Windows 8 Can't open files saved on hard drive from vista to 8.1

[dm12]

My old vista laptop died so I upgraded to a new laptop pre-loaded with 8.1. I tried to load some files including photos from my Seagate hard drive but I get a message to the effect that they are not supported. How can I download the other files?

 

[Joe S]

If you used backup software to back them up you may need that software to retrieve them.
Joe

 

[dm12]

I used the back up option in vista's control panel which is different to file history in 8.1.