Missing documents on father in laws computer drive

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

  1. Posts : 10
    Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045 22H2
       #1

    Missing documents on father in laws computer drive


    MS did and update and I had done some clean up on his system. I restarted and it will not boot. Tried reset. Tried to reinstall with media and would not do so and keep files.
    I had also run MSconfig and checked marked for processors and max memory. As it always has started really slow.

    Pulled the drive out to pull data off to wipe it and start over. Able to get all I wanted except Documents.
    Can't find them on the drive. Looked on "c:" which became "J:" when using a usb adapter.
    Under his User: Documents and Settings access denied.
    Under My Documents no access.

    He is 89 and doing his life story and it was all in there. Thankfully he prints most everything. We are talking 3" binders so should be a lot of info.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 991
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2

    There are tutorials in here that will show you how to gain access, have a read
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 45,628
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #3

    Oh dear- no backups? I can understand how worried your father must be... especially with no backups...

    E.g from the huge searchable Tutorials section
    Change Owner of File, Folder, Drive, or Registry Key in Windows 10
    Add Take Ownership to Context Menu in Windows 10

    Be very careful what you're doing if this is the only copy.

    COPY them, don't move them.


    Different approach if you only had 1 PC: you could create a live boot disk, boot the original PC from that and copy from the original disk to a USB disk.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 4,232
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #4

    seems weird as I have three different OS's on this computer - and I can access " >\Users\*UserName*\Documents" without any issue..
    Unless the files where removed / relocated or (User Password) protected - you should have access to all the Users files
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 10
    Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045 22H2
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks for the replies.


    I am brand new here so did not know about the tutorials.

    The drive I am working with is a clone of the drive for his computer.
    I do not have access to the original at the moment. It had the same no boot and missing documents.
    Which is why I cloned it to work on it so as not to lose any thing more.

    I have old back ups but not current for the last year maybe.
    If all else fails I can scan the printed pages into my computer and resave them as .doc for him. As he is using an old MS Word program. That in it's self will not be fun. He has a 3" binder full and started on another.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 45,628
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    Good that you have a copy - you should be able to gain access to anything on the disk.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 10
    Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045 22H2
    Thread Starter
       #7

    dalchina,

    I have tried everything I can think of to no avail.

    Will taking ownership of the drive give me access to the documents?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 45,628
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8

    You have two options provided above.

    I don't know the state of the disk.

    Until you try one of those two things, we can't be sure of the outcome.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 17,092
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4894
       #9

    Goliath100 said:
    Pulled the drive out to pull data off to wipe it and start over. Able to get all I wanted except Documents.
    Under his User: Documents and Settings access denied.
    Under My Documents no access.
    You should be looking in
    J:\Users\HISUSERNAME\Documents
    not at those others. You might get challenged to grant your Admin account access to the folder.
    - Documents and Settings is just a redirection point that tells old applications to go somewhere else.
    - I do not know where exactly you mean by My Documents given the current situation.
    Goliath100 said:
    Under My Documents no access.
    If you mean the My documents 'shortcut' that appears within J:\Users\HISUSERNAME then that is also a redirection point not a real shortcut and it will tell you to get lost.
    Tell File explorer not to show Hidden & System files if you want to avoid these red herrings


    Best of luck,
    Denis
    Last edited by Try3; 11 Mar 2023 at 13:18.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 45,628
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #10

    It would help to post a screenshot or two of the paths you are using to try to gain access.
    Or a photo if a screenshot is not possible (e.g. if you boot to a command prompt to try to get access).

    Screenshots: create image, upload thus:
    Missing documents on father in laws computer drive-screenshot-.png

    Tutorial available if needed.
      My Computers


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 14:20.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums