Pictures disappeared in Windows.old file when upgrading to 8.1

[den942]

I upgraded my motherboard to a Gigabyte 970A-DS3P which is just a newer version of the 970A-DS3 that was in it. I switched over the processor and memory to the new board. I could not get Windows 7 Ultimate to work even trying to reinstall it. I installed Windows 8.1. It created the file Windows.old. None of my pictures transferred to Windows.old. The folders are there but they are empty, no pictures in the folders.


Before I started all this, I created a Windows File Transfer in case I had problems getting Windows 7 reinstalled. I can't get that file to open in Windows 8.1. It keeps asking for a password but I did not put in a password when I created it.


I also have a backup file I created before I started. It will try to run but it wants to format my drive with windows 8.1 to run it.


Anyone know any work around to get my pictures back? Any help would be greatly appreciated...

 

[Lance1]

That's odd you can't access the Windows Easy Transfer file. Go to this link and Scroll To Step 3: Transferring files to the Windows 8.1 computer OR read the whole post to round it out or maybe you already know all that. Covering the bases. Can you get more specific with "I could not get Windows 7 Ultimate to work even trying to reinstall it" Error's? And if so what? The more info the better. I hope this helps and you can access your pic's. I'm an activist when it comes to backing up file! I image on a remote 1TB drive every week as well as file backup on 2 500-GB drives "on the same" on that week. All disconnected and on the shelf. Ransomware experience.. I got lazy and I lost a lot! $%^#@*@! I don't want to talk about it. Just say'n! Keep us updated OK.

I also have a backup file I created before I started. It will try to run but it wants to format my drive with windows 8.1 to run it.

Sorry I missed this. What exactly did you use to do the backup?

 

[den942]

I think something got corrupted or something because no mater what I did, I got a BSOD clicking my user name. It said I couldn't repair Windows 7 no matter how I tried to do it. When I tried to reinstall Windows 7, I kept getting an error that there was a required driver not installed and it would just fail to do any more.I found out too late that was a Gigabyte problem because I was trying to install from a DVD and not a thumb drive.



I finally went with Windows 8.1 and got it installed and working. Now, when I try to use the Easy File Transfer with Windows 8.1, it says I need to put in a password. I did not use a password to create the file. How do I work around that? Everything I find on the net says there is no work around if you do not know that password.


When I tried to open the back up I created, it said it would format my hard drive and reinstall the back up. I used Windows 7 to create the backup file.

Well, I already had Windows 8.1 installed and working and did not want to undo all that work.


What I know for sure is that all my pictures and apparently any music that was saved with Windows 7 is locked up in the File Transfer or lost forever. They were not moved to the Windows.old file created. That may be because the user name was corrupted and crashing Windows 7. I don't know.


Any help greatly appreciated...

 

[Lance1]

Did you go to my link? You also didn't answer my question

I also have a backup file I created before I started. It will try to run but it wants to format my drive with windows 8.1 to run it.

Sorry I missed this. What exactly did you use to do the backup?


Try all the suggestions there please. Your files are there. We just have to get to them. Look at the post I suggested and walk through them one at a time.

 

[Lance1]

I'm going off line. Please! someone jump in and help this newbie..

 

[iko22]

I think something got corrupted or something because no mater what I did, I got a BSOD clicking my user name. It said I couldn't repair Windows 7 no matter how I tried to do it. When I tried to reinstall Windows 7, I kept getting an error that there was a required driver not installed and it would just fail to do any more.I found out too late that was a Gigabyte problem because I was trying to install from a DVD and not a thumb drive.



I finally went with Windows 8.1 and got it installed and working. Now, when I try to use the Easy File Transfer with Windows 8.1, it says I need to put in a password. I did not use a password to create the file. How do I work around that? Everything I find on the net says there is no work around if you do not know that password.


When I tried to open the back up I created, it said it would format my hard drive and reinstall the back up. I used Windows 7 to create the backup file.

Well, I already had Windows 8.1 installed and working and did not want to undo all that work.


What I know for sure is that all my pictures and apparently any music that was saved with Windows 7 is locked up in the File Transfer or lost forever. They were not moved to the Windows.old file created. That may be because the user name was corrupted and crashing Windows 7. I don't know.


Any help greatly appreciated...

You would have created a password just before saving files to the external storage drive ( see step 1.7 How to Use Windows Easy File Transfer to transfer files and settings | Microsoft Support)
The problem with passwords, is that they are there to limit the access to only to the people who set the password.

To retreive your picture files from windows.old folder, navigate to windows.old, double-click on the users folder, then type *.jpg into the search box of Windows Explorer.
That should show any jpg files stored in the directory tree. This only works for 28 days, when the windows.old folder is deleted by the system.

Instead of recovering files manually, you can try to recover files using Microsoft's Recover Personal Files Tool | Download .

 

[den942]

Did you go to my link? You also didn't answer my question

Sorry I missed this. What exactly did you use to do the backup?


Try all the suggestions there please. Your files are there. We just have to get to them. Look at the post I suggested and walk through them one at a time.

I used the Windows 7 built in back up program to back it up.

I have tried to use the Windows File Transfer as recommended but as I said, I did not put in a password when I created the Transfer file and now it won't do anything without a password.

 

[den942]

You would have created a password just before saving files to the external storage drive ( see step 1.7 How to Use Windows Easy File Transfer to transfer files and settings | Microsoft Support)
The problem with passwords, is that they are there to limit the access to only to the people who set the password.

To retreive your picture files from windows.old folder, navigate to windows.old, double-click on the users folder, then type *.jpg into the search box of Windows Explorer.
That should show any jpg files stored in the directory tree. This only works for 28 days, when the windows.old folder is deleted by the system.

Instead of recovering files manually, you can try to recover files using Microsoft's Recover Personal Files Tool | Download .

I didn't put in a password creating the Windows Transfer File, It didn't require it, it just said to put one in if I wanted to do that. Now it will not open without one.


When I go to the Windows.old file, the folders that had pictures in them are there but they are empty.


I will try the Tool you suggest.


Thanks...

 

[den942]

You would have created a password just before saving files to the external storage drive ( see step 1.7 How to Use Windows Easy File Transfer to transfer files and settings | Microsoft Support)
The problem with passwords, is that they are there to limit the access to only to the people who set the password.

To retreive your picture files from windows.old folder, navigate to windows.old, double-click on the users folder, then type *.jpg into the search box of Windows Explorer.
That should show any jpg files stored in the directory tree. This only works for 28 days, when the windows.old folder is deleted by the system.

Instead of recovering files manually, you can try to recover files using Microsoft's Recover Personal Files Tool | Download .

I tried the Recover Personal Files Tool. It says "Troubleshooting couldn't identify the problem."


I thought you could pick and choose what files to reinstall from a Windows back up but it says it will format the hard drives then install the backed up files. I don't want to do that at this point.

 

[johnhoh]

I did not put in a password when I created the Transfer file and now it won't do anything without a password.

Have you tried just pressing enter at the password prompt, as though the correct password is just a blank?

 

[den942]

Yes I have tried just clicking Next with out a Password and I get an error message that a password is required.