Accessing documents from old Windows XP Install

[spaceghost21]

The motherboard of my computer died. I replaced it, the CPU and the RAM. I also purchased a new HDD. I installed a fresh install of Windows XP on the new HDD and have the computer setup to boot from that HDD.

When I navigate to the old XP install's Documents and Settings directory on the old HDD I can access some of the of the users old files, but not others. When I attempt to open some users files I get an error message stating "Access denied". For example, I can open "Bob's" old documents folders and transfer his favorites over to the new Windows install, but when I try to open "Joe's" directory I get the error message.

Is there anyway I can access the files from the Windows install? Or do I have to boot from the old HDD and access the files that way. Will the old Windows be able to boot with the new hardware in the computer?

Thanks, any help is much appreciated!

 

[wanderer27]

As long as you have Admin rights and the files are not encrypted, I should think you would be able to access them.

Check the folder privelages and enable access for everyone, that may help.

 

[robisbell]

the account that is giving you "access denied" was encrypted or used a password on the account.

 

[zetsway]

Originally posted by: spaceghost21
The motherboard of my computer died. I replaced it, the CPU and the RAM. I also purchased a new HDD. I installed a fresh install of Windows XP on the new HDD and have the computer setup to boot from that HDD.

When I navigate to the old XP install's Documents and Settings directory on the old HDD I can access some of the of the users old files, but not others. When I attempt to open some users files I get an error message stating "Access denied". For example, I can open "Bob's" old documents folders and transfer his favorites over to the new Windows install, but when I try to open "Joe's" directory I get the error message.

Is there anyway I can access the files from the Windows install? Or do I have to boot from the old HDD and access the files that way. Will the old Windows be able to boot with the new hardware in the computer?

Thanks, any help is much appreciated!

Here's the most easiest way to do this. I ran into the exact same problem when I tried fixing a computer a while back. Actually this happened to me at least 3'x.

Go to google and type in BartPE.
Download it and make a bootable CD.
Once you made the CD, reboot your machine. Boot using that CD you just made.
Once you inside you will be able to copy the files from the old harddrive to the new one.

I would make that CD anyway because it's a needed tool.

If you need some more help post back.

 

[Fardringle]

If it is simply a permissions issue, you can take ownership of the folder using these steps:
Open Windows Explorer and browse to the "Joe's" folder that you want to access on the old drive.
Right click on the folder and select Properties.
In the Properties window click on Security tab then click on the Advanced button.
In the Advanced Settings window click on the Owner tab.
Select the currently logged in user name from the list (or Administrators if your account is in the local Administrators group).
Check the box labeled "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects".
Click Apply to save the ownership changes.
Close the Advanced Settings and Properties windows and try to access the files in Joe's folder again. If you still can't access them then they are probably encrypted.


If the files are encrypted and you don't have the user's private encryption key, then you'll need to boot using the old hard drive, log in as the owner of the folder, un-encrypt the files, then copy them to the new hard drive.

 

[mechBgon]

Also try taking ownership of the directory that's giving you trouble: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

 

[spaceghost21]

Taking ownership for the directory did the trick. Thanks!