Can't see files on old HDD after upgrading to SSD

UberTiger · 1 Apr 2012 at 13:45

My buddy just installed Win 7 on a new SSD and would like to be able to access the data on his old Win 7 install on his HDD.

He switched the mobo to AHCI, installed the SSD, installed Win 7. The old HDD shows up in My Computer but he can't see any files.

Here's a pic of the disk management, any ideas what can be done to enable viewing of the old files?

Thanks

http://i.imgur.com/58kGZ.png

PistolPete · 1 Apr 2012 at 15:34

What happens when he navigates to the F: drive??

OptimaLnrg · 1 Apr 2012 at 18:08

My initial thoughts would be this:

strip the ssd out.
Set ahci back to whatever is was before (IDE?)
boot to the hdd as before.

Backup all the files he needs. Documents/pics/music etc to another storage medium, dvds, usb sticks, external hdd etc.

strip out the hdd
set back to ahci
boot to ssd with the hdd now plugged in
do a full format of the hdd in diskmanagment
add the required data back to the hdd.

if he needs to keep the option to boot to the hdd for whatever reason this obviously won't be any use to you. Also, I'm pretty sure someone will know a trick to get it to work without all this. But this way would be the way I would do it.

UberTiger · 1 Apr 2012 at 20:18

Cheers guys, it was weird, he ended up doing as you suggested OptimaLnrg, changed bios settings and switched back to his old drive to back up all the data. Went to boot back into the SSD after changing bios settings again and the windows install was corrupt.

Fresh install on the SSD and it booted fine into windows, the old HDD showed up and he could access the files after being prompted about permissions.

All working grand now though by the sounds of it, and he's got a separate backup of his data in case he does eventually have to perform a full format on the old one for any reason.

Thanks