How do I retrieve protected files on a relocated hard drive?

[Guest]

My computer became uneconomically broken. It had been running XP SP2 and I
had reformatted the hard disc as NTFS so that I could paswod protect some of
my files. I have purchased a cheap new machine with its own OEM version of
XP and transferred all the 'goodies' from my old machine into it, including
the large hard drive. Now, if I boot up using the 'new' version of XP, I
cannot acccess the protected files on the old drive, even though I am using
the same name and password. I guess this is because the 'old' My Docs folder
is not recognised as being the 'official' My docs folder by the new XP. If I
try to boot up using the original XP on the old drive it wants to re-activate
it and of course Microsoft don't allow that as it was OEM for the old machine
(I have no XP discs). Is there any way I can get access to my locked files
without having to buy XP and install it over the old OEM version on the old
hard drive, as Microsoft suggest?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Tim;
Take Ownership, #9 on this link:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/adsecurity.htm

Are you sure Microsoft suggests buying another Windows XP to take care of
this? Where did you get this information?

 

[John Wunderlich]

My computer became uneconomically broken. It had been running XP
SP2 and I had reformatted the hard disc as NTFS so that I could
paswod protect some of my files. I have purchased a cheap new
machine with its own OEM version of XP and transferred all the
'goodies' from my old machine into it, including the large hard
drive. Now, if I boot up using the 'new' version of XP, I cannot
acccess the protected files on the old drive, even though I am
using the same name and password. I guess this is because the
'old' My Docs folder is not recognised as being the 'official' My
docs folder by the new XP. If I try to boot up using the original
XP on the old drive it wants to re-activate it and of course
Microsoft don't allow that as it was OEM for the old machine (I
have no XP discs). Is there any way I can get access to my locked
files without having to buy XP and install it over the old OEM
version on the old hard drive, as Microsoft suggest?

You don't say how you "password protect" your files. If you are
doing this by using the Encrypted File System (EFS), then unless you
have backed up your certificates you have no choice other than to
reactivate your old system and extract the certificate. Creating an
identical login/password user on a new system will generate a new
and different SID which is used to encrypt the file using EFS. For
more info on this, refer to the following Microsoft article:

"Best practices for the Encrypting File System"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316/en-us>

paying particular attention to the section "Why you must back up
your certificates".

I would recommend the freeware program "Truecrypt" as a replacement
for EFS as it only requires a password for access and files are
easily transported from system to system -- even securely accessible
as a networked drive.

<http://www.truecrypt.org>

HTH,
John

 

[Guest]

I was told by the operative on the UK Microsoft Technical helpline that
theycould not do anything unless I had an XP disc, an I would just have to go
and buy one. i assumed that installing it overthe existingversion would be
the suggested answer if I had one.

I will try the link, thanks.

 

[Guest]

You don't say how you "password protect" your files. If you are
doing this by using the Encrypted File System (EFS), then unless you
have backed up your certificates you have no choice other than to
reactivate your old system and extract the certificate. Creating an
identical login/password user on a new system will generate a new
and different SID which is used to encrypt the file using EFS. For
more info on this, refer to the following Microsoft article:

"Best practices for the Encrypting File System"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316/en-us>

paying particular attention to the section "Why you must back up
your certificates".

I would recommend the freeware program "Truecrypt" as a replacement
for EFS as it only requires a password for access and files are
easily transported from system to system -- even securely accessible
as a networked drive.

<http://www.truecrypt.org>

HTH,
John

John

I simply used the 'Make this folder private' tickbox under Properties /
Sharing after right clicking on the folder name. As the machine has multiple
users all with their own paswords, it would subsequently let only me access
that folder.

Tim

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The link in my other post is the correct solution.
Reinstalling Windows with the CD will result in the identical problem.
You or the Microsoft tech probably misunderstood each other.

 

[Guest]

Anyway, it worked, despite Packard Bell having another use for f8 at logon!

Many thanks

 

[phillip maurice nelson]

click on start then click run then type :
/scannow then press enter.

also go to your command prompt & type: sfc /? enter
or just type sfc then enter.

 

[phillip maurice nelson]

go to command prompt & type: ftp, then enter

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

You did not quote even a portion of the post you responded again.
This meaning of your post, as others of yours, is lost without the context
of the previous post.

 

[phillip maurice nelson]

if you want to retrieve files from a relocated
hard drive, if it's in another computer then find &
open the command prompt & type: ftp/? press enter.
if this does not work then there is : sfc/? press enter.

 

[phillip maurice nelson]

find & open the command prompt & type:ftp/? press enter

or type:sfc/? press enter.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Phillip;
The meaning of your post is lost since you chose not to quote any part of
the previous post.
When responding, it is customary to quote at least the relevant parts to
prevent this kind of issue.