restricted file access

[dobbsie71]

hi guys....i protected some files on my pc to restrict access to my
login,then major problems with my pc ending up with me reloading windows
(windows xp pro)since then i cannot view or play these files and they are
real important,any ideas????..cheers dave

 

[John John - MVP]

How exactly did you protect these files? If you used the native Windows
encryption (EFS) and if you didn't back up and keep a copy of your
encryption key (or appoint a recovery agent) your files are forever lost.

John

 

[Shenan Stanley]

i protected some files on my pc to restrict access to my
login,then major problems with my pc ending up with me reloading
windows (windows xp pro)since then i cannot view or play these
files and they are real important,any ideas????

Dave,

Might want to share with us what *you* mean when you say you cannot 'view or
play these files'...

For example - do you get a message on-screen when you try? Is it something
you can reproduce (type out verbatim) here?

I'll take a first guess (and hopefully this is correct) that you get an
"Access Denied" message. As long as EFS is not involved - that's simple to
remedy:

How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
There is important information there dependent on the version of Windows XP.

Now - if you protected these files with EFS and did not backup as best
practices suggests - your files are basically lost to you.