backing up files for Pro reinstall: how to handle user permissions?

[idiotprogrammer]

Hi, I'm going to do a fresh install of XP.

Now I have XP Home and working on a user account.
I want to do a fresh install using a CD for Win xp pro (not restore).
I have serious application problems, some user environment issues and
some stability problems and hardware issues that have appeared over
time. (Also, I now have access to a licensed copy of XP Pro).

I have 3 drives, with one partition per drive. Also, I have a usb hard
drive.

I've done this before, and I've googled a bit before reading, but can't
seem to find an answer to some basic questions.

1. Data on my E drive (owned by USER)--what conditions are necessary
for the NEWUSER (not ADMIN) to take ownership of these files? I could
use the same user name and password. Potential problems?

2. Someone said that if you moved USER/My Documents into c:\oldstuff
(presumably as ADMIN) a new install of Windows XP Pro wouldn't delete
it. Is this right?
http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2109p156id111652.htm

3. If I do step 2, what's the command to reassign ownership of a
directory (recursively) from ADMIN to NEWUSER?

Thanks in advance for your help. I will now go to sleep, praying that
the XP guardian angels in different time zones will work their magic.

Robert Nagle
http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/
Houston, Texas

 

[idiotprogrammer]

Someone said that if you moved USER/My Documents into c:\oldstuff

(presumably as ADMIN) a new install of Windows XP Pro wouldn't delete
it. Is this right?

an interesting followup question about that last question: if this
correct, what is the rationale for this? (Why would the install CD not
want to erase the partition altogether for total reinstall?)

 

[Rock]

Hi, I'm going to do a fresh install of XP.

Now I have XP Home and working on a user account.
I want to do a fresh install using a CD for Win xp pro (not restore).
I have serious application problems, some user environment issues and
some stability problems and hardware issues that have appeared over
time. (Also, I now have access to a licensed copy of XP Pro).

I have 3 drives, with one partition per drive. Also, I have a usb hard
drive.

I've done this before, and I've googled a bit before reading, but can't
seem to find an answer to some basic questions.

1. Data on my E drive (owned by USER)--what conditions are necessary
for the NEWUSER (not ADMIN) to take ownership of these files? I could
use the same user name and password. Potential problems?

It doesn't matter if you use the same user name and password. What is the
E: drive? Is the data in a subfolder of \Documents and
Settings\<Username>folder? If this is a separate drive and the data is not
in the user profile folder then should be able to access the data directly.
Otherwise take ownership of it.

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

How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308418/en-us

2. Someone said that if you moved USER/My Documents into c:\oldstuff
(presumably as ADMIN) a new install of Windows XP Pro wouldn't delete
it. Is this right?
http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2109p156id111652.htm

Well the very first sentence of that article gives me some doubt about the
technical expertise of the author. It states windows looses stability with
time and you need to do a reinstall "from scratch" after a couple of years.
This just plain isn't true with XP. I have this system running for 3+ years
and have done much with it including multi-boots with beta testing Vista. A
properly maintained XP system using a drive imaging program to save images
before you make major changes will not need this.

But to your question, this tip deals with keeping your data during a repair
install, not a clean install. I gather from your post that you are going to
do a clean install. This removes removes all data and programs on that
partition. So skip that tip, backup the data and restore what you need to
after the OS is installed.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

3. If I do step 2, what's the command to reassign ownership of a
directory (recursively) from ADMIN to NEWUSER?

I'm not sure what distinction you're making between NEWUSER and ADMIN. Each
installation of XP has a built in Administrator account (that is the account
name). This account should not be used for day to day activities. Set a
strong password on it and then keep this account aside to be used in case
something damages the normal working account.

Create at least one other account with admin level privileges, and if you
want, create other, limited user accounts. Then use one of those accounts
for day to day activities.

 

[Jim]

Hi, I'm going to do a fresh install of XP.

Now I have XP Home and working on a user account.
I want to do a fresh install using a CD for Win xp pro (not restore).
I have serious application problems, some user environment issues and
some stability problems and hardware issues that have appeared over
time. (Also, I now have access to a licensed copy of XP Pro).

I have 3 drives, with one partition per drive. Also, I have a usb hard
drive.

I've done this before, and I've googled a bit before reading, but can't
seem to find an answer to some basic questions.

1. Data on my E drive (owned by USER)--what conditions are necessary
for the NEWUSER (not ADMIN) to take ownership of these files? I could
use the same user name and password. Potential problems?

As I understand your statements, you have a C drive which contains Windows,
a D drive, and an E drive.
It is advised to disconnect all devices not needed for a new installation.
Thus, you should disconnect D and E before proceeding with the install.

2. Someone said that if you moved USER/My Documents into c:\oldstuff
(presumably as ADMIN) a new install of Windows XP Pro wouldn't delete
it. Is this right?
http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2109p156id111652.htm

Sorry, no. A clean install will delete everything on your C drive. You
should move everything that you want to keep to either of the other drives
first.

3. If I do step 2, what's the command to reassign ownership of a
directory (recursively) from ADMIN to NEWUSER?

Do not use the Administrator account. However, after you finish with the
clean install, you need to create an account which is a member of the
administrators group and an account which is a member of the users group.
Use these two accounts for all tasks. Help & Support has an article which
describes in great detail how to take ownership of files and folders.