Reinstalled XP, now can't access files.

[Krycheck]

I had problems with some corrupted file problems with XP so I tried what I thought was a recovery install of Windows but instead I got a new installation. Now I can't access My Documents folder and about 500mb of files. Some are of no real use but I'd like to get some back.
How can I get these files back? I tried accessing them with Knoppix but I got permission errors (due to the ntfs I guess) when I tried to copy them.
Any suggestions?

[Sunrise]

Could you describe what you mean by you can't access them more accurately please.

[losthellhound]

When you try to access the files, either by opening them or copying them, can you copy down the error? As well, is this XP home or XP professional? Do you have "local administrator" rights?

[Krycheck]

My bad.
Ok, more info:
XP error : "C:\Documents and Settings\Krycheck is not accessible. Access is denied." And this is while logged on as administrator on XP Pro. I also get the same error on Win2k Pro(dual boot). On the previous install, "Krycheck" was a admin account. Now I'm not entirely sure but I may have set permissions on that folder for admins only.
As for the linux error I'll have to pop in the Knoppix cd later on.

[Sunrise]

You didn't do anything special like use xp's encryption or whatever it is did you ?

[Shauk]

oh I had this problem, its not TOOO hard to fix, but definately not for people who are unfamiliar with XP

I also posted on this but I found my own answers.

I will just find the posts I made on another forum and xpost it here. maybe you can make sense of it then.

Ok please read this slowly so I dont lose you

98 was installed on my C drive
XP was installed on my D drive

I removed the C drive
D drive is now C drive

XP is now on C drive

XP was installed on an inactive partition and could not boot without the assistance of the OLD C drive boot menu.

So I made the XP drive into an active partition using the FDISK command.
turns out was missing files needed to boot without assistance, so I reinstalled XP OVER my old xp.

fast foward

everything is all up and running.

however I had my user profile "James" and user profile "Amanda"

James was an admin account
Amanda was a general account

My files under the "James" profile, are still there taking up hard drive space, however I cannot access the folder C:\Documents and Settings\James\

I get "Access is denied"

what do I do to fix this?

ive tried logging into safe mode on admin rights and still no dice.

ok....
before the XP load screen comes up but after the bios posts

you need to jam on "F8" (I just hit it over and over and over till it works) but yeah a menu will come up,


choose to boot into safe mode.

log in as administrator (an option you wont normally get) (you do remember the password you used to setup xp right?)

go to the offending folder thats locking you out, right click on it, and click the "security" tab

there is where my memory gets a little foggy
but I think at this point there should be a list of people/groups with permissions, you go into the advanced tab and under that there will be an ownership tab (lotsa tabs, very confusing area)

I checked my main account and saw that I had permissions for "administrator", "user", and "system"

so I added full access for all 3 of those groups to the folder I couldnt access before.

I can get into it now, but none of the files will open, again when I try to open a file it says access is denied.

frustrating, and ive been back thru this process about 4 times already and I keep adding more and more permissions to that folder and to my main account.. I dont know whats keeping me from getting it back

it even gives me an access denied when taking ownership (but only on a very few files, not the ones that are taking up my space)

this is really frustrating because I have about 10 hours worth of sets that I recorded of my mixing in there, along with my freakin 3 page RESUME that I worked my ass off on.

whoot, worked this time, I just put it back under ownership of administrator instead of administrators

plus i checked this box about inheriting permissions to each child (I guess that might have helped too but I really cant be 2 sure which one of the above things actually did it.

[Krycheck]

Shauk, you are my hero!!

I booted up to safe mode and via admin I took ownership of the files.

Thanks man!!

I should have known this, I was certified in Win2k over a year ago. But I guess this is what happens when you don't practice what you learn.

[Sunrise]

lol win2k certified and you didnt know.. shame on yuo :P

[Shauk]

Originally posted by Krycheck
Shauk, you are my hero!!

heheh sorry i just wanted to quote that.. it made me feel all super and stuff.

Im a computer geek too. we gotta watch out for eachother! :P

[Krycheck]

Originally posted by Sunrise
lol win2k certified and you didnt know.. shame on yuo :P

Like I said. I don't practice it except only when I have problems. Then I forget!!!