Getting into old Documents & Settings from a new OS

External Since: Nov 21, 2007 Posts: 3

Hi,

I'm trying to access the contents of a password protected WinXP account
while running *another* admin-level account - but don't see any way to do it.

Background:

A couple weeks ago, I took an update from Microsoft Update for a blue tooth
device. When installation was complete, I clicked on "Restart" and the OS
failed to load. It chugged away (I saw the opening Microsoft animation), but
when it got to the driver-loading stage the screen went black for a while and
then went blue with an error msg.

I tried to reboot in Safe Mode, and in Last Known Configuration Settings
That Worked, but no dice. Same outcome each time.

I popped in my XP Pro disc, but there's no option to repair my current
installation. So I installed XP again, without erasing the original.

The issue:

I now have a perfectly good, new installation. But I want to access the
contents of my previous Documents & Settings folder. I *see* the folder for
my last installation, but, when I click on it, I get an error message:
"(Folder) is in accessible. Access is denied."

I'm assuming the reason this is locked is that the account was
password-protected.

Finally, the question:

How can I get to a screen that will let me type in my password for my old
account so I can regain access to my Documents and Settings?

Thanks!

- Dylan

External Since: Nov 01, 2005 Posts: 4098

Dylan1070 wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm trying to access the contents of a password protected WinXP account
> while running *another* admin-level account - but don't see any way to do it.
>
> Background:
>
> A couple weeks ago, I took an update from Microsoft Update for a blue tooth
> device. When installation was complete, I clicked on "Restart" and the OS
> failed to load. It chugged away (I saw the opening Microsoft animation), but
> when it got to the driver-loading stage the screen went black for a while and
> then went blue with an error msg.
>
> I tried to reboot in Safe Mode, and in Last Known Configuration Settings
> That Worked, but no dice. Same outcome each time.
>
> I popped in my XP Pro disc, but there's no option to repair my current
> installation. So I installed XP again, without erasing the original.
>
> The issue:
>
> I now have a perfectly good, new installation. But I want to access the
> contents of my previous Documents & Settings folder. I *see* the folder for
> my last installation, but, when I click on it, I get an error message:
> "(Folder) is in accessible. Access is denied."
>
> I'm assuming the reason this is locked is that the account was
> password-protected.
>
> Finally, the question:
>
> How can I get to a screen that will let me type in my password for my old
> account so I can regain access to my Documents and Settings?

You don't need to log into the old account. You simply need to take
ownership of the files.

Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP [Q308421] -
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421
How Do I Get the Security tab in Folder Properties? -
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_security_tab.htm

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User