Getting into old Documents & Settings from a new OS

[Guest]

Hi,

I'm trying to access the contents of a password protected WinXP account
while running *another* admin-level account - but don't see any way to do it.

Background:

A couple weeks ago, I took an update from Microsoft Update for a blue tooth
device. When installation was complete, I clicked on "Restart" and the OS
failed to load. It chugged away (I saw the opening Microsoft animation), but
when it got to the driver-loading stage the screen went black for a while and
then went blue with an error msg.

I tried to reboot in Safe Mode, and in Last Known Configuration Settings
That Worked, but no dice. Same outcome each time.

I popped in my XP Pro disc, but there's no option to repair my current
installation. So I installed XP again, without erasing the original.

The issue:

I now have a perfectly good, new installation. But I want to access the
contents of my previous Documents & Settings folder. I *see* the folder for
my last installation, but, when I click on it, I get an error message:
"(Folder) is in accessible. Access is denied."

I'm assuming the reason this is locked is that the account was
password-protected.

Finally, the question:

How can I get to a screen that will let me type in my password for my old
account so I can regain access to my Documents and Settings?

Thanks!

- Dylan

 

[Malke]

Hi,

I'm trying to access the contents of a password protected WinXP account
while running *another* admin-level account - but don't see any way to do it.

Background:

A couple weeks ago, I took an update from Microsoft Update for a blue tooth
device. When installation was complete, I clicked on "Restart" and the OS
failed to load. It chugged away (I saw the opening Microsoft animation), but
when it got to the driver-loading stage the screen went black for a while and
then went blue with an error msg.

I tried to reboot in Safe Mode, and in Last Known Configuration Settings
That Worked, but no dice. Same outcome each time.

I popped in my XP Pro disc, but there's no option to repair my current
installation. So I installed XP again, without erasing the original.

The issue:

I now have a perfectly good, new installation. But I want to access the
contents of my previous Documents & Settings folder. I *see* the folder for
my last installation, but, when I click on it, I get an error message:
"(Folder) is in accessible. Access is denied."

I'm assuming the reason this is locked is that the account was
password-protected.

Finally, the question:

How can I get to a screen that will let me type in my password for my old
account so I can regain access to my Documents and Settings?

You don't need to log into the old account. 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

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I'm trying to access the contents of a password protected WinXP
account while running *another* admin-level account - but don't see
any way to do it.

Background:

A couple weeks ago, I took an update from Microsoft Update for a
blue tooth device. When installation was complete, I clicked on
"Restart" and the OS failed to load. It chugged away (I saw the
opening Microsoft animation), but when it got to the driver-loading
stage the screen went black for a while and then went blue with an
error msg.

I tried to reboot in Safe Mode, and in Last Known Configuration
Settings That Worked, but no dice. Same outcome each time.

I popped in my XP Pro disc, but there's no option to repair my
current installation. So I installed XP again, without erasing the
original.

The issue:

I now have a perfectly good, new installation. But I want to access
the contents of my previous Documents & Settings folder. I *see*
the folder for my last installation, but, when I click on it, I get
an error message: "(Folder) is in accessible. Access is denied."

I'm assuming the reason this is locked is that the account was
password-protected.

Finally, the question:

How can I get to a screen that will let me type in my password for
my old account so I can regain access to my Documents and Settings?

You don't.

A google search for the error message you provided along with the operating
system in question would have given you the following answer:

How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
There is important information there dependent on the version of Windows XP

 

[Guest]

Thank you to you both!

You don't.

A google search for the error message you provided along with the operating
system in question would have given you the following answer:

How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
There is important information there dependent on the version of Windows XP

 

[Guest]

... And I wanted to confirm that you both had the solution nailed. Had no
problem taking ownership and that solved everything. Thanks again.

 

[Malke]

.. And I wanted to confirm that you both had the solution nailed. Had no
problem taking ownership and that solved everything. Thanks again.

Glad to hear it. Thanks for taking the time to post back.


Malke

 

[Niniel]

That works even with EFS encrypted files?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<snipped>
Entire thread:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...1/ee24a3a8820979ae?lnk=st&q=#ee24a3a8820979ae

That works even with EFS encrypted files?

Well - sort of. You may have to take ownership of the files in order to
decrypt them using the best practices you should have followed initially -
the backed up key/certificate.

If you didn't follow best practices with EFS - then you jumped into
something without knowing enough about it and chances are VERY HIGH all of
the data you cannot access now (if that is the case) is lost to you
forever - or at the very least for a good amount of time and it will cost
you a significant amount of money to get it back out. In fact, if you try
to get it out without having used best practices it *will* cost you a
significant amount of time (and possibly money) whether or not you are
successful at actually getting the data you have lost.

Best practices for the Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316

How to back up the recovery agent Encrypting File System (EFS) private key
in Windows Server 2003, in Windows 2000, and in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/241201

To clear this up - if EFS is not involved and you are getting the "Access
Denied" message when you attempt to access a certain file/folder *and* your
hardware is all in proper working order - then the following should help you
access said files/folders in Windows XP:

How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
There is important information there dependent on the version of Windows XP
you have.

 

[Niniel]

Ok, cool.
I was more concerned about people gaining access to my EFS files this way
than recoving files myself.