How to Access the User Folder on an Old Hard Drive? Detail Guide

In fact, many people want to know how to access the user folder on an old hard drive after they install a new drive. Here is one case:

I recently installed a new hard drive and put Windows 10 on it to use as my main drive. I left the old hard drive exactly the way it was. When I try to access the users/my name folder on the old drive the green bar moves across but nothing happens. I would like to access the files I had in the downloads and pictures folder on my old drive. Any advice on how I can access these files?  - Background-Bitterreddit.com

In fact, you can’t open the user folder on the previous drive due to insufficient permissions. You can change the ownership of the folder to access it. The following content tells you how to take ownership of this folder step by step.

Take Ownership of the User Folder via File Explorer

Part 1: Take Ownership of the User Folder

Step 1: Go to the old user folder and right-click on it.

Step 2: Select Properties from the context menu.

Step 3: Shift to the Security tab and click on the Advanced button at the bottom of the window.

Step 4: Click on the Change button in the Owner section.

Step 5: Type the name of your user account into the box of Enter the object name to select, then click Check Names and OK in sequence.

Step 6: Check the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects option.

Step 7: Click Apply > OK.

After the settings, you can try to access the old user folder. If you receive another message that tells you don’t have the permission to read this folder, you should get full permission with the next steps.  

Part 2: Change Permissions of the User Folder

Step 1: On the same window (Advanced Security Settings for bj), click on the Add button.

Step 2: Click Select a principal in the following window.

Step 3: You should type the name of your account, click on Check Names, then choose OK to confirm.

Step 4: Select Full control in the Basic permissions section, then click OK to save changes.

Wait for the settings to apply on your computer. Then, you can try to access the user folder on an old hard drive.

Bonus Tip to Get Data Off the Old Hard Drive

If you fail to access data, another useful way is to make use of free data recovery software to rescue files from the old hard drive. MiniTool Power Data Recovery can help you.

As its name shows, this software is able to recover files, pictures, videos, and audio files from various data storage devices. Besides, no matter whether your device is unrecognized, formatted, or even dead, this tool can handle the problem and rescue files securely.

Provided with a secure data recovery service, MiniTool Power Data Recovery will cause no damage to your original files.

You can try the free edition of this software if needed.

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Final Words

This is all about how to access the user folder on an old hard drive. You can get ownership and change permissions with the above steps carefully. Hope this post gives you useful information.