How can I retrieve my files? - Computer Help & PC Help Forums

diverjim · 06-17-2008, 09:44 AM

Hello anyone, Just registered on here to try and solve an annoying problem so hopefully someone will have an answer. My desktop recently died on me. Not too upset because we were going to replace it with our laptop and create more space for the kids. Unfortunately the hard drive contained all our family photo's, among other things, and I would like to get them back (yes, I now realise I should have backed them up!). I removed the hard drive and have placed it into an Integra Akasa IDE enclosure. I've plugged it into my laptop via USB and it can see everything on my old hard drive. Unfortunately it won't let me access my old user name (from the XP start up screen) because I allocated it a password. Every time I try to access it through 'My Computer' on my laptop it says "access is denied". Obviously I know the password because I set it but how do I use the password on my laptop so I can retrieve my old files? I've right clicked on my old folder in Documents and Settings but it's not obvious to me. Can anyone help?
Thanks, Jim.

**Dalo Harkin** · 06-17-2008, 09:52 AM

Hi and welcome to free pc help.

Ok - if you can see the files on the HDD you can just copy and paste them onto your laptop HDD.
I may have misunderstood but are you trying to boot from the IDE enclosure so that you can log in on that O/S?
If you are trying to do that so you can burn them to disk you would have to change the boot order in the BIOS and it may not be able to do it as not all can access external HDD's.
Try and copy and paste the files as mentioned above and see if that works and then you can put them on a DVD or CD.

**RandyL** · 06-17-2008, 10:08 AM

I don't know if this will address your issue for sure but if you have XP Home you may need to Take Ownership of Files and Folders.

diverjim · 06-17-2008, 10:11 AM

Thanks for the quick reply. I can't see the files, only the folder containing them. I tried to drag that into my laptop but it won't allow it. I ran a virus scan on the folder so I could see if the data is still in it (it says o file size in properties because it's password protected) and they are all present. As I said, I know the password but how do I use it to access the folder? I'm basically using the IDE enclosure as USB portable hard drive but can't access this one valuable folder contained on it. All other files and folders are accessible as they had no password.
Thanks.

**Goku** · 06-17-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diverjim

Thanks for the quick reply. I can't see the files, only the folder containing them. I tried to drag that into my laptop but it won't allow it. I ran a virus scan on the folder so I could see if the data is still in it (it says o file size in properties because it's password protected) and they are all present. As I said, I know the password but how do I use it to access the folder? I'm basically using the IDE enclosure as USB portable hard drive but can't access this one valuable folder contained on it. All other files and folders are accessible as they had no password.
Thanks.

Hello and Welcome to Free PC Help Jim.

If that one folder is password protected, then the drive you are trying to copy the data from installed with an Operating System? If it is, then connect the drive to the port, reboot the computer, configure the BIOS to boot from the hard drive and boot into the Operating System present on the drive. Next just copy the folders on to some other drive or burn it to an external media like CD / DVD. Also, try Randy's suggestion first and see if it works or not. Good Luck.

-- Goku

**Seth** · 06-17-2008, 11:41 AM

Your issue is very common.

Randy's posted solution will allow you access to the files.

diverjim · 06-18-2008, 05:10 AM

I tried RandyL's suggestion and took ownership of the folder. It worked! Took just a few minutes. Thanks RandyL, Goku, Seth and Dalo for giving advice. I'm lucky there are some brainy people out there to help out us. Thanks again all.

**Goku** · 06-18-2008, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diverjim

I tried RandyL's suggestion and took ownership of the folder. It worked! Took just a few minutes. Thanks RandyL, Goku, Seth and Dalo for giving advice. I'm lucky there are some brainy people out there to help out us. Thanks again all.

Glad we could help Jim. Feel free to ask any questions or doubts you may have.

-- Goku

**RandyL** · 06-18-2008, 06:05 AM

Good luck Jim. I hope you're trouble free from here on. If not just come on back.

**Wolfeymole** · 08-03-2008, 12:53 PM

This thread appears to be solved and is now closed

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