Recovering old files

[Guest]

Hey, my kid brother downloaded a virus through msn. a file called 'funny.exe'
I dont think it did much, however when i tried to turn my computer on one
day, it wouldn't let me sign in to any of the user names in XP. I was
advised by Advent to try the recovery disk. and thought it would be best to
delete all my files and return to the manufacturer's files. I did that
because i knew that the old system structure could be available on the drive.
it was however, my old files were locked because i put the folder security on
it before. I am simply wondering how an admin account can access a folder
that has been locked by another user? the other user was me, yet when
restarting the system i had to set up a new admin account, so it thinks that
I am another user?
If you are as lost as i am,i am sorry.
please help, I am only 17 so please be gentle
Jamie
Glasgow

 

[Jeff Gaines]

Hey, my kid brother downloaded a virus through msn. a file called
'funny.exe' I dont think it did much, however when i tried to turn my
computer on one day, it wouldn't let me sign in to any of the user
names in XP. I was advised by Advent to try the recovery disk. and
thought it would be best to delete all my files and return to the
manufacturer's files. I did that because i knew that the old system
structure could be available on the drive. it was however, my old
files were locked because i put the folder security on it before. I
am simply wondering how an admin account can access a folder that has
been locked by another user? the other user was me, yet when
restarting the system i had to set up a new admin account, so it
thinks that I am another user? If you are as lost as i am,i am
sorry. please help, I am only 17 so please be gentle
Jamie
Glasgow

Hi Jamie

You need to take ownership of the files, search for 'take ownership' in
the help and support center, copy follows:

To take ownership of a file or folder
Open Explorer, and then locate the file or folder you want to take
ownership of.
Right-click the file or folder, click Properties, and then click the
Security tab.
Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
In the Change owner to box, click the new owner
(Optional) To change the owner of all subcontainers and objects within
the tree, select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check
box.

Then set yourself a password and either set your kid brother up as a
limited user or ask your parents to have him adopted.

 

[Max M.Wachtel III]

funny.exe-worm http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.funner.html
-max

--
Virus Removal Instructions: http://www.geocities.com/maxpro4u/
Keeping Windows Clean: http://www.geocities.com/maxpro4u/madmax.html
Virus Cleaning+Fixes: http://www.geocities.com/maxpro4u/TechPros
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(nomail.afraid.org has been set up specifically for
use in Usenet. Feel free to use it yourself.)

 

[Enzo Stuarte]

What are you doing with a user name on the computer in the first place?
Don't you know it takes longer to boot and you have to enter a user name and
password? Use tweak UI to bypass that useless sign-in process. Second if you
use a recovery cd you will lose all your data so don't use one.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Security, Privacy, the list goes on for a great many as to why a User Name
is appropriate..

Do you know how much is added to the boot time by having a User ID?
Not much at all.

Tweak UI is a great tool but totally unnecessary for what you propose.
Just a few mouse clicks in less than a minute and it is easily accomplished.

 

[Its only me]

Unless you saved the encryption key to a floppy disk or other media, you are snookered. I had the same problem with "my documents" which were on another partition. I had to delete everything. With all this added security XP has, It's strange that this file recovery technique is buried very deep within the help files, but of course is useless to anyone unless you have read it beforehand. Even now with a new installation, I cannot add anyone as a recovery agent. I keep getting the error message # 5.

The trick is DO NOT use file encryption on any files. That's the only thing I can figure out. IF I'm totally up the wrong tree, someone please let me know.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

If you formatted without saving the necessary keys for encrypted data, it is
as good as gone.
You can not designate a Recovery Agent after the fact, this would make EFS
useless.

See the links near the bottom of this page to help protect your data in the
future:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/encrypt.htm