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I have seen this question on the forums a few times, but I don't think I've ever seen a real answer to it.

I just had this situation with a customer's laptop with a corrupted registry, so I played with it until I figured it out. This can be a major problem when trying to retreive your data from a corrupted XP installation or moving your data to a new PC or drive.

Problem: Access denied to data on another drive or previous installation of Windows XP or Windows 2000.
Solution: Take ownership of the directory and files.

Microsoft sums it up better than I can, so I grabbed this article for reference...
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

TIP: Windows XP Home users should boot into Safe Mode as an Administrator. The 'Security' tab will become accessible.


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NOTE: You must be logged on to the computer using an account that has administrative privileges. If you are running Windows XP Home Edition, in order to have access to the Security tab, you must first start in Safe Mode and log on with an account that has Administrative rights.

If you are using Windows XP Professional, you must disable Simple File Sharing. By default, Windows XP Professional uses Simple File sharing when not joined to a domain. For additional information about how to do this, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
307874 HOW TO: Disable Simplified Sharing and Password-Protect a Shared Folder in Windows XP

To take ownership of a folder:
Right-click the folder you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.
Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).
Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
In the Name list, click your user name, Administrator if you are logged in as Administrator, or click the Administrators group. If you want to take ownership of the contents of that folder, click to select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check box.
Click OK. The following message appears, where folder name is the name of the folder that you want to take ownership of:
You do not have permission to read the contents of directory folder name. Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control?

All permissions will be replaced if you press Yes.

Click Yes.
Click OK, and then reapply the permissions and security settings that you want for the folder and its contents.
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How to Take Ownership of a File
NOTE: You must be logged on to the computer using an account that has administrative privileges.

To take ownership of a file, follow these steps:
Right-click the file you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.
Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).
Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
In the Name list click Administrator, or click the Administrators group, and then click OK.

The Administrator or Administrators group now owns the file. To change the permissions on the files and folders under this folder, continue to step 5.
Click Add.
In the Enter the object names to select (examples) list, type the user or group account to which you want to give access to the file. For example, Administrator.
Click OK.
In the Group or user names list, click the account that you want (for example, Administrator), and then click to select the check boxes of the permissions that you want to assign that user. For example, Full Control [Allow]. When you are finished assigning permissions, click OK.

Good tip. Why don't you make it a "Sticky Read"?

thanks for this tip rick. it helped me out getting rid of some useless files that i had on my drives.

What do I do if the security tab does NOT appear?

Because you have to go to windows explorer go under tools - folder options - click on the view tab scroll all the way to the bottom in advanced settings and uncheck the use simple file sharing checkbox...and then your security tab will show up in a minute or so..

Thanks for the advice mate, thats helped me out loads on my problem in another thead.

Thanks, regards. Caine

er..... i dont have that option under folder options....

That means you don't have a home network setup. You will need to run the Network Setup Wizard and let it do its thing. Then you should have that ability.

I've done this a lot on hard drives when hooked up to a 2nd machine, to get data off. Go Microsoft, make it so easy to protect all your data and hide it. Only to make it equally easy for someone to take it right back

i dont see a security tab in file or folder properties, how do i get to security tap? pleae help!

Try reading this thread again.

If you don't have a 'Security' tab.. the easiest way to get one is to simply boot into safe mode (F8 key) and login as your normal user account (or, of you are normally limited for some reason, as the Administrator). From safe mode, you can follow the same steps and there the elusive tab will be.

Wait! Is not that the same as above: "If you are running Windows XP Home Edition, in order to have access to the Security tab, you must first start in Safe Mode and log on with an account that has Administrative rights."

Why yes! Yes it is.

Hi!
Try keeping Ctrl key pressed down, while you right-click on the file/folder. Then click on Properties. This may help.

I have a second HD that I have installed on a new computer with Windows XP Pro. In normal Windows mode, I can see the drive (that has 3 partitions), but all are "Access denied". I understand the need to change the ownership on the old drive, but there is no security tap showing up in normal Windows mode (even with the simple security box unchecked). When I go to Safe Mode to change the ownership there, the drive does not appear in Windows Explorer? Any clues would be greatly appreciated.

dll_guate

I used a variation of that method for XP Home and FINALLY, after four weeks I get into my user name folder...

Now none of the folders in the user file can be accessed...and the steps do not work for it...


Ideas?

I'm not 100% sure with XP Home but when you logon change the way you logon to be able to type in your user name as opposed to clicking on the picture and log on as administrator, see if you can access it then, that way you should still be able to see the drive, although normally to take ownership of and old 2000/XP installation you need to be in safe mode

The problem has taken me six weeks because I desperately tried to recover my desktop...and I finally realized it would never happed...just ordered a new hard drive from TigerDirect and I will run the Restore DVD on it...

I logged on with my screenname instead of "Administrator" and it solved all my problems...it was one of the links in this thread...

Thanks for the help, guys!

Hi Guys. I have some serious computer problems. I used to have this huy I know who builds machines work on my computer. However, I keep having lots of hardware failures when he is done. I am tired of messing with BS and excuses. I ended up having to get a new HD. I installed windows, and it crashed. I installed a different version of windows and it got locked up by a virus called "tray app". Then I re-installed again. NOW I have 3 OS on my computer, I want to access files from the other installs and then combine it into one OS. Also after my HD crashed and I had to re-install windows, I had 2 drives in Raid 0 and would like to know how to get them back to raid? Or if they can see files seperetely of each other.... LOL... YES! I am a chick. And YES! I know that I sound like an idiot, but hey I am a newbie :-)

Well if you just installed 3 different OS' onto a new HDD, then I'd suggest formatting and starting all over. UNPLUG YOUR NETWORK CABLE!! This is important as until you get a firewall and anti-virus setup you won't be subject to crap from the net. Once you have your firewall and anti-virus setup plug in your network cable and go DIRECTLY to Windows Update and get all the updates. After that is done you should be ok.

BTW
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