Need help accessing xp admin-only folder on slaved hd

[mlxshadow]

My hard drive stopped booting my old install of XP, probably cause of my power supply, as that died a few days later. I've replaced the power supply, and slaved the old hard drive to a new hard drive running XP. After running a chkdsk /f on the old drive, i was able to access the files, but there's one folder I can't access.

I'm pretty sure I can't access the folder because it was personal files I believe I had set to admin-only access. I've tried to repair the windows installation on the old hard drive and run it again, but I've ran chkdsk and the error checking in the Properties/Tools, as well as tried to repair the installaion with my original XP cd.

AFter trying to repair the installation, the windows scrolling bar screen comes up and scrolls like 10 times until the system resets. That's as far as I've been able to get. I'd greatly appreciate any help. Thanks!

 

[Fardringle]

Assuming that you are logged in with an administrator level account on the computer, following these instructions to take ownership of the folder:

In Windows Explorer, right-click on the folder and left-click on properties.
Click on the Security tab.
Click on the Advanced button.
Click on the Owner tab.
Select your current login ID from the list in the second frame.
Check the box labeled "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects".
Click OK.
Make sure your user name shows up in the top box under "Group or user names" and you have full control rights (click on your name and check the Full Control box in the bottom window), or if your account is a local admin, the account Administrators is fine.
Click OK.
Try to access the folder again.


Two situations where this will not work are:
1) The files are corrupted and can't be read.
2) The files are encrypted, in which case you'll have to use a hacking/encryption tool (I know there are some around but don't know of any specifically) to read the files.

 

[mlxshadow]

When I right click the folder, there's no security tab. It reports the folder as being empty. When I try to open the folder, I get a "folder is not accesible. Access is denied." message. I can access every folder on that hard drive but this one, so I'm not sure whats going on. Thanks for the quick help. I still dont know what to do, though =]

I'm not even completely sure I had it as admin-only, but considering its my personal files with letters and pictures etc., its the only folder that seems unaccessible, and I think I changed its security settings before, its the only thing I can think of. Thanks again for any help.

 

[RebateMonger]

If you are running XP Professional, then DISABLE "Simple File Sharing" in Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/View.....

THEN, do the steps listed above to take ownership of the folder.

If you are running XP Home, you'll have to boot into Safe Mode before you can access the Security tab.

 

[mlxshadow]

Thanks so much guys. I did exactly what you guys recommended and was able to take ownership. Thanks again!