Recovery Data from a Protected NTFS Folder in a corrupt Windows install

[S0me1X]

I have a hard drive that has Windows XP installed but cannot boot at all. I only need some files in the C:\documents and settings\user\desktop. I installed Windows on a second hard drive but that Windows will not let me access the folder I need (says access denied). Also, I tried to do a repair installation of Windows on the unbootable drive, but it didn't work. Anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do?

 

[johnjkr1]

Was the folder password protected or secured? If so, you need to take ownership of the folder to access it

 

[S0me1X]

yes I think it was. How do I take ownership?

 

[Double Trouble]

Assuming you were not using encryption on that folder, you just have to take ownership of the files in question, and then change the file permissions such that you are allowed to access them.

Here's how to take ownership of files or folders. Once you've taken ownership you can change the persmissions to give yourself access to the files/folders. This is how.