Accessing Docs folder from Windows 10 HP desktop

[WTFHewlPack]

Hi  all.

Windows in my wife's  2018 HP desktop seemed to have major user/account issues just after warranty ran out and now there is an error which won't allow login through the admin user account. I'm attempting to access data on the Windows (10) drive by placing it in a USB docking station connected to my laptop. After changing all the security permissions, normally seeing and accessing all the folders using explorer would be a straight forward process, but apparently HP uses something propriety on their drives which won't let me see all the Windows folders including the data folders like "Documents". Suggestions on how to get around this would be most appreciated. Thanks.

[TheOldMan · Accepted solution]

Assuming there is a permissions problem, then the way to circumvent that is to use a different OS that does not allow those permission problems get in the way.  I typically will use a Live Linux distro such as Linux Mint or Ubuntu.  A Live Linux distro just means that the OS is not running from the hard drive but from a USB stick or DVD.  You can then find the folder you are requesting and move or save the documents to an external source or use the hard drive of the hosting PC without making any changes to the Windows hosting PC, other than the documents.

If you are familiar with any Linux distros, use the one you are familiar with or use one of the ones mentioned. Go the the Linux site and investigate making the Live version and then boot the hosting PC (your laptop) to Linux instead of the Windows OS. Then again use the USB docking station connected to my laptop and explore the hard drive, and save the documents.

There are ways to fix that login error also but we are not allowed to give that info here, but Google is you friend.

[WTFHewlPack]

Thank you TheOldMan. You have been most helpful.  Although I am yet to try it, your solution sounds logical and complication reductive to me, but I haven't looked at anything Linux for many years. I had already tried a web search for the login fix. Any "fix-it solutions" I tried from that search sent me deeper into the rabbit hole and swirling around the drainpipe in an endless loop. Consequently, acknowledging I too am becoming an old man, I am much less prepared to spend extended time on that $hit any more. This is why I swallowed my pride and asked for advice here. 🙂