    Then I could image the OS partition to the ssd
  • Probably because the owner/user id is now different since you booted from a new drive with new users on it. When you loaded the OS on a new drive, even if you created the same user names, they have different GUIDs.

    I would try going into the security properties for the folder and change the owner or add another user with full access.