Old files, new need; reward offered

[tw]

Originally Posted by BigV

I have a hard disk drive that was a secondary drive in an old xp system, now long gone. The original computer, and it's boot drive are irretrievably lost.

But I have this secondary drive. It contains many files, especially many pictures. I can see these files, I can browse the directory structure all with no problem. But I can't open any of the picture files. No preview available is the common complaint. I get that in all the image-savvy programs I use. This is bad.

Windows Explorer provides with tools (ie see properties) to see what you do and do not have.

Compression is unlikely to be your problem. Normally Windows identifies the file as compressed and automatically uses the Limpel-Zev-Welsh algorithm to uncompress that file - unbeknown to you.

However files also have ownership restrictions. Are you logged into the new machine using the exact same username on that old machine? Even that can create problems. Then you must do things such as give the directory (folder) proper 'share' privileges.

However first collect information about the files and the directory containing them using Windows Explorer.

Windows has many tools to fix this stuff. They are primitive - intended for those who then learn how things work. Big fancy programs mostly do the same thing - just faster and without the users getting the oppurtunity to first learn.