Windows 7 - Can't Read Files on Hard Drive That Was Previously Used With XP

HI, my main hard drive was taken out by a virus, so I replaced drive and upgraded to Windows 7.
The original secondary drive (XP) is working and I can store files there, but I can't see or read files that were on there before switching to 7. Properties show 160G is used, but no files.

How can I get back that 160gigs of files ?

Thanks for any help

Hello Agent86. Welcome to the forum.

There is some confusion in your explanation of your problem:

• You say: "The original secondary drive (XP) is working and I can store files there"
• And then: "I can't see or read files that were on there before switching to 7. Properties show 160G is used, but no files."

Does this mean that you can write new files to OLD-DRIVE but you can't read them?
Or that you can write and read new files but can't find any of the old files.


What would be really helpful is if you could post a screenshot of your Disk Management and Windows Explorer windows with this OLD-DRIVE connected.

can write and read new files but can't find any of the old files.

Sorry for the small results, hope this one is better.

This is really a guess, but change the drive from active to inactive and see if you can read it then.

Thanks, how would I go about that ?

Go to disk mgmt right click the drive see if there's an option to change it. If not left click to highlite the drive and go to the action tab. I haven't looked in there in awhile so not totally sure where the option is. While your looking i'll go look.

There is an option to make it active, but not inactive.