Best way to recover user data from Windows 7 HDD

Mailman86 · 22 Oct 2011 at 16:16

To keep a long story short I was stupid and broke my CPU cooler on my computer trying to remount it (yeah I know

) so rather than just order a replacement cooler I thought it was about time to upgrade my whole machine.

The data on the boot disk should be fine but what's the best way to get the data from it once I've built the PC? I plan to use the same boot disk from the old PC, so will I simply be able to boot in to the existing Windows install used with my old computer and just copy the data off then reformat or is Windows going to get confused with the new motherboard, processor, graphics card etc and simply not boot? It's a copy of Windows 7 retail with one user account with no password. I could boot in to Linux from a usb stick if that is an option (not sure if there are going to be issues with NTFS and access to the main user folder) but I want the most hassle free option. I really can't be bothered to attach the new cooler to my new setup just to get the data off as I'm sure there is a quicker way.

darael · 22 Oct 2011 at 17:58

You could connect it up to the new build after Windows has installed, and copy the files you need in explorer.

Mailman86 · 22 Oct 2011 at 18:21

Ah yes but although it is going to be a new PC, I'm keeping the same boot disk (a nice fast SSD) so I will want to format it once I've got the data from it to install Windows for the new machine. I'm aware of several ways around it, but the ones that I know will definatly work will take far too much effort. I'm just looking for the most easy and risk free way to do this really as I'm sure there is a simple one.

lurkio · 23 Oct 2011 at 10:28

Re-build your new system with your olde hard drive

Switch it on , marvel as windows 7 loads even tho it is on different hardware

After it has booted up then un-install your olde system drivers using progam & features

Reboot as necessary and then install your new hardware drivers

Done this a few times now with totally different hardware and it works fine

Mailman86 · 23 Oct 2011 at 10:56

Well I only asked as I had a problem booting my machine after moving the sata connections on my motherboard about after installing a new HDD a few months back. I tried reseting BIOS settings to defaults to no avail and eventually I just plugged the boot drive back in to the same sata port it was in before (I only did it to tidy the cables up slightly). I figure changing motherboard would make a similar situation arise. Good to hear this hasn't been a problem for you before lurkio which gives me some confidence.

I will format anyway after I got the data off as it's really not much hassle these days and can possibly save a lot of hassle in the long run.

I'll just put Ubuntu on a usb key and try that then if it gets to that. Worse case senario there's only the odd one or two files on there that I would be annoyed about losing.