New computer; cant find my old files from enclosure!

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RichieJ

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May 8, 2013
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Hi everyone, im new here and in need of help.

I recently purchased a new laptop (Windows 8), we put the hard disk from my old slow laptop (win XP) that stopped working into a "sata enclosure". When I attached it, I cant find my personal files. Its like the space is taken up but my important files cant be seen!! All that comes up on the hard disk enclosure drive (F:) is: recovery, swwork, windows, and preboot folders... and a recov.wim file. I even ran "Search" but still cant find my documents or anything...

Please, what can I do? These are important files :(

Thanks so much in advance,

Richie.
 
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mbreslin1954

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Nov 27, 2010
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Your files should be under the location: "F:\Documents and Settings\username" where "username" was your userID for the old Windows XP system. Under "username" you should find such folders as "My Documents", "Desktop", "My Pictures", etc. However, if the old, slow laptop stopped working because the old hard drive failed (you didn't say why it stopped working), then that's why you can't find that folder, the hard drive is failing and parts of it can no longer be read.
 
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RichieJ

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May 8, 2013
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I cannot find any "Documnents and settings" or my username or any folders like that. Just the 4 folders is what shows up... I am wondering if my files/images/etc are hidden or anything? They told me at the computer store that my hard disk would be fine, that my operating system failed.

Oh gosh, I really would be crushed if I lost everything. The space on my enclosure hard disk seems to not be there, so I do think my files are still there but I just do not know where to find them or how to.

Does anyone have other suggestions or have encountered this before? Thanks guys.
 
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mbreslin1954

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Do you know how to ensure that when you view your "F" drive with Windows Explorer, you have "Show hidden files, folder and drives" enabled, as well as "Hide protected operating system files" disabled? I don't know why they would be, but it's possible the folder I mentioned somehow got hidden.

In Windows Explorer, go to Organize --> Folder and Search Options --> View tab, then make sure nothing is hidden and everything is shown.

Alternatively, you could open up a Command Prompt, go to the "F" drive, and type in "attrib *.*" and see if there are any hidden folders, and if there are then un-hide them with the attrib (attribute) command.
 
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RichieJ

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May 8, 2013
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Hi,

I just found in the explorer the "view" and then clicked "hidden files" but nothing more showed. Is this the same as what you wrote to go through folder and search options. I couldn't find an organize section in Windows Explorer, maybe I wasn't in the right explorer though?

Gosh whats going on here with my files!! Maybe I didn't use the "Sata Enclosure" right? Or maybe its not the right one... cause on the package it says "Compatible with Windows 2000/ME/XP/Vista/7" - it says nothing about Windows 8, which I have? Could that be it? I guess I should have asked before I bought it, but they suggested this one so im not sure? My other thought is like you said MBreslin1954, the files are maybe still hidden so I cant see them? Cause the space is missing and I can see like these other folders.

MBreslin, thanks for replying, do you or anyone else have other thoughts or has anyone else has encountered this?

Im getting nervous I spend like the last 2 years working with these files and my documents.
 
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mbreslin1954

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Windows 8 has nothing to do with it. Windows 7 is Windows v6.2, Windows 8 is Windows v6.3, not much difference between the two except for the changes in the graphical user interface (Metro UI).

Bring up a command prompt window. Hit the Windows key on your keyboard, type "cmd.exe". When a selection pops up, instead of clicking on it right away, right-mouse click on it and select "Run as Administrator".

Assuming your external drive from the old computer is your "F" drive, type this in the command prompt window:

"chkdsk F: /f" and then hit the <ENTER> key.

This will make sure the file system is not corrupted on the external drive, and if it is, it will repair it.

Then type the following command. This will clear any attribute settings on any directory or files that are set to read-only (-r), system (-s), or hidden (-h):

attrib -r -s -h F: /d /s

The /s says to go through all subdirectories in the file system on the "F" drive and remove the attributes listed. After this, there will be no more hidden, system, or read-only directories left.

If you can't see your user folders after this, then they just aren't there, despite what anyone has told you. It's not magic. If they're not there at this point, then either they were deleted or the disk is failing and they are not recoverable without paying a company at least $100, and up to $1,000, to recover the data.

[EDIT]
If you get any permission errors or unauthorized access errors, then you will have to set permissions on the file system on the external drive. Let me know and I can direct you through that.
 
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RichieJ

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I ran the cmd.exe from commandprompt (as administrator) and it seemed like the chkdsk reported no errors, but then the attrib thing couldn't find any files it said. My goodness, how could this be? SO are you saying that the files are just not there anymore? I had a ton of stuff on this hard disk, and just a couple days ago it was all there and I was working with it and it was fine!!

What other things could I try. My goodness, If I need to do a dta recovery through a company can they retrieve everything? Is there another way? Like that is cheaper but I could still see everything like how it was? I don't really have that type of money, but I guess I need these so im not sure.

By the way thanks for everyone and mbreslin1954 thanks so much for your messages. Im just sooo dumbfounded how files could disappear!!! Before this on my XP I did a system restore when things got slow and it fixed it right u.. but then a few days later it was like I couldn't boot up I was stuck on a startup loop recovery screen when I turned it on. Please any other suggestions or what I could do, and thanks again all.
 
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Terminal_X

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I checked it on Desktop pc before moving the HDD into the laptop and the files was there !!! And the when i was logged on windows 8 .. only some files was there...2 times i did that before i used external HDD to transfer them...
 
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cuteT01

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I have the answer- the part about removing attributes is slightly wrong. So type cmd in the search box (win7) when in cmd you will be in C drive so type F: and it will show F:/ then in here type attrib -r -s -h /d /s this will remove all attributes. Then go to your hdd and find the folder with your name on it. Previously this stated it was empty but after doing as stated above I clicked on the file and inside it showed desktop. I clicked on desktop and all my files and folders where there.
 
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