Windows 7: Recovering personal data off an old windows7 HDD

hanibal · 02 Sep 2011

So my laptop's motherboard fried, and so I ended up creating a new desktop. I also got a usb enclosure for the old HDD, and managed to get most of the data off- with the exception of anything in my personal user folder- which includes documents, desktop files, and the download folder. Unfortunately, that is pretty much most of what I need/want. I have the old Username/password for my old windows account but I have no idea how to retrieve it, as it keeps denying me access. Any advice on how I should proceed?

UKMedia · 02 Sep 2011

Hi

You need to right click on the User/[user name] folder and select 'take ownership'. This should allow you access if you are logged on as an administrator.

Regards
UKMedia

Bare Foot Kid · 02 Sep 2011

Hello hanibal, welcome to Seven Forums!

Have a look at this tutorial linked below to see if it'll be a help to get the data out and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

How to Copy & Paste in Recovery Console on Windows 7 or Vista

karlsnooks · 02 Sep 2011

UkMedia,
Another approach is to put PuppyLinux on a CD, boot from the CD and use PuppyLinux to copy info over to a USB stick.

Many roads lead to Rome.

dsperber · 02 Sep 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by UKMedia

You need to right click on the User/[user name] folder and select 'take ownership'. This should allow you access if you are logged on as an administrator.

I don't think "take ownership" from the right-click context menu is standard Windows 7.

However it IS a neat thing, it works, but it must be installed first. A tutorial exists on how to create it.

By taking ownership of the \Users folder on the old drive you will then have full read/write access to it as just like any other folder. Also works to "take ownership" of a complete drive, not just a folder.

See this tutorial, on how to add "take ownership" to the right-click menu.

karlsnooks · 02 Sep 2011

To take ownernship does not change access rights.

However, as owner you can change access rights.

If you take ownership and the group to which your belong already has full control rights for the the object you are ok, otherwise, you must use the permissions tab to change permissions to full control which, as owner, you can do.

Windows 7: Recovering personal data off an old windows7 HDD

Recovering personal data off an old windows7 HDD problems?