Copying files, settings from old C drive in external enclosure.

I upgraded to a bigger HDD and rather than cloning a few possible problems, I started fresh with a new install of Windows, ran all the updates, installed all the drivers, reran a number of updates, installed most of my programs, and ran Windows update yet again to the tune of about 180 total updates.

Anyway, sometime in all that, I forgot a few folders and files that were on the old drive. I tried to attach it and could view my old folders but could not open them, so I took out the new HDD, replaced it with the old, booted, and copied what I needed to yet another external.

I ended up doing that twice, and again, found out I need a setting and a possible document I had stored which I forgot about. I'm tired of taking the laptop and enclosure apart swapping drives, and my new install is running fine and don't want to mess it up.

Is there a program or LiveCD that will allow me to view and copy folders and files on the old HDD?

OK, I was able to use a PartedMagic CD and get what I needed, with only one hiccup.

I maintain two websites for a couple hiker get-togethers, and one of the files I 'rescued" was a sm.dat file for CuteFTP. So now I have the ability to log on to either site using CuteFTP. Problem is with Dreamweaver. I know the password for my own site, but the other site I maintain for a friend and she's a ditz and never saved her password.

Both sites are hosted by another friend on his server, who originally assigned the user names, passwords etc. but he's slow to answer emails to get the password from him.

Guess it's back to google to open and read a dat file.

Ah, don't think it's going to be worth the effort. I'll email my friend for the password. In the meantime, I do as I have, edit the website in Dreamweaver and upload it with CuteFTP.

Update: When looking for a desktop shortcut to open my DVD/CD player, I stumble upon Asterisk Logger, a program to decode asterisk coded passwords which happened to mention Cute FTP specifically.

Asterisk Logger: Reveal/recover/monitor password behind asterisks (***)

Since Asterisk logger has been obsolete since Vista I needed to use the updated version, Bullets Pass View.

Success as BPV decoded a password I never would have remembered or guessed. Entered into Dreamweaver site manager, it connected with the server.