Trouble salvaging an old harddrive ?

Question

I currently have my laptop's old hard drive plugged into my PC and I am trying to access my user file to gain access to some old pictures. I have permission to open the actual user's folder itself but when I click on it it takes forever to load and eventually just stops loading. I have tried opening it several times and the same thing continues to happen. Is there a reason for this and does anyone have a solution?

Answer 1

Instead of left clicking on that folder to open it, try right clicking on it and in the menu that appears click on "properties" and Windows will tell you what's in the folder. It may have nothing in it and that's why it runs forever and comes back with no info. Another thought would be to put your computer into the Safe Mode and see if you can see what's in that folder that way. Here's how to use SAFE MODE. Copy and paste it into a word or notepad document so you can print it and check off the steps to get in and get out. <<<<< Safe Mode Instructions for Yahoo Answers

The way to get past those malware issues is to use the Win 10 SAFE MODE. This allows you to only boot up Win 10 and not the malware too. So use these instructions to boot into the Safe Mode and just remember you have to also use the instructions to exit the Safe Mode. Run your antivirus, anti-malware programs such as Norton, AVG, etc. and Malwarebytes, etc. while you are in the Safe Mode. Allow your antivirus/anti-malware programs remove any problems they find. Here are the instructions. >>>>> Win 10 SAFE MODE Win 10 is a little odd because you have to go through a short process to put the computer into the Safe Mode and to get it back out of the Safe Mode. Here’s how to do both processes. This works in Win 8, Win 8.1, and Win 10. To Get Into Safe Mode: 1. Right click at Start button 2. Click on RUN 3. In the resulting box, type in the term msconfig and hit enter. 4. The msconfig window will appear. At the top of the window click on the Boot tab. 5. In the next window put a check mark in the “Safe Boot” box. 6. Click Apply, then click OK 7. Click Restart. The computer will go through a normal looking boot and you will have to provide your password if you use one. The desktop will eventually show up with a somewhat abnormal looking Desk Top with all icons skewed left and will say SAFE MODE in all four corners of the screen. NOTE: If you were to reboot the computer, it will boot/reboot continually into the Safe Mode until you take the steps below to change the settings for a "normal” boot up to your desktop. To Get Out Of Safe Mode: 8. Right click at Start button 9. Click on RUN 10. In the resulting box, type in the term msconfig and hit enter. 11. The msconfig window will appear. At the top of the window click on the Boot tab. 12. UNCHECK the “Safe Boot” box. 13. Click Apply then click OK 14. Click on Restart to boot the computer into its’ normal mode. NOTE: Once the Restart (reboot) is completed and the computer boots into the “normal” mode it will continue to boot into the normal mode each time you reboot. You are required to use the getting into the Safe Mode process(s) to get into it and out of it. >>>>>> Hope this helps!

Answer 2

The drive has gone bad, if the data is precious take it to a data recovery centre where they can rebuild the drive and recover what they can, they are not cheap. Just google data recovery and your local area and you will get some information 

Answer 3

 Try using a command prompt to copy the files. your user file can be found under

E:\users\yourname\  (assuming your drive shows up at E, use the correct letter inthe command below.  Create a folder on your current drive for the files to go in, and then use this command

xcopy e:\users\yourname\*.* /s c:\yourfolder

Answer 4

maybe you should take it to a computer store, they might be able to do it