Windows 7
Windows 7

Yikes! I can't open my files!

I just upgraded my Windows 7 home edition to Windows 7 professional and I restored all my documents and PDF's to the "my documents" folder. However, I can't open some of my documents. I get the message (see graphic).. How do I fix this?

I created this pc. Am I not the administrator? What am I missing here?

brothertruffle880Asked: 2015-07-20

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LVL 33

Scott CSenior Systems EnginerCommented: 2015-07-20

Is the machine now domain joined? It's obviously a permissions issue.

When you restored the data back how did you do that? Did you use a backup/restore program or a simple copy.

You can try booting with a live distro of Knoppix and access your files.

http://knoppix.net/

You should be able to copy them off and try copying them back. Don't use a backup program. Just the file manager.

brothertruffle880Author Commented: 2015-07-20

No domain.
It's just my home.
I did a restore from the Windows 7 backup/restore.

LVL 33

Scott CSenior Systems EnginerCommented: 2015-07-20

That shouldn't have messed up the permissions. Try my suggestion of booting with Knoppix and copying the files to something like a USB drive. Also you might want to create a new Windows profile.

Then boot to Windows and COPY the files back. Don't move them. That way the files will come back with none of the permissions they might have had before.

I've used Knoppix for years to get data from machines where the user has forgotten their password. As long as the drive isn't encrypted you will be able to get to all of your files.

Why did this happen? Don't know, but this should fix you right up.

brothertruffle880Author Commented: 2015-07-20

STRANGE! I just checked my pc's user account profile and I am an administrator. This is strange. The administrator can't open a file?????

LVL 33

Scott CSenior Systems EnginerCommented: 2015-07-20

It's possible the permissions got messed up during the backup/restore.

Try my suggestion with one or two files you can't open to see if it works.

brothertruffle880Author Commented: 2015-07-20

There are no messed up permissions.
My user name on the new pc is different than my old.
Perhaps that's it?

LVL 33

Scott CSenior Systems EnginerCommented: 2015-07-20

That could very well be it. And that would mess up the permissions.

My solution would correct. I work on many personal computers and this process has never failed me.

LVL 48

noxchoGlobal Support CoordinatorCommented: 2015-07-20

You need ro take ownership of these files. As they were imaged they belonged to different user and you restored them to the new user.
See here how: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html

LVL 33

Scott CSenior Systems EnginerCommented: 2015-07-20

Here are the steps to take ownership.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Cc753659.aspx

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