Tom's Hardware > Forum > Windows XP > Windows XP General Discussion > Win XP and access to old files
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del_35   09-18-2002 at 06:34:51 PM

Hi
I hope one of you folks can help me. I have browsed through masses of information and post's but none were of any help.

I own win XP Pro but it recently crashed, so i reinstalled windows into another folder called 'windows1' and left the original 'windows' folder.

Now when i boot i get the option to boot to two 'windows xp' versions. My problem is not formating and reinstalling the information but a question of ACCESS to my old documents.

Whenever i try to access my old 'my document' i get a write protect error message. I have also tried to copy and past them to another folder or CD'R but get the same messsage.

Does anyone know how i can get into this folder so i can archive the valuable inforamtion i had befoer the crash. I then intend to format and re-instal. I have the password for the computer but dont seem to be asked for them.

Please can anyone help i am really desperate for the lost information.

<font color=purple> "After great thought, things are always bought from the lowest bider"</font color=purple>

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dhlucke   09-18-2002 at 09:31:36 PM
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Where is this information? My documents?

<font color=red>I'd like to dedicate this post to all my friends, family, and fans. Without them this post would never have been possible. Thank you!</font color=red>

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del_35   09-20-2002 at 10:25:04 AM
- 0 +

Yes that right the whole 'MY Documents' folder. I have since discovered that win XP may have recovered the installation if i choose the seond recovery option and bot the first which goes into the tools. I still desperatly need the lost data.

<font color=purple> "After great thought, things are always bought from the lowest bider"</font color=purple>

Reply to del_35
newbie   09-21-2002 at 06:20:27 AM
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Have you right clicked on the folder and checked the permissions on it? If not, just login as admin and grand yourself full control on the folder, subfolders, and files.

<A HREF="http://evilcity.com/" target="_new">Is this evil enough for you?</A>

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del_35   09-23-2002 at 06:26:44 PM
- 0 +

Yep - i,ve have logged in as an admin but when i right click and try to change it says i do not have permission to do so!

<font color=purple> "After great thought, things are always bought from the lowest bider"</font color=purple>

Reply to del_35
newbie   09-23-2002 at 11:44:08 PM
- 0 +

Take ownership first

<A HREF="http://evilcity.com/" target="_new">The city of evilness...</A>

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del_35   09-27-2002 at 03:16:18 PM
- 0 +

It still doesnt work!

<font color=purple> "After great thought, things are always bought from the lowest bider"</font color=purple>

Reply to del_35
Jeff68005   09-27-2002 at 04:05:45 PM
- 0 +

When the initial choices appear - try determining which of the initial options is the new install. The other one should be the old install.

Once you get a desktop, the problem is that despite the new folder Windows1, The My Documents Folder _may_ have been overwritten by the new install as it is NOT a subdirectory of the Windows or Windows1 directory.
My recomendation is to obtain a SECOND harddrive that you can install the XP on even if it is only temporary and unregistered. Disconect the first drive completely. Make the second HD a Master drive and install the XP PRO on it.
AFTER the new install, try to access the second drive as a slave. Your old C:\My Documnets will now be D:\My Documents
IF that fails, search the D:\ drive for a file name you recall being in the old file just in case it was archived by XP.
This is SOP for our operation. We always maintain a "scratch" Harddrive that can be reformated and used this way as well as experimentiation.

Every working computer must be improved .... or replaced ...

Reply to Jeff68005
newbie   09-28-2002 at 05:01:09 AM
- 0 +

You mean you booted from xp(windows1) > logon as admin > take ownership of the document folder > grand yourself full control, and it still didn't work? What error message did you get?

<A HREF="http://evilcity.com/" target="_new">The city of evilness...</A>

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CALV   09-30-2002 at 01:32:14 PM
- 0 +

HAS to work if you took ownership


If they squeeze olives to get olive oil, how do they get baby oil?

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newbie   10-01-2002 at 07:21:57 AM
- 0 +

I know right... that's what I thought.

<A HREF="http://evilcity.com/" target="_new">The city of evilness...</A>

Reply to newbie
del_35   10-09-2002 at 02:02:00 PM
- 0 +

Thanks for the help folks i have it sorted now. I didnt realise that i had to go into the advanced folder to do this. I am very gratful to you all.

<font color=purple> "After great thought, things are always bought from the lowest bider"</font color=purple>

Reply to del_35
jihiggs   10-09-2002 at 08:33:31 PM
- 0 +

so, when you said it still doesnt work, you had never actually tried it? hmmm

how do you shoot the devil in the back? what happens if you miss? -verbal

Reply to jihiggs
DEEPNATION   11-08-2002 at 12:23:59 AM
- 0 +

How did u do it. Am having the same problems..and I did the same steps as u did.

What do u mean ownership?

Reply to DEEPNATION
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