How do I get my files etc. back after a fresh install?

Harry Hamilton · Mar 24, 2016

Hi,

I just did a fresh install of Win7 onto a SSD. I've plugged in my old HDD that has all my files and programs on it, but I can't seem to find things such as my old documents and pictures etc. Any ideas?

Thanks,
- Harry

littleleo · Mar 24, 2016

Why didn't you clone your old drive to the SSD? Be sure you change to the new drive letter assigned to you old hard drive and check the My Documents folder there.

Harry Hamilton · Mar 24, 2016

littleleo :

I couldn't clone it as my HDD is 1TB and my SSD is 120gb (I only wanted it for the OS). I can't seem to change my HDD to be :C as Win7 is installed onto my SSD, so that is labelled as :C and it won't let me change it. Any ideas?

littleleo · Mar 24, 2016

Okay, you can clone just the Windows system I didn't that for a family member I took it off a 1TB hard drive and cloned it on to a 120GB SSD.

Harry Hamilton · Mar 24, 2016

littleleo :

How would I do that? Will it retrieve all of my old documents and pics etc from my HDD?

Thanks.

littleleo · Mar 24, 2016

No you don't want to put your documents on the SSD just the O/S and any programs you want loaded fast. Leave the rest on the hard drive. The more you put on the SSD the slower it becomes.

Harry Hamilton · Mar 24, 2016

littleleo :

Yep I know that, but I don't know how to access my documents from my :E drive (old HDD)

littleleo · Mar 24, 2016

Sure you can go into windows and change the folder for your downloads to the E drive too. If your really pressed for space on your SSD you can move the page file too.

Harry Hamilton · Mar 24, 2016

littleleo :

Alright, thanks. But is there anyway I can access my old documents from my HDD? I want to keep everything like documents on my HDD, but I can't seem to find them since I fresh installed win7.

tman1 · Mar 24, 2016

In your case, it should be in E:\users\username\Documents\
*replace "username" with whatever your profile name was.

Blackink · Mar 24, 2016

Can you access the old hard drive?
Can you see it at all?
Can you open any files or folders in the old hard drive?

Harry Hamilton · Mar 24, 2016

tman1 :

When I replace "username" with Harry (my profile name), it displays 'Windows can't find E:\users\Harry\Documents\'. Check spelling and try again.

Harry Hamilton · Mar 24, 2016

Blackink :

Yep, I can see see the old HDD and all of my folders, but I can't find with the documents are held.

tman1 · Mar 24, 2016

Sorry, might be My Documents.

Browse to E:\users\Harry

You should see it there.

Harry Hamilton · Mar 24, 2016

tman1 :

When I type in "E:\Users\Harry" it displays "E:\Users\Harry is currently unavailable."

tman1 · Mar 24, 2016

Just browse the contents of E:
Do you see a users folder?

Harry Hamilton · Mar 25, 2016

tman1 :

Ah, yes. Found my old documents and pictures etc. Thanks!

Also a thanks to @littleleo and @blackink for also trying to help

littleleo · Mar 25, 2016

Harry Hamilton :

Sure just add the my documents fold on your old drive (D:/users/ ) under libraries to your My Documents Library.

How do I get my files etc. back after a fresh install?

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