XP system files access problem on Vista

[Lady'Oaks]

This probably came up here several times, but frankly, nothing worked.
I have a drive with Vista Home Premium installation, and several other
with various versions of XP. They are completely independent drives
(no dual boot/install), all bootable with their own respectable os.

The problem is I need access to XP system files - like boot.ini - from
Vista, all because of various security issues (otherwise I would just
boot XP drive and be done with it). Access as in 'read'. I don't need
to copy, delete or modify those files, but I really need to open them.
Even taking ownership of those files did not allow me to do so.

So, the question is how can I browse XP system files from the
independent hd using Vista? (or how add myself as the 'creator' of
those files).

I'll appericiate any help.

 

[Larry Maturo]

Doesn't Vista have a slightly different version NTFS
than XP? Could this be the cause of the problems?

-- Larry Maturo

 

[Lady'Oaks]

As far as I know, that's not an issue here. There's access to
everything on the XP based drives (even some XP only oddities) but not
to the system files. I can do whatever I want with non-system data.

 

[Larry Maturo]

What are you trying exactly, and what results exactly do you get? For
example, have you tried opening them in Notepad? If so, do you get
an error message?

-- Larry Maturo

 

[Alun Harford]

This probably came up here several times, but frankly, nothing worked.
I have a drive with Vista Home Premium installation, and several other
with various versions of XP. They are completely independent drives
(no dual boot/install), all bootable with their own respectable os.

The problem is I need access to XP system files - like boot.ini - from
Vista, all because of various security issues (otherwise I would just
boot XP drive and be done with it). Access as in 'read'. I don't need
to copy, delete or modify those files, but I really need to open them.
Even taking ownership of those files did not allow me to do so.

So, the question is how can I browse XP system files from the
independent hd using Vista? (or how add myself as the 'creator' of
those files).

I'll appericiate any help.

You need to take ownership of the files.

Firstly, you have to be an administrator.
Then right-click on the file (or folder) and choose "Properties"
Go to "Security"
Choose "Advanced"
Go to "Owner"
Choose "Edit"
Select your account
Press OK.
Press OK to the next dialog.
Then set up the security on the file as you want it (provide
'Administrators' with full access, perhaps).

Alun Harford

 

[Lucvdv]

This probably came up here several times, but frankly, nothing worked.
I have a drive with Vista Home Premium installation, and several other
with various versions of XP. They are completely independent drives
(no dual boot/install), all bootable with their own respectable os.

The problem is I need access to XP system files - like boot.ini - from
Vista, all because of various security issues (otherwise I would just
boot XP drive and be done with it). Access as in 'read'. I don't need
to copy, delete or modify those files, but I really need to open them.
Even taking ownership of those files did not allow me to do so.

So, the question is how can I browse XP system files from the
independent hd using Vista? (or how add myself as the 'creator' of
those files).

I'll appericiate any help.

Being owner isn't enough by itself, but once you're owner you can
change the file permissions to your heart's desire. Doesn't that
solve it?

 

[Lady'Oaks]

What are you trying exactly, and what results exactly do you get? For

example, have you tried opening them in Notepad? If so, do you get
an error message?
-- Larry Maturo

Notepad and several other. It just shows general 'Access denied'
message.

You need to take ownership of the files.
Alun Harford

It didn't work, even from under the command line, sadly. If it only
were that easy, I wouldn't ask. But thank you anyway

 

[Lady'Oaks]

Being owner isn't enough by itself, but once you're owner you can
change the file permissions to your heart's desire. Doesn't that
solve it?

No. The XP disk itself, and the files in question, had their
permissions
changed before and after taking ownership. Nothing happened. At this
point I would even try to reinstall Vista (but it would take a couple
of days
since the security issues would require other tech to make the
install)
or just access those files from the XP itself, which I'm not allowed
to do.
Now I would be happy even with some program bypassing security in
Vista.
(which, as ironic as it seems, I'm cleared to do).

 

[Alun Harford]

It didn't work, even from under the command line, sadly. If it only
were that easy, I wouldn't ask. But thank you anyway

Note that just taking ownership of the files isn't enough - you need to
take ownership AND then set permissions. (You snipped the most important
part of my post)

Alun Harford