Question Lost C:\Users\Owner

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

I hate computers.

Needed to copy some browser data from one PC to another. Both running the same version of Win7 (yeah, yeah, I know).

On the destination PC , C:\users\owner only showed some of the basic folders, not ones like AppData, so I could paste into it. Think the folder was hidden somehow, I went into folder Properties and did something, not sure what.

Now, the whole C:\users\owner folder doesn't appear. I can see it in Previous Versions, but the Restore tab is greyed out and won't work.

How do I bring it back and allow access to the sub folders like AppData?

 

[VirtualLarry]

This is the universe's way of telling you to:
1) Restore from back-ups,
2) Upgrade to Win10

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Not helpful.

 

[mikeymikec]

I hate computers.

Needed to copy some browser data from one PC to another. Both running the same version of Win7 (yeah, yeah, I know).

On the destination PC , C:\users\owner only showed some of the basic folders, not ones like AppData, so I could paste into it. Think the folder was hidden somehow, I went into folder Properties and did something, not sure what.

Now, the whole C:\users\owner folder doesn't appear. I can see it in Previous Versions, but the Restore tab is greyed out and won't work.

How do I bring it back and allow access to the sub folders like AppData?

Is there any chance that you simply need to enable the viewing of hidden files in File Explorer? AppData is +h by default.

Also, the only browser I'm aware of that allows a straight file copy of a profile is Firefox. Chrome/Edge: no. For those browsers I would consider either selective exporting of stuff like the passwords list / bookmarks / favourites or use the sync feature to sync it with a cloud account.

The command I would use to transfer data is:

robocopy C:\users\owner externaldrive:\owner /MIR /R:0 /XJ

Normally I exclude some directories too but this'll be a more thorough backup.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Is there any chance that you simply need to enable the viewing of hidden files in File Explorer? AppData is +h by default.

That's what I thought I was doing ... unhiding some folders.

 

[mikeymikec]

Sorry, just re-read the question.

There's also an explorer option to hide operating system files, might be worth unticking that. The other thing I'd do is get a command prompt up, navigate to the root of C:\ and do dir /ad to see if the folder shows up that way.

If Owner was the currently logged in user then it would have thrown a fit at least partway through if you actually tried to delete it.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Needed to copy some browser data from one PC to another. Both running the same version of Win7 (yeah, yeah, I know).

Always do something like that with a bootable disk, either WinPE or some bootable Linux distro. That way, files in use by the OS won't be an issue since the actual Windows won't be running to lock any files.

Maybe you somehow clicked the Hidden checkbox on the Owner folder or something. Anyway, you won't be able to login to the destination PC if the Owner folder is actually gone. If you can login, then it's not gone. So relax.

Run cmd

Type cd \Users and Enter

Type start Owner and Enter

An Explorer window with said folder should open up.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Maybe you somehow clicked the Hidden checkbox on the Owner folder or something.

I did. But I should have been able to unhide it the same way by reversing that attribute. That wouldn't work though.

Show Hidden Files in Organize worked though. At least I can see the folder again including the AppData and others I couldn't see before.