Fixing Orphaned Files after OS Refresh

[Guest]

Does anyone know how to get access to files that became orphaned from an
incorrectly completed OS refresh?

I'm trying to help this guy who had a prob with his PC, so before asking
anyone, he started an OS refresh, but he did not complete it properly. Now, I
can see the folders, and even files in parts of the PC, but trying to access
the files to move or copy them, all I get is an "unable to access" error
message. Going in as administrator doesn't work at all, and even the one time
I made it in, I still could not access the files.

His PC is a Win XP Home PC, drive is NTFS formatted. I pulled his drive out
and tried accessing his files through a USB external hard drive box, but I
still get the same error message. I think he orphaned his Owner account files
when he tried the refresh, so the question is whether there is any way to
pull those files out, so that we can wipe the drive and rebuild the OS and
then replace his files. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

-George B

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Access is Denied" Error Message When You Try to Open a Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810881

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Does anyone know how to get access to files that became orphaned from an
| incorrectly completed OS refresh?
|
| I'm trying to help this guy who had a prob with his PC, so before asking
| anyone, he started an OS refresh, but he did not complete it properly. Now, I
| can see the folders, and even files in parts of the PC, but trying to access
| the files to move or copy them, all I get is an "unable to access" error
| message. Going in as administrator doesn't work at all, and even the one time
| I made it in, I still could not access the files.
|
| His PC is a Win XP Home PC, drive is NTFS formatted. I pulled his drive out
| and tried accessing his files through a USB external hard drive box, but I
| still get the same error message. I think he orphaned his Owner account files
| when he tried the refresh, so the question is whether there is any way to
| pull those files out, so that we can wipe the drive and rebuild the OS and
| then replace his files. Does anyone have any ideas?
|
| Thanks,
|
| -George B