Files inaccessable on reinstall

[rb608]

To solve some nagging registry/performance issues, I took a blunt instrument
approach and simply did a reinstall of XP. Mostly everything turned out
fine.

Prior to the reinstall, I had three "Users", one of whom, me, was the
administrator with password protected access. After the reinstall, the two
other user files were accessable, but my files under the password protected
account are not. They're not gone, I just can't get them either through
Windows Explorer or even through the DOS prompt. They clearly exist, but I
get a "Access is denied" error when I click on anything associated with that
prior admin account.

I know the password; how can I re-establish access to my files? (FWIW, when
I reinstalled the OS, I chose a different user name for the administrator,
so the files weren't overwritten.)

Help.

TIA,
Joe

 

[Malke]

To solve some nagging registry/performance issues, I took a blunt instrument
approach and simply did a reinstall of XP. Mostly everything turned out
fine.

Prior to the reinstall, I had three "Users", one of whom, me, was the
administrator with password protected access. After the reinstall, the two
other user files were accessable, but my files under the password protected
account are not. They're not gone, I just can't get them either through
Windows Explorer or even through the DOS prompt. They clearly exist, but I
get a "Access is denied" error when I click on anything associated with that
prior admin account.

I know the password; how can I re-establish access to my files? (FWIW, when
I reinstalled the OS, I chose a different user name for the administrator,
so the files weren't overwritten.)

You simply need to take ownership of the files.

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

How Do I Get the Security tab in Folder Properties? -
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_security_tab.htm


Malke

 

[rb608]

You simply need to take ownership of the files.

That did the trick, thanks a bunch!

Joe F.