Windows 10: Retrieved files from external HD can't be opened - access denied

Hello. I'm new to the Windows forum, as well as new to Windows 10. We were using a Windows 7 desktop that went belly up. Everything was backed up on a WD My Book using their SmartWare program. We decided that it was time to upgrade equipment and OS to Win10, so after initial setup of the new computer, I retrieved all of our old files from the external hard drive to a folder on the new computer. Everything seems to be there, including my Outlook files, which I was able to migrate into the new Outlook after going into Properties=>Security=>Edit=>Add=>Everyone. But no matter what I try I can't seem to get any other files to open. I get all sorts of messages about permissions and proxies and accesses, but nothing will open. I'm just not experienced enough with Windows 10 specifically or Windows in general to figure it out. What am I missing? Thanks.

:)

 

external drive access denied

Hi there --

Thank you very much for the response and guidance. Unfortunately, it did not work.. I was able to follow the directions, even enabled updates, and also restarted the machine, but i still get the same access denied response when trying to open the external
HD.

Thank you again -

 

Retrieving files from external drive

I was able to open the files on the old computer by going to C:\Windows.old as you suggested and found all my documents. I went through the same steps on the Windows 10 computer, re-restored from the backup external drive but no success. When I try to
open the folder it says access to compressed folder is denied. Finally as last resort, I was able to burn all the files from the old onto a cd and this opens on the new computer and am able to open and print the documents. Is there a way I can copy this cd to
the new computer so I don't have to insert the cd each time I have to open one of the older documents? Thanks, DJ

 

external drive access denied

Hello Folks -

I have a toshiba laptop which was installed with windows 8 and has since been upgraded to windows 10. I have a western digital external 2T HD that was running fine; however, the past two days I cannot access the external now that I have updated the OS.
The file explorer view displays the HD on the network but will not let me access.

I've tried all of the responses thus far with no luck. When I right-click on the HD looking to change the security, there is no security tab available for me to choose. When I do that in the quick access view, I get denied access. I've tried modifying
the registry also with no luck. even the WD software "sees" the external, but i cannot expand or access the content.

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time and assistance.

Paul