Recovering files from a crash

Had a gateway One , windows vista premium , 32 bit . Totally crashed , repair shop couldn't get it going again . Bought an external drive , Dynex hard drive enclose and it work . Mostly . I am trying to recover some personal files my wife and I had , they were hidden in computer , windows and as I remember you had to click on advanced to see the files in the folder(so my niece who visits couldn't find them by accident) . When I try to open the folder , it says empty , no files , but it does have a large file space in properties . How can I get this to read?

Welcome
The best method is to use Ubuntu
Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer
After you are up and running, use Macrium to back up once a month. It has saved me more than once
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download
All suggestiions are free. If you are required to pay at any point post and we will find the free version

Sorry I didn't get back with more info , turns out my wife is pregnant-with twins , been quite a roller coaster ride lately . Anyway , the problem is getting into the folder , I have a Dynex hard drive enclosure , which gets me to the file folder , however it shows as empty-but it does show a size of several hundred mb , so the files are still there , just cant open up the folder to read them . Thanks again .


]Welcome
The best method is to use Ubuntu
Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer
After you are up and running, use Macrium to back up once a month. It has saved me more than once
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download
All suggestiions are free. If you are required to pay at any point post and we will find the free version[/QUOTE]

First, Congrats I really wish you the best of luck.
Now back to business. I understand your problem, but still feel if you use Ubuntu, you will be able to get to those files.