when trying to start my computer I had an error message which i couldnt fix no matter how many tutorials and different ways i tried. dell gave me a new harddrive, but i need to access my old files.

it was recommended to me that i try getting a case for my old harddrive, and then hooking it up to my new one and using it like a removable usb drive, so that i can access my files that i need for school as well as my photos etc. but when i go to access my documents folder, it says i "cannot create or erase file: access is denied" please make sure the file isnt full or write protected". is there any way around this?

please please help, you will save me out huge