Lost directory access - Access Denied

[Guest]

I tried to do an upgrade instalation of Windows and it failed and went into a
infinate loop of crashes, so I was forced to format and re-install from
scratch Windows Media Centre 2004. No problem there. I had most of my
important data on another partition.

Unfortunately one of the directories on the other partition has refused to
give me access. At some point in the past I shared out the directory above it
across my internal network but restricted this particular folder so that it
could only be accessed from the PC it was on. It denied access to other
PCs/users accross the network. I can't remember how I did that, but it worked
fine for ages with the system automatically logging in without asking for a
password.

I'm logging in with the same user name and network name. I have tried
logging in with and without my password. I've tried logging in as the
Administrator, despite my main user account being for the administrator too,
and no luck. I can't copy it, move it, rename it, access it, or even delete
it (and it's very big). I'd rather not lose it but it's looking like my only
solution, to even delete it, is to format the partition. Has anyone got any
ideas how to tackle this before I get drastic and lose the lot?

 

[jg]

take ownership of the problem directory, make sure ownership applies to
subdirectory and files, and then go back in and change permission