Can't get my files from HD1 - WinXP Pro - NTFS

[Kenny]

I have 2 hard drives, I installed XP on both. I brought both of them home to use on a different computer. I thought I could just plug it in and it would boot so I would be able to use the computer, but it wouldn't even get to the loading screen.

In HD1, I have all my files there; HD2 is just a backup OS just in case I need to use it. I reinstalled on HD2, but the files on HD1 are needed from its C:

However, I can't boot onto this OS. I know my password and everything but I just can't get access to the files due to NTFS. I totally forgot to save my security key.

I need files from HD1, how would I go about doing this?

 

[AndyHui]

If you encrypted them, then you will either need to login with the account on the OS installation that you encrypted the files with, or restore a backup of the encryption key.

If you did NOT encrypt them, you need to log in as Administrator and take control of the files.

 

[13black]

If you are lucky you may be able to boot into safe mode. Since you installed on a different PC than the one you are tying to use them in, all the drivers for hardware are different. Windows will try to load the drivers for the wrong hardware and not load the ones it needs to work. It will just chock on boot up.

 

[Kenny]

Took AndiHui's advice and got it all sorted out. Thank goodness none of the files were encrypted. Thanks!