Access Denied!

[Guest]

The background: I had a laptop running Windows XP. Then, recently I buggered
up that laptop. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that the hard
disk survived and was mirrored onto a IDE hard disk (which I have installed
on my desktop PC) and I can access the contents of the My Documents folder,
along with application data and local settings for every profile that was set
up on the laptop...except my own!

And therein lies the problem: When in my (not-so-) little part of the hard
disk and try and access any folder other than My Documents (so that's
Application Data, Local Settings, Favorites, Cookies, etc.), I get a kind of
access denied message, presumably because I was the administrator/main
identity/whatever for the operating system and it was passworded. I've got
data stored in some of those inaccessible folders that I'd like to retrieve
(like emails, contacts, etc.) and was wondering how I might go about
retrieving that data.

 

[Sharon F]

The background: I had a laptop running Windows XP. Then, recently I buggered
up that laptop. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that the hard
disk survived and was mirrored onto a IDE hard disk (which I have installed
on my desktop PC) and I can access the contents of the My Documents folder,
along with application data and local settings for every profile that was set
up on the laptop...except my own!

And therein lies the problem: When in my (not-so-) little part of the hard
disk and try and access any folder other than My Documents (so that's
Application Data, Local Settings, Favorites, Cookies, etc.), I get a kind of
access denied message, presumably because I was the administrator/main
identity/whatever for the operating system and it was passworded. I've got
data stored in some of those inaccessible folders that I'd like to retrieve
(like emails, contacts, etc.) and was wondering how I might go about
retrieving that data.

As long as you did not choose to encrypt the data, you can regain access to
the files and folders by taking ownership:

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=308421

 

[gerryR]

Are you logged into the desktop as administrator ?

If so can you right click the folder in question, properties, security,
advanced and then "Take Ownership" ?

then it should let you in I think.
hth
gerryR