Help: XP Permissions/Rights Messed up

[Miso888]

I just noticed my access is all messed up. I cannot access system restore, Windows Explorer, Users (from Control Panel). I am using XP SP2 but it was upgraded from Win 2000 when I installed the O/S a few years ago. The system worked fine until now. I didnt need to make any mods to it. The rights/permissions were previously changed last year when an friend helped me to get some Video editing s/w to run. I noticed the problems when anti-virus software wouldnt uninstall or install. It got worse from there.

I used my laptop (XP) Home to try to change the default settings back file by file. I havent been successful. There are three users setup. Two should have full admin rights, the other does not. But, I also noticed POWERUSER was setup in the profile. I deleted that as I went along.

I tried system restore in both safe mode, command prompt etc. I don't even get a prompt. The rights/permissions have been compromised.

I dont want to do a compete reinstall (cant do the XP repair because of the rights issue). I read somewhere that mmc.exe may help. I tried one template but it didnt help.

I also think my registry is corrupt too since I cant access the USER PROFILE in Control Panel nor System Restore or do a simple search with Windows Explorer.

CAN ANYONE HELP? Thanks

Miso

 

[RebateMonger]

Offhand, it sounds like you don't own your computer anymore.

If it was mine, I'd copy important data to another location and re-install Windows XP. Be sure to install SP2 before hooking it to the Internet.

 

[Miso888]

I figured as much.

I took the hard drive out and connected it to my laptop via drive enclosure. I started deleting away. I didn't realize this, but I have about 100 files or so that are encrypted. Most are pics and some backup of apps. I cant even delete the files.

I downloaded Advanced EFS recovery and it was able to locate the keys supposedly but now, they want $100 to complete the decryption. Any info on how to do this without shelling out money?