How do I access old user accounts?

[Guest]

I had windows xp installed on my computer, then for some reason my dad needed
to reinstall it. He created new user accounts but the old user accounts are
still on the computer under the documents and settings folder. However, my
old account had some folders that I blocked from sharing, so there is no way
for me to open these folders. I had important word documents and other
folders in these folders and no it seems I cannot access it unless I somehow
sign in with the old account. Is there anyway to restore old accounts or
access them in some other way. I'm pretty sure I can't access those unshared
folders without signing in to my old account!!!! Am I stuck?

Josh

 

[Tom]

I had windows xp installed on my computer, then for some reason my dad needed
to reinstall it. He created new user accounts but the old user accounts are
still on the computer under the documents and settings folder. However, my
old account had some folders that I blocked from sharing, so there is no way
for me to open these folders. I had important word documents and other
folders in these folders and no it seems I cannot access it unless I somehow
sign in with the old account. Is there anyway to restore old accounts or
access them in some other way. I'm pretty sure I can't access those unshared
folders without signing in to my old account!!!! Am I stuck?

Josh

Read here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

 

[Rock]

I had windows xp installed on my computer, then for some reason my dad needed
to reinstall it. He created new user accounts but the old user accounts are
still on the computer under the documents and settings folder. However, my
old account had some folders that I blocked from sharing, so there is no way
for me to open these folders. I had important word documents and other
folders in these folders and no it seems I cannot access it unless I somehow
sign in with the old account. Is there anyway to restore old accounts or
access them in some other way. I'm pretty sure I can't access those unshared
folders without signing in to my old account!!!! Am I stuck?

Josh

It is an issue of ownership. Go to Help and Support and type in
ownership, or see this link:

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

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

I had windows xp installed on my computer, then for some reason my
dad needed to reinstall it. He created new user accounts but the old
user accounts are still on the computer under the documents and
settings folder. However, my old account had some folders that I
blocked from sharing, so there is no way for me to open these
folders. I had important word documents and other folders in these
folders and no it seems I cannot access it unless I somehow sign in
with the old account. Is there anyway to restore old accounts or
access them in some other way. I'm pretty sure I can't access those
unshared folders without signing in to my old account!!!! Am I stuck?

Josh

Josh

As long as you did not Encrypt the folders, they should be available by
taking ownership as others here have stated. If they were encrypted and you
did not back up the encryption key, they are lost.