Solved I can't find some files and docs on external HD

I have a Dell insperon 660 Win10 desktop that can't be updated to Win 11.
I purchased a GeeKom mini with Win 11 and a ORICO Docking station. I removed the HD from the Dell and it is recognized by the GeeKom. However my Microsoft Office 2007 doesn't appear nor any of my Word documents, pdf's or any saved in my Brother printer control center.

I am NOT technically sophisticated and almost 80 years old so please keep advice as simple as possible

If I understand correctly, you have removed the boot (C:) drive from the old Dell and connected it to the new GeeKom PC using an external dock.

The new PC won't be able to run most programs from the old PC using the dock. You'll need to re-install them on the new PC.

I imagine that all of your files are still present, just not appearing with icons associated with the programs that aren't installed.

There are a variety of ways to do what you need. But the cleanest way would be to re-install your software on the new PC. (If your Office 2007 was pre-installed on the Dell, I see a possible problem. There are low-cost Office licenses available online from non-piratical sources, like in links off Guru3D. Office 2019 goes off support in October, if that matters to you. It'd run, just won't get security updates.)

There is third party software (Laplink PC Mover is one) that claims to be able to move software to a new PC, but I've never used any.

If you wish to check your Windows version, type "winver" (without the quotes) in the Windows search box.

I avoid mentioning all of the possible ways of transferring to the new PC. I've probably said too much already.

I keep hearing things about Office going off support. I am still using Office 2010 since I have a license and it does all I need it to do and likely more. When I installed it on my new machine this spring, it got a host of updates from Microsoft. Apparently, there were new updates to Office 2010 to at least 2020 from what I see when I look up the patches that were applied.

Welcome to the forum. From my very brief dealings with Laplink PC Mover someone else had used on his computer a few years ago, it is a good waste of $60.
Reinstall your programs cleanly. MS Ofc 2007 will still work in Windows 11 as long as you have the install cd and registration key.
However, if your old drive is in a dock, you do not have to have Office installed to recover files that were created with Office IF the files were saved to that drive. You only have to have Office installed to open those files (Free office suites like Open Office and Libre Office will also open them.)

NO PROGRAMS CAN BE RUN THRU THE OLD WINDOWS INSTALLATION plugged into the dock. Programs are run from your system drive C:

Was the old Dell using a local or Microsoft account? Is the new Geekom set up with a local or a MS account?
There is a good possibility if using a MS account your files are in Onedrive rather than on that old Dell hard drive.
Knowing all these particulars define where your files are located.

I hope I am not stating the obvious, but I don't see it mentioned here.

Open the Dell HDD in the enclosure and Search for your documents (ie) Search for
*.PDF and *.DOCx (Word documents)

They should be in the now external drives Drives letter (example) Browse to D:\Users\UserName\Documents
Change the drive letter D: in the example to whatever your drives letter is.

Microsoft Office 2007 is no longer supported by Microsoft but will still work if installed , but you may be nagged by Microsoft to upgrade.

Thank you I'll try that

1) on your new pc, do you have adobe reader & microsoft office installed?
2) after installing those 2 programs on your new pc, slave off your dell pc's hdd again and browse for the files. i assume (but could be wrong) that you didnt see them because you were looking for your files visually (looking for the icons rather than filenames)

You are correct I will have to install both

One program that is great for finding files is Everything Search. It's a lightning fast file name search, you can use a search argument like *.DOC* to find all the .DOC and .DOCX files in a flash.

Thank you

1. Is the old drive going to be put back in to the old PC ?

If that is the case then it would be preferable for you to copy all your Documents to a USB flash drive or some other drive. Then copy to the new PC.
You can search the drive for *.PDF and *.DOC files with File Explorer.
That assumes you use the 3/4 letter extension convention for files.

Applications like your PDF Reader and MS Office will need to be installed on the new PC.

No docking station used.

2. Assuming the drive is not going to be put back in the old PC, and is in the docking station.

You will need to take ownership of the relevant folders and files.
This bit is complicated and involves going to Properties > Security Tab and changing permissions.
There are detailed guides for doing this on YouTube or whatever.

This messing around results in the drive not being useable in the original PC without a lot of difficulty.

Applications will need to be installed on the new PC as before.

Obviously Method 1. is much simpler and non destructive.

DumbOldGuy said:

... nor any of my Word documents, pdf's or any saved in my Brother printer control center.

Click to expand...

What exactly does the above mean? I'm not familiar with "Brother printer control center". Does it allow one to somehow save documents in printer control center?

Problem solved. I moved everything I needed to a USB drive and then moved it to the new computer.

Thank you all for the help

Just for reference, I guess you connected your old drive to the new computer and then opened the Documents folder. But this folder is on the new drive, not on the old. To see your documents from the old drive, open D: (or whatever is the old drive) and then Users. You should see your old username and others. Open your username folder. Wait a little to obtain full access rights. Open the Documents folder inside. Ta-da! Your files should be there!