Windows XP Pro - Multi-User Account PC Crashed

gtd2000

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
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OK here is the story...

My mum's monitor failed (unknown to her) and was turning the PC on and off all the time and eventually (she assumed it was the PC at fault) when a new monitor was hooked up it turned out that Windows was hosed :(

I ended up installing Windows on the same partion in dual boot fashion to preserve the user account documents and all is well as far as my mothers old user account is concerned on the original installation which can be accessed through Explorer as she did not use a password to access it.

Now my old account has a user password which I cannot enter and there does not appear to be any way I can do this? I just keep getting denied access to my old account.

Any tips of how to get into my old account and transfer my files to the new installation?

Thanks in advance :)
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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1) boot up in Safe Mode on the new installation

2) right-click the old \Documents and Settings\username folder and choose Properties > Security tab

3) click the Advanced button

4) put a checkmark in Replace owner on subcontainers and objects and give Ownership to one of your new install's accounts, as shown in this screenshot

5) click OK and take a snack break while it gets it sorted :)
 

gtd2000

Platinum Member
Oct 22, 1999
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Thanks for that - finally got it sorted out last night!

I tried logging in initially with my own account as opposed to the Administrator and it would not allow me to do it. But switching to the Admin account did the trick :)