XP reinstall = Mydocs lockout.....?

[outofsynch]

Anyone have any idea how to beat the XP/NTFS security?

After reinstalling XP, My 'My documents' folder is listed but 'not accessible' I assume because I appear to be a different user.

However, it obviously hold mountains of much needed docs/photos etc.

Is there a utility or hack to solve this problem? I dont mind paying!

[HelenD]

If you are logged on with administrator privileges you should be able to access the contents of any files on the system. You dont give any details of why you installed (The problem could be related to the reason for the re-install) or whether you gave the user the same name as the old user (Having two users of the same name may have confused the system). If logging on as a user with administrative privaleges cant solve it I dont know what else to check, you may have to pay a specialist data recovery service to get your files back.

[Superpilot]

HeHe, love the DR specialist suggestion. How 'developer'-like - Ouch! :ouch: ...sorry ;)

Highlight the said folder, and go to Properties.

Go to the Security tab >
Click the Advanced button >
Click the Owner tab >
Under 'Change Owner To:' Select the Administrators group>
Tick 'Replace Owner on Subcontainers and Objects'>

Click OK, and OK again

It should go through replacing the owner on the folder. This could take a long time.

After that, go into the properties of the folder again, click the Security tab again.

Click Add, and type in 'Administrators'. Click OK>

Highlight the Administrators group you just added and give it a tick next to Full control.
Click OK.

That should do it.

[Mac the Knife]

Hope you didn't encrypt it. If you did then it's sayonara

[outofsynch]

Thanks superpilot, i thought you had the answer...

except i dont have a 'security' tab nor anything with owner listed.
I have XP home - should I have this tab?

When you say administrator... do you mean anyone with admin priviledge? Or the main admisitrator I get in safe mode?

Thanks for your help. I really need it. I didnt mention, this my docs folder is on my E drive... well away from the C drive where i reinstalled. And no - i dont remember encrypting anything.

[TR4A]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

How to take ownership of a folder
Note You must be logged on to the computer with an account that has administrative credentials. If you are running Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, you must start the computer in safe mode, and then log on with an account that has Administrative rights to have access to the Security tab.

[Saab Dastard]

This is a real pain with XP:

Try this:

To display the Security tab

1.
Open Folder Options in Control Panel.

• Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

• Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.


2.
On the View tab, under Advanced settings, clear Use simple file sharing [Recommended].

[outofsynch]

Thanks to all.. TR4A had the answer... or MS did!

Using Safe mode Adminstartor was the key.

Other access wouldnt show the security tab.

I am sooooo relieved to have My Docs back.. time to get pi55ed!