Help With Hard Drive

cartepostal · November 17th, 2015, 03:11 PM

Hi. I have a hard drive that I took out of my last desktop PC when the motherboard broke that I know has some porn on it, hopefully including some photos and possibly some videos I took myself a few years ago. Due to relationship and housing problems it's been in storage until recently and I'd now like to transfer the contents.

I have the requisite cables and can see the files, but am unable to view anything. I was running Windows XP and had obviously password-protected the drive using XP, but can't remember the password. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a solution? Thanks for reading.

pigulici · November 17th, 2015, 05:14 PM

With a linux live you can get over any windows user account password...

**MrInBetween** · November 17th, 2015, 05:32 PM

You could try taking ownership of the files. You don't say what OS you're running now, but in Windows 7 you do that by right-clicking on the folder and selecting Properties. Then select the Security tab and on that page press the Advanced button down the bottom. On the new page select the Owner tab. Then click Edit. Then, in Change Owner To, select the user you want to change the ownership to and press OK.

cartepostal · November 17th, 2015, 06:09 PM

Thanks MrInbetween, I'll try that. Pigulici - I have a spare, very old laptop I guess I might be able to put Linux on.

pigulici · November 17th, 2015, 06:21 PM

Any linux live can be used without install on hdd, from a usb or cd/dvd, that "live" mean...but if MrInbetween method it is easy for you, just go for it, the result it is important now...

cartepostal · November 17th, 2015, 07:03 PM

Ah, I see (I think). So, I'd burn Linux to a CD/DVD, put it in the drive, run it, then hook the old HDD up and access like that?

pigulici · November 17th, 2015, 07:11 PM

Yes "A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a complete bootable computer installation including operating system which runs in a computer's memory, rather than loading from a hard disk drive; the CD itself is read-only. It allows users to run an operating system for any purpose without installing it or making any changes to the computer's configuration. Live CDs can run on a computer without secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive, or with a corrupted hard disk drive or file system, allowing data recovery"

more here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_CD

you can put the old hdd before boot from live linux(if you put it direct on sata/ide cable), or put after booting in linux live, if you connect the old one through usb adapter...

**EsotericKnave** · November 18th, 2015, 07:38 AM

I recently salvaged a password protected drive from an old broken pc I had in my garage for years using a docking station. Didn't ask for my password.

cartepostal · November 21st, 2015, 09:23 AM

No luck I'm afraid MrInbetween (my OS is Windows 7). Pigulici - there are so many sites out there offering Linux Live. I downloaded something, but can't work out how to run it. Can you recommend a website?

pigulici · November 21st, 2015, 01:10 PM

I use Mageia Linux Kde, it look more like Windows 7(have even a control panel like)...
here got to Live Media>Live DVD>KDE Desktop:
http://www.mageia.org/en/downloads/
after that, burn the iso on dvd and boot from it...

November 17th, 2015, 03:11 PM	#1
cartepostal Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 117 Thanks: 170 Thanked 732 Times in 103 Posts	Help With Hard Drive Hi. I have a hard drive that I took out of my last desktop PC when the motherboard broke that I know has some porn on it, hopefully including some photos and possibly some videos I took myself a few years ago. Due to relationship and housing problems it's been in storage until recently and I'd now like to transfer the contents. I have the requisite cables and can see the files, but am unable to view anything. I was running Windows XP and had obviously password-protected the drive using XP, but can't remember the password. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a solution? Thanks for reading.

November 17th, 2015, 05:32 PM	#3
MrInBetween R.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Gone But Not Forgotten Posts: 3,934 Thanks: 51,364 Thanked 48,453 Times in 3,898 Posts	You could try taking ownership of the files. You don't say what OS you're running now, but in Windows 7 you do that by right-clicking on the folder and selecting Properties. Then select the Security tab and on that page press the Advanced button down the bottom. On the new page select the Owner tab. Then click Edit. Then, in Change Owner To, select the user you want to change the ownership to and press OK. __________________ I'm sorry Gentlemen, that's all the lipstick around the nipple we have time for To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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November 17th, 2015, 05:14 PM	#2
pigulici Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 131 Thanks: 4,341 Thanked 787 Times in 125 Posts	With a linux live you can get over any windows user account password...

November 17th, 2015, 06:09 PM	#4
cartepostal Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 117 Thanks: 170 Thanked 732 Times in 103 Posts	Thanks MrInbetween, I'll try that. Pigulici - I have a spare, very old laptop I guess I might be able to put Linux on.

November 17th, 2015, 06:21 PM	#5
pigulici Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 131 Thanks: 4,341 Thanked 787 Times in 125 Posts	Any linux live can be used without install on hdd, from a usb or cd/dvd, that "live" mean...but if MrInbetween method it is easy for you, just go for it, the result it is important now...

November 17th, 2015, 07:03 PM	#6
cartepostal Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 117 Thanks: 170 Thanked 732 Times in 103 Posts	Ah, I see (I think). So, I'd burn Linux to a CD/DVD, put it in the drive, run it, then hook the old HDD up and access like that?

November 17th, 2015, 07:11 PM	#7
pigulici Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 131 Thanks: 4,341 Thanked 787 Times in 125 Posts	Yes "A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a complete bootable computer installation including operating system which runs in a computer's memory, rather than loading from a hard disk drive; the CD itself is read-only. It allows users to run an operating system for any purpose without installing it or making any changes to the computer's configuration. Live CDs can run on a computer without secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive, or with a corrupted hard disk drive or file system, allowing data recovery" more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_CD you can put the old hdd before boot from live linux(if you put it direct on sata/ide cable), or put after booting in linux live, if you connect the old one through usb adapter...

November 18th, 2015, 07:38 AM	#8
EsotericKnave Vintage Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 387 Thanks: 13,553 Thanked 12,232 Times in 380 Posts	I recently salvaged a password protected drive from an old broken pc I had in my garage for years using a docking station. Didn't ask for my password.

November 21st, 2015, 09:23 AM	#9
cartepostal Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 117 Thanks: 170 Thanked 732 Times in 103 Posts	No luck I'm afraid MrInbetween (my OS is Windows 7). Pigulici - there are so many sites out there offering Linux Live. I downloaded something, but can't work out how to run it. Can you recommend a website?

November 21st, 2015, 01:10 PM	#10
pigulici Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 131 Thanks: 4,341 Thanked 787 Times in 125 Posts	I use Mageia Linux Kde, it look more like Windows 7(have even a control panel like)... here got to Live Media>Live DVD>KDE Desktop: http://www.mageia.org/en/downloads/ after that, burn the iso on dvd and boot from it...