can't access/delete a directory

[bob]

Hi,


I reinstalled windows XP home in the same directory as the first
installation, but without deleting any other directories. In the first
installation, i had a account 'administrator' with full rights and it's own
directory.

In the new installation, i defined a account as 'administrator' with full
right. In the 'document and settings' i can see those two directories:
administrator and administrator.newnameofmypc.

My problem is that i can't access or delete the directory 'administrator'
even when logged as administrator.

Any idea how to do that?
Thanks
bob

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Bob,

"Access denied" right?

You need to take ownership of the old folders. Right-click the folder,
select properties. Go to the security tab and click advanced. You can take
control of the folders on the owner tab. For the security tab to appear in a
WinXP Pro system, you must disable simple file sharing in the control
panel/folder options/view tab. For a WinXP Home system, you must restart in
safe mode and logon as administrator. More details here:

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP [Q308421]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

An additional note for WinXP Pro users: This procedure will not help you
recover data if the files are encrypted. All you will be able to do is
delete them. To recover encrypted files you will need the original
encryption certificate or a Recovery Agent from the installation under which
they were encrypted. Without one of these, the files are not recoverable.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone