Win XP Pro security - administrator cannot access others's files?

[Guest]

Hi all.

Well, I'm in a pickle. I have 2 XP pro machines. Both are configured with
multiple accounts for me, my wife, and my children.

PC #2 died a horrible death. I have most of the data backed up, but I've
pulled out the hard drive and attached it to PC #1 in order to pick up the
rest of the files to be sure.

Unfortunately, no matter who logs into PC #1, I am completely unable to
access the files under my wife's Documents and Settings folder. I can access
mine and my children's, but no matter what I do I can't get at my wife's
files.

Even if I log in as administrator, I get access denied.

Her account is configured with no password on either machine.

Oddly, if I log into PC #1 as Administrator, I can't even get at her files
on PC #1's hard drive. I mean, I'm administrator of the whole machine and I
get access denied!

Is there any way to get at those files?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Well, I'm in a pickle. I have 2 XP pro machines. Both are configured
with multiple accounts for me, my wife, and my children.

PC #2 died a horrible death. I have most of the data backed up, but
I've pulled out the hard drive and attached it to PC #1 in order to
pick up the rest of the files to be sure.

Unfortunately, no matter who logs into PC #1, I am completely unable
to access the files under my wife's Documents and Settings folder. I
can access mine and my children's, but no matter what I do I can't
get at my wife's files.

Even if I log in as administrator, I get access denied.

Her account is configured with no password on either machine.

Oddly, if I log into PC #1 as Administrator, I can't even get at her
files on PC #1's hard drive. I mean, I'm administrator of the whole
machine and I get access denied!

Is there any way to get at those files?

As long as EFS is not involved:

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

How to disable simplified sharing & set permissions
on a shared folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307874

 

[Guest]

You might resetting the the securities on the 2nd drive for EVERYONE and see
if that lets you access the files. I was also told that could reinstall XP yo
a different directory I.E. C:\WINDOWS2. That should leave your old files
intact and make the documents retrievable.

Duggan