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    New secondary HDD and now my stuff isn't showing up

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Ferrari353, Dec 16, 2012.

  1. Ferrari353

    Ferrari353 Notebook Evangelist

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    So I have Windows and my program files on my SSD and program data on my secondary HDD. I recently upgraded my HDD, and I just copied all the files over to the new one from within Windows and I changed the drive letter on the new drive to what it was, yet windows doesn't seem to be showing my programs, my libraries, or my desktop. And when I open windows Explorer, it says "C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\Desktop refers to a location that is unavailable." so it sounds like it's looking for all this stuff on the C drive, my SSD.
    How do I fix this?

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  2. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    Did you replace the secondary hard drive? Or did you add it in and leave the other one in the system? I think the reason you're getting that message is because you changed the drive letter; depending on how you wanted things configured, Windows is probably still trying to locate that data in the previous drive letter, but since you swapped the drive out, it's not set up correctly within Windows to search there. You'll need to redirect it to the new drive, or use whatever the default drive letter would have been and let Windows do the leg work.
     
  3. Ferrari353

    Ferrari353 Notebook Evangelist

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    The old drive letter was x. I installed the new drive, and had the old drive in a dock. The new drive was then a different letter because the old drive was still x. After everything was transferred over, I changed the new drive letter to x. So the drive letter is correct.

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  4. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    I personally would try cloning the old drive to the new one, that should work. All it will take is time.
     
  5. Ferrari353

    Ferrari353 Notebook Evangelist

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    I was trying to clone it originally, but trying to boot into the software didn't work. It just got stuck on the loading screen. Maybe I can try running the disc from within Windows...

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    uploadfromtaptalk1355798040417.jpg
    I don't know if this helps at all.
    C is the ssd which didn't change at all.
    X is the new drive in my laptop.
    A is the old drive in the dock.


    Also, now I can't even boot into windows. It says:
    BOOTMGR missing.
    Press ctrl alt del to restart.

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  6. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    Check your BIOS to ensure that it's still trying to boot to the hard drive with your OS (I'm guessing C, your SSD). If no go still, then try booting into a Live CD or Mini Windows XP to check your drive (you can also use Hiren's Boot CD to check the drive). Hopefully the BOOTMGR isn't corrupt or the MBR isn't damaged.

    As for the first noted problem, cloning MIGHT work, but you'll need to check that the drives are aligned. Cloning is convenient - as long as it works.
     
  7. Ferrari353

    Ferrari353 Notebook Evangelist

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    Windows startup repair fixed the boot problem.

    I was looking through my new drive, and my program data doesn't appear to be there. There are six folders. There should be way more than six. I also checked my old hard drive and it's the same files there. Where did all my program data go?? It just disappeared or got deleted somehow!
    But my user data is still there, so that doesn't explain why it can't find my desktop.

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  8. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    Bummer! All I can recommend is to try using Windows built in search for particular directories/files. Make sure you have the "View Hidden Files/Folders" option selected as well, just in case. It's unlikely it was deleted, but I can't guarantee you can recover it very easily if you can't locate the data anywhere. :(
     
  9. Ferrari353

    Ferrari353 Notebook Evangelist

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    Well it's not where it should be but the drive is still just as full as it was before, so it must be there somewhere, right?

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  10. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    Most likely, yes. I don't want to promise you anything, though.

    How many folders for your program data should show (if you remember)? Are you sure you didn't consolidate them when you copied them over?
     
  11. Ferrari353

    Ferrari353 Notebook Evangelist

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    There should be probably 50+, but I don't know the exact number. I definitely had more than four programs.

    And what do you mean did I consolidate them over? Consolidate them where?

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  12. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    By consolidate, I meant: Did you make new directories/folders to organize the data?

    You can try using a file recovery/undelete program if Windows search doesn't yield anything, just to see if some of the data was actually lost. Assuming it's not *hidden*, maybe Recova or Glary Utilities File Undelete can retrieve some of the program data. :)
     
  13. Ferrari353

    Ferrari353 Notebook Evangelist

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    No, I didn't make any new directories or anything. I just highlighted everything and copied it over.

    Okay so I had been looking in the shortcut to program data in A, the old drive, because program data itself is a hidden folder, so the shortcut was trying to go to X. I unhid my folders, and then in the actual program data folder, it seems like everything is in order. Do hidden folders not copy over?

    And now that it's unhidden, will it copy over?

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  14. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    Hidden files copy over, but they will remain hidden. You can elect to "View Hidden Files/Folders" and remove the Hidden attribute by right clicking the folder/file > Properties > uncheck "Hidden", or use a command prompt and use the attrib -h switch.

    Easiest way to do it is to right click on the directory/folder that has all the hidden program data, and remove the hidden attribute from it's properties (you'll be asked if you want to apply this to all sub-folders and files; click Yes).
     
  15. Ferrari353

    Ferrari353 Notebook Evangelist

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    Well it doesn't show up unhidden on the new hard drive. And the lack of it would explain the missing ~100gb of stuff.

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  16. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    That's odd. "Hidden" just means it's not visible; it's a means of cloaking the info, so to speak, so that others can't easily access it - or so it's out of the way. Obviously, it's really easy to view hidden files/folders. But still... the hidden attribute doesn't (or isn't suppose to) affect copying/backups, because it's still technically there.
     
  17. Ferrari353

    Ferrari353 Notebook Evangelist

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    Okay well I copied it over. There were a few odd files that wouldn't let me do it so I skipped them. But windows still doesn't seem to want to find my desktop or any of my programs. Do I need to set up like a link of some kind in the registry?

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  18. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    It's best that you remove that hidden attribute altogether from all your directories, sub-directories, and files when you copy them over - just to make things simpler on you. No adjustment needs to be made to the registry.

    And remember - copying over program data will not re install your programs. :(

    Those files that won't copy over could be because of the hidden attribute, or other attributes. Make sure you're logged in as an Administrator, have the proper permissions, and that the files aren't encrypted.

    If you can't find them, do a search in the Windows start pane. If you still can't find them, log in under another account (like the built-in Administrator account) and see if you can find them.
     
  19. Ferrari353

    Ferrari353 Notebook Evangelist

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    The programs shouldn't have to be reinstalled. The program files themselves are on the ssd and weren't changed at all.
    Do I need to set up an mklink of some kind?

    This is what I have used originally when I installed Windows.
    I'll post a message in that thread asking for help.

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