c:\Document and Settings\myname is not accessible......Access is denied.

[gljunior]

I have Windows XP Home on my computer and for some reason.........I
just could not log onto my computer because it could not recognize my
password (which bewilders me to this day) I have the computer for the
past 1 year and all other computers I have been using the same password
and I am the only person using my laptop). Anyways, I did an additional
installation of Windows so now I have two-(2) Windows installations. I
am now trying to access the original "My Documents" folder and cannot
because it says access denied......

Oh, if I try to load the original windows, it say <Windows
Root>/System32/hal.dll is missing or corrupt and should be
re-installed..........

I have been through the Recovery CD and such and had no luck.....My
personal and business related files are very important and I need
accessing them......I cannot change permissions of the folder, I cannot
copy or move the folder because it says "Cannot create or Replace
"myname": Access Denied......Make Sure the disk is not full or
write-protected and that the file is not currently in use".

I have a 80 GB hard drive and now space is running out when I am trying
to do thing under the new Windows Installation which I have running
from the folder <WINDOWS1>. Now I am tempted to delete files and
programs using a very improper way since I cannot use the proper method
given my problems in order to make more space available.

I really need some free help here as to how I proceed........I would
really appreciate it.

Junior

 

[AZGLI]

Step 1 - throw away XP Home and get Pro.

Step 2 - Do a repair installation on your original XP installation.
This should take care of the problems you have with access and with
hal.dll.

Step 3 - Delete the second installation of XP.

I just had this problem with my laptop and that is what I had to do.
the difference is that I used Pro, so I could change the permissions of
the folders and such. I am not sure you can do that with Home, so I
can't say this will absolutely work.

HTH.

 

[Nepatsfan]

(e-mail address removed),

I have Windows XP Home on my computer and for some
reason.........I just could not log onto my computer because
it could not recognize my password (which bewilders me to
this day) I have the computer for the past 1 year and all
other computers I have been using the same password and I am
the only person using my laptop). Anyways, I did an
additional installation of Windows so now I have two-(2)
Windows installations. I am now trying to access the
original "My Documents" folder and cannot because it says
access denied......

Oh, if I try to load the original windows, it say <Windows
Root>/System32/hal.dll is missing or corrupt and should be
re-installed..........

I have been through the Recovery CD and such and had no
luck.....My personal and business related files are very
important and I need accessing them......I cannot change
permissions of the folder, I cannot copy or move the folder
because it says "Cannot create or Replace "myname": Access
Denied......Make Sure the disk is not full or
write-protected and that the file is not currently in use".

I have a 80 GB hard drive and now space is running out when
I am trying to do thing under the new Windows Installation
which I have running from the folder <WINDOWS1>. Now I am
tempted to delete files and programs using a very improper
way since I cannot use the proper method given my problems
in order to make more space available.

I really need some free help here as to how I
proceed........I would really appreciate it.

Junior

In order to recover your files from the previous installation
you need to take ownership of the files and give your user
account full control permissions. Take a look at these articles
for more info:

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

"Access is Denied" Error Message When You Try to Open a Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810881

Note: Since you're running Windows XP Home Edition, you
must start the computer in safe mode, and then log on with an
account that has Administrative rights to have access to the
Security tab. To start in Safe Mode, reboot your computer and
start tapping the F8 key as soon as you see anything displayed
on the screen. Keep hitting F8 until the Advanced Startup
Options menu appears. Use the up and down arrow keys on your
keyboard to select Safe Mode. Hit Enter.

Based on this statement, "My personal and business related
files are very important and I need accessing them". I would
strongly suggest that once you recover your files you back them
up to CD or DVD.

Here's some info that might help you recover some of your lost
hard drive space:

Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP.
#20 I have two installations of XP on the same partition.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#20

Courtesy of Microsoft
How to remove a second installation of a Windows operating
system from a partition
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=888023

Good luck

Nepatsfan