HDD Crash: Old files not showing but files from new HDD?OS are

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faruke

Reputable
Jan 18, 2016
2
0
4,510
Hi & Thanks.

So, the 1TB 2.5"HDD crashes in my Dell XPS31F.

Old HDD pulled out.
New HDD installed.
Fresh install of Win 10.

I put my old HDD into a USB caddy and have a look to see if I can retrieve the files in my documents.
When plugged in the drive shows as "Local Disk E:". When I go into the Documents and Settings folder, it shows the files from the new HDD, not the old one (which has all the files I want!!).

Is there a simple way to approach this or will I have to go down the file recovery program path and go fishing through 300gb of files to find the ones I want?
 
Solution
Boogieman_WD
Seems like the old path is still redirecting you to C: drive by default. Is the user for your new Windows installation with the exact same name? Did you try searching for one of the files I mentioned to see it's correct directory? You should be able to find it and then just access the same dir as the files are still there. Just paste that directory in the address bar in your Windows Explorer (My Computer, This PC) and press "enter".
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

Judicious
Jul 31, 2014
6,050
2
35,960
Hey there, faruke.

How do you open Documents and Settings? It sounds like the drive is working as it should. Try navigating there by opening the drive and then going through its "Users" folder and select the name of the folder with your previous user to get access to your old User Folders. You could also try searching for one of the files by typing the title in Windows Search and when you find it, just click on it with the right mouse button and select properties. You should be able to see its directory written there and this way you'd find the right path to those files.

Hope that helps. Please let me know how it goes.
Boogieman_WD
 
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F

faruke

Reputable
Jan 18, 2016
2
0
4,510
I go into Documents & Settings in the files explorer, but it only shows the new files from the new install/new HDD. I search for folders and files that were on there and they are not being found either. The strange thing is if I go to the Program files folder of the old HDD, can see all of the old programs, but the docs & settings seems to throw back to the new HDD's data.
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

Judicious
Jul 31, 2014
6,050
2
35,960
Seems like the old path is still redirecting you to C: drive by default. Is the user for your new Windows installation with the exact same name? Did you try searching for one of the files I mentioned to see it's correct directory? You should be able to find it and then just access the same dir as the files are still there. Just paste that directory in the address bar in your Windows Explorer (My Computer, This PC) and press "enter".
 
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