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cannot access my documents on 2nd drive


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#1 Guest_adam_*

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Posted 26 April 2004 - 12:02 AM

here is my problem. i have 2 hard drives. one is from my old computer that stopped working. when i put it into the new computer as the primary master it asks what mode i want to start windows with (ie safe mode, normal, ect) no matter which of the options i choose it starts loading to the point where is shows the win xp logo for a split second then the screen flashes blue and then the computer restarts. so i decided to set it as the primary slave and use a different hard drive with win xp pro on it as the primary master. this drive loads fine and the other drive shows up in my computer. i can access most of the files except the ones in the my documents folder which happens to contain almost all of the files that i need. i am confused why i can't boot from this drive. before my old computer broke i tried putting this drive in the new computer and it didn't work then but it would still boot in the old computer. so if anyone knows how i can access those files that are in the my documents folder or tips on getting the drive to boot i would greatly appreciate it. it is finals week and all of my homework projects are in that folder and i am going to fail all of my classes if i can not get to them.
thanks
adam

#2 Hunter

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Posted 26 April 2004 - 12:20 AM

Member tips for reviving a failed hard drive


When you unzip this download, you'll get a Word document with over 70 pages of tips from fellow TechRepublic members on how to save the day when a hard drive fails. This document was updated in November 2003.

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#3 WYBaugh

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Posted 26 April 2004 - 12:20 AM

Hey Adam,

With attempting to boot the old drive on your new computer: You are getting a BSOD but the OS is set to automatically restart on system failure (Control Panel/ System/Advanced/Startup and Recovery settings.

What's the exact error you're getting when attempting to access the files? Can you view the folder but not copy the files or does it give an error when attempting to access the folder period? Did you happen to have the folder compressed/encrypted (Sorry, just trying to throw out some ideas).

Thanks,

Bill

#4 Guest_adam_*

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Posted 26 April 2004 - 12:26 AM

the error i get when i try to open the folder is:
E:\Documents and Settings\squee\my documents is not accessible.
Access is denied.

the folder wasn't encrypted or anything. it was just the my documents folder for the only account that was set up on that drive.

adam

#5 Guest_adam_*

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Posted 26 April 2004 - 12:45 AM

is there a way to turn off the the setting where the os automatically restarts on system failure if you can't boot up into that operating system?

i don't think that there is a physical problem with the hard drive that hitting freezing or dropping it will fix. (that is what it says to do in that Member tips for reviving a failed hard drive file) the reason i don't think there is a problem like that is because before my old computer broke i took the drive out and tried to put it in the new computer which resulted in the failed boot attempt described in above posts. so i took it out of the new computer and returned it to the old one and it would boot up fine. and i am sure it would boot fine in that computer if it was still working.

thanks
adam

#6 WYBaugh

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Posted 26 April 2004 - 01:42 AM

Hey again Adam,

If you go to Control Panel/System/Advanced and click on the button under Startup and Recovery you can remove the check in the checkbox for Automatically Restart under the System Failure group box.

Even though this will stop the computer from rebooting you still have some inherent problem that's causing the BSOD. Could be device drivers trying to load on your new system for devices that don't exist (I may be wrong on this) but maybe the error will help you find out what's up with your system.

Sounds like there is a permissions issue with your My Documents folder. Can you make right click and bring up properties on the folder?

Is your disk formatted in FAT/FAT32? You could go to Bootdisk.com and create a floppy to boot up on and access your My Documents folder from this manner.

Bill

#7 TheSentinel

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Posted 26 April 2004 - 02:37 AM

Hi adam

please try this:
QUOTE
Unknown Devices
Description

Unknown Devices helps you find what those unknown devices in Device Manager really are.

By checking Device Manager for unknown devices and extracting information from it, this program attempts to figure out what the device is. You might not have to open your case or look up random numbers off of PCI cards to figure out what they are.

Program supports Win95, 98, 98se, Me, 2k, XP and 2003 but not NT. It also attempts to support future OSes.
It runs fine from a CD or floppy. It's free for per personal and (especially) business use. If you want to add it to a cd collection or magazine that is fine, just drop me an email.

You can also access this webpage using the shorter urls http://www.halfdone.com/unknowndevices or if you really want small http://halfdone.com/ukd
Version
Current Version is 1.2, May 25, 2003

Source:
http://www.halfdone....UnknownDevices/


Greetz
B. Udo

#8 Guest_Tam_*

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Posted 30 April 2004 - 06:37 PM

The 'My Documents' folder points to a certain path location on the disk. If you install the hard disk in another machine, that path may change. Have you tried right-clicking on the 'My Documents' icon, and checking what the path is in Properties? It may be that this is still pointing to the C: drive, whereas the disk is now assigned the letter 'D'.

You can always navigate to the real location of 'My Documents' without going via the icon, for example in Windows Explorer. If you look through the disk with Explorer, you should be able to locate it under [DRIVE LETTER:]\Documents and Settings\[USERNAME].

#9 Guest_mistere1979_*

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Posted 28 August 2004 - 09:07 PM

hi there I am MisterE and had the same problem as U with with my old hard diks on a new computer. just simply right click and then to properties, to sharing and there click on the option share this folder on the network.....a message will pop up saying that it was denied BUT then when you afterwoods try to access your documents it will work ! hard to believe but true....thanks to a bug in windows :thumb:

Guest name has been edited - DO NOT use email addesses as "name"
Thanks - Admin


#10 Guest_Guest_*

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Posted 05 September 2004 - 07:53 AM

I had this same issue and just resolved it.

Keep the new HDD as master, and the old one as slave. Right-click the old one in Windows Explorer to bring up Sharing & Security (or go there from Proporties). Click the Security tab. Click the Advanced button.

Go the the Owner tab, select your current user profile, and check the "Replace owner on..." box below.

This is all you should have to do, but before clicking OK I would ALSO go to the Permissions tab, clear out whatever is there and add "SYSTEM", "Administrators", and "[your current profile]", giving them all full permissions. Then check the "Replace permission entries..." box below, and click OK.

It will take a few minutes to change the permissions and ownership on EVERY file on the drive, so you may want to just do this whole thing on Documents and Settings.

Also, when it gets to some subfolders that it cannot access it will ask you if you want to give yourself full permissions... click "Yes", of course. Just know that it will ask that, so don't start the process and walk off or you might have to wait a while after you get back and have to click "Yes".

Good luck!

NOTE: if you have Windows XP Home, instead of Pro, reboot in safe mode to get the Sharing and Security tab.

Ross

#11 Guest_Michael V_*

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Posted 18 September 2004 - 06:17 AM

I had the exact same problem as you Adam.

Thanks to Ross's advice the problem is now resolved.

The only issue I came across when following Ross's instructions was that when going into the properties of the hard-drive and then after clicking on "Sharing and Security", the only tabs available were General, Tools, Hardware, Sharing, and Quota. But no Security tab!!

So in order to make the Security tab visible, I did the following steps (which is extracted from Windows Help):

Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Folder Options.
On the View tab, under Advanced settings, clear Use simple file sharing [Recommended].


Now follow Ross's instructions and you should be fine.

Thanks all.

-MichaelV

#12 Guest_Zuluwarrior_*

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Posted 25 September 2004 - 01:00 PM

Hi all

ive had a similar problem to this on my laptop. i got the blue screen of death etc but rather than using a new HD i tried to reinstall windows on my current HD. Instead of overwriting the defective windows it installed it alongside the old version so i now get a choice of which to use when booting. Ive tried doing whats been suggested but i cant find the advanced tag in sharing and security and in doing the view folders stuff i cant find the advanced button there. Any suggestions?

#13 Guest_Guest_*

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Posted 29 December 2004 - 11:32 AM

Thank Ross, that worked out great, i was able to access that once I got the advanced visible through folder options. The process is quick and painless.

#14 Guest_mark_*

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Posted 05 January 2005 - 05:42 PM

You guys are brilliant tnx alot!!!

#15 Guest_Rene Mulder_*

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Posted 23 January 2005 - 12:27 PM

U are the man, thanks for the tip! never would've thought of this.


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