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How-To Geek Forums / Windows 7

Recover files from crashed HD after installing Windows 7 Home Prem on new HD

(12 posts)
  • Started 5 months ago by Schmorzando
  • Latest reply from Schmorzando
  • Topic Viewed 251 times

Schmorzando
Posts: 5

Laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium took a blow. Installed new HD and loaded "Recovery Media". The old HD is in an external drive enclosure. I've enabled the Hidden Administrator Account, which lets me see some of what was on it, but not all. The Program Files (x86) folder had a lot of programs, but nothing is visible. Oh yeah, Explorer View options are set to show everything. What am I missing here?

Posted 5 months ago #
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Oakdude
Posts: 9

apparently illegal advice....sorry

Posted 5 months ago #
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whs
whs
Posts: 17584

What exactly do you want to recover from the old HDD.

Posted 5 months ago #
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Schmorzando
Posts: 5

My Documents folder had a lot of stuff that I'd really like to have back. The folder is there, but nothing shows in it. Everybody talks Backup...Nobody does it.

Posted 5 months ago #
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whs
whs
Posts: 17584

Try this: http://www.sevenforums.com/sof.....puter.html

Posted 5 months ago #
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Xhi
Xhi
Posts: 6298

The folder is probably there from the new installation. The old one is most probably gone. If you did a clean install the NTFS File table was reset. Personally I don't thing you have a chance of recovering anything.

Posted 5 months ago #
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whs
whs
Posts: 17584

Now I am confused. Did you or did you not install anything on the old drive (the one you now have in the enclosure) that could have overwritten your files. That point was not quite clear from your initial posting.

Posted 5 months ago #
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Schmorzando
Posts: 5

The drive in the enclosure is the OLD one. Nothing has been installed on it or copied to it since its unpleasantry.

Posted 5 months ago #
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Xhi
Xhi
Posts: 6298

Sorry, I misread. Have you tried running chkdsk /r on the drive?

Posted 5 months ago #
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Schmorzando
Posts: 5

Not yet, but I will.

Posted 5 months ago #
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germ-x
germ-x
Posts: 5310

Here's another option. They have a free trial version. http://www.boot-disk.com/download.htm

Posted 5 months ago #
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Schmorzando
Posts: 5

chkdsk is giving "File System is RAW". Apparently the jolt it took moved drive head alignment...in short, I'm dicked.

Thanks for trying to help, anyway.

Posted 5 months ago #
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