Need to override Windows user password to access files.. Help!

[Guest]

After receiving the following message on my Sony laptop, I installed another
version of Windows XP and have been able to access my hard drive but not the
data created with the original version of Windows that was preinstalled on
the computer.

'Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\windows\system32\config\system
You can attempt to repair files by starting Windows Setup using original
setup CD-Rom. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.'

The laptop came with Windows XP Home installed and no Windows CD-Rom was
provided. I only have recovery disc which would wipe out all files and reset
to factory default for the computer.

I managed to install and run Windows XP Professional on the laptop as well
as use DOS which suggests to me that the hard drive may not be corrupt. The
problem is although I am able to see the user folders created using the
original Home version of Windows, I am not able to access them or copy them
for back up to CD's because of the password protection of the Windows user
account.

My QUESTIONS...

Is there a way that I can override the password protection of these files so
that I can backup/copy the data to CD and then be able to proceed with
recovery/reset to factory default of the computer?

Would it make sense to go through the expense of obtaining a CD-Rom for
Windows XP Home to attempt to repair the damaged file?

Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated as I have many important
documents/files on the laptop which quite unfortunately were not backed up
and now I am not able to access them.

Thank you.



PS. I just read in another post that
"Backup is a PC User's Best Friend" (quoted from Michael Solomon, MS MVP)
I agree one hundred percent. Just wishing I had not neglected by best
friend so...
(

 

[Sharon F]

After receiving the following message on my Sony laptop, I installed another
version of Windows XP and have been able to access my hard drive but not the
data created with the original version of Windows that was preinstalled on
the computer.

'Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\windows\system32\config\system
You can attempt to repair files by starting Windows Setup using original
setup CD-Rom. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.'

The laptop came with Windows XP Home installed and no Windows CD-Rom was
provided. I only have recovery disc which would wipe out all files and reset
to factory default for the computer.

I managed to install and run Windows XP Professional on the laptop as well
as use DOS which suggests to me that the hard drive may not be corrupt. The
problem is although I am able to see the user folders created using the
original Home version of Windows, I am not able to access them or copy them
for back up to CD's because of the password protection of the Windows user
account.

My QUESTIONS...

Is there a way that I can override the password protection of these files so
that I can backup/copy the data to CD and then be able to proceed with
recovery/reset to factory default of the computer?

Would it make sense to go through the expense of obtaining a CD-Rom for
Windows XP Home to attempt to repair the damaged file?

Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated as I have many important
documents/files on the laptop which quite unfortunately were not backed up
and now I am not able to access them.

Thank you.



PS. I just read in another post that
"Backup is a PC User's Best Friend" (quoted from Michael Solomon, MS MVP)
I agree one hundred percent. Just wishing I had not neglected by best
friend so...
(

As long as the files were not encrypted, you can regain access them by
taking ownership:

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

As far as obtaining an XP CD for repair purposes... some may consider it
overkill but I've always done this with each of my OEM systems. It's an
added expense but sure can simplify some maintenance and repairs.

 

[billyd1970]

After receiving the following message on my Sony laptop, I installed another
version of Windows XP and have been able to access my hard drive but not the
data created with the original version of Windows that was preinstalled on
the computer.

'Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\windows\system32\config\system
You can attempt to repair files by starting Windows Setup using original
setup CD-Rom. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.'

The laptop came with Windows XP Home installed and no Windows CD-Rom was
provided. I only have recovery disc which would wipe out all files and reset
to factory default for the computer.

I managed to install and run Windows XP Professional on the laptop as well
as use DOS which suggests to me that the hard drive may not be corrupt. The
problem is although I am able to see the user folders created using the
original Home version of Windows, I am not able to access them or copy them
for back up to CD's because of the password protection of the Windows user
account.

My QUESTIONS...

Is there a way that I can override the password protection of these files so
that I can backup/copy the data to CD and then be able to proceed with
recovery/reset to factory default of the computer?

Would it make sense to go through the expense of obtaining a CD-Rom for
Windows XP Home to attempt to repair the damaged file?

Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated as I have many important
documents/files on the laptop which quite unfortunately were not backed up
and now I am not able to access them.

Thank you.



PS. I just read in another post that
"Backup is a PC User's Best Friend" (quoted from Michael Solomon, MS MVP)
I agree one hundred percent. Just wishing I had not neglected by best
friend so...
(

How did this all work out for you? I'm going through the same thing
now and am about to install XP Pro to try and get to my files to back
them up (my problem started right in the middle of a backup).

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

This sounds like a file ownership issue related to NTFS. Note, file
ownership and permissions supersede administrator rights. How you resolve
it depends upon which version of XP you are running.

XP-Home

Unfortunately, XP Home using NTFS is essentially hard wired for "Simple File
Sharing" at system level.

However, you can set XP Home permissions in Safe Mode. Reboot, and start
hitting F8, a menu should eventually appear and one of the
options is Safe Mode. Select it. Note, it will ask for the administrator's
password. This is not your administrator account, rather it is the
machine's administrator account for which users are asked to create a
password during setup.

If you created no such password, when requested, leave blank and press
enter.

Open Explorer, go to Tools and Folder Options, on the view tab, scroll to
the bottom of the list, if it shows "Enable Simple File Sharing" deselect it
and click apply and ok. If it shows nothing or won't let you make a change,
move on to the next step.

Navigate to the files, right click, select properties, go to the Security
tab, click advanced, go to the Owner tab and select the user that was logged
on when you were refused permission to access the files. Click apply and
ok. Close the properties box, reopen it, click add and type in the name of
the user you just enabled. If you wish to set ownership for everything in
the folder, at the bottom of the Owner tab is the following selection:
"Replace owner on subcontainers and objects," select it as well.

Once complete, you should be able to do what you wish with these files when
you log back on as that user.

XP-Pro

If you have XP Pro, temporarily change the limited account to
administrative. First, go to Windows Explorer, go to Tools, select Folder
Options, go to the View tab and be sure "Use Simple File Sharing" is not
selected. If it is, deselect it and click apply and ok.

If you wish everything in a specific folder to be accessible to a user,
right click the folder, select properties, go to the Security tab, click
Advanced, go to the Owner tab,
select the user you wish to have access, at the bottom of the box, you
should see a check box for "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects,"
place a check in the box and click apply and ok.

The user should now be able to perform necessary functions on files in the
folder even as a limited account. If not, make it an admin account again,
right click the folder, select Properties, go to the Security tab and be
sure the user is listed in the user list. If not, click add and type the
user name in the appropriate box, be sure the user has all the necessary
permissions checked in the permission list below the user list, click apply
and ok.

That should do it and allow whatever access you desire for that folder even
in a limited account.


--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/