Missing user files in windows.old

[hilikus]

Hey guys I have a problem. I reinstalled Windows 7 Ultimate 64x over my last copy of the same OS using the same disk, as Ive done in this manner twice before with complete success. This time however, when I go to my windows.old >> users file my old user account isnt there, while the public account is. I checked my disk usage and the whopping 129gb chunk of information that was my user account still exists somewhere, taking up space in a place I cant see. Furthurmore, I unticked the 'read only' box in the file properties of the whole windows.old file and while watching the names of all the affected subfolder and files whip by I caught glances of windows.old/user/xxxxx/music, pictures etc. So theyre obviously still there, just in a much less digitally tangible way. Soo... any ideas as to how I can possibly retrieve these files?

 

[theog]

Take a look here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...lder-restore-into-new-installation.html?ltr=W

 

[hilikus]

I'll try that, but before I do it just seems as though my old user account file is hidden. As Ive mentioned before, when windows is applying and changes to the folder I can see that the file paths to everything in my old user account are where they should be in the .old file, just not visible. Unfortunately if the folder is just hidden... well I dont know how to unhide it. Id like to try something like that first if its possible. Or will restoring the .old file as outlined in the link makee this folder visible again?

 

[johnnya]

Hi Hilikus and welcome to the Forum. If you suspect that the subject files are just hidden from you, you could UNHIDE things and then look around. Just be sure to change it back when done.
Control Panel, Folder Options, View Tab, Check mark Show Hidden Files & Folders, Uncheck Hide protected Operating System Files. Hope this helps.
Regards
JohnnyA

 

[hilikus]

Hi Hilikus and welcome to the Forum. If you suspect that the subject files are just hidden from you, you could UNHIDE things and then look around. Just be sure to change it back when done.
Control Panel, Folder Options, View Tab, Check mark Show Hidden Files & Folders, Uncheck Hide protected Operating System Files. Hope this helps.
Regards
JohnnyA

Well, sir, unchecking Hide OS Files worked! And there it is. All my pictures, music and important documents are back. Dont know what Id have done if I had lost some of that stuff. Next week I buy an external HDD.

Thanks alot, johnnya! You made my day.

 

[johnnya]

Sure am so glad you found all your stuff. I was happy to be of assistance.
Buying an External Hard Drive is a very smart move. Two programs you should be aware of, that many folks here at the Forum use, are as follows.
1. Macrium Reflect. Used to image the whole HD or selected partitions.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

2. Cobian Backup. Used to backup/schedule backups of anything you want.
http://majorgeeks.com/Cobian_Backup_d4739.html

And the good news is - They are FREE.
Regards
JohnnyA

 

[hilikus]

I'll most definitely look into it. Thanks again.

 

[Natedanp]

Easy way to access hidden files in the folder

I know this an Old post, but to anyone who is wondering about an easy way to access your old user files from windows.old on Windows 7, try this.

Try posting this in the directory bar at the top (Example: Gyazo - 9c664ecd46123742b2c7734aec153eb2.png) that if you click on, will open up the editor for it, this is for going to certain directory's that you don't have to search for. So if you click on the bar (It would look like this after you click on it: Gyazo - 2c45aa986b383b5400a41c995472f667.png) Paste in "DRIVE\Windows.old\Users\USERNAME"

DRIVE meaning as in the drive the Windows.old folder is in. Example "C:" or "D:"

USERNAME means replace "USERNAME" with what your username is or was before you Upgraded the OS, example "Kevin" or "Nate"

So it should look something like this:

"C:\Windows.old\Users\Kevin"


Hope this helped.