documents and settings folder lockout

  • Thread starter Thread starter Luvrsmel
  • Start date Start date
L

Luvrsmel

Ok I'm not sure whether I'm posting to the right newgroups regarding this
problem so please forgive me if I'm not.

I need to gain access to a deceased person's profile in a "My Documents"
folder.
This computer was confiscated, shortly after the person died, by a relative.
Nine months later this relative has handed the computer over to me to fix
their recurring booting problem.
They mentioned the importance of pictures and movies on the computer and
they were hoping they weren't lost because of the recent problems the
computer was having.
So, attempting to be the helpful tech guy, I thought I would try to tackle
the problem.

Had I thought about it more, I should have just tried to boot into safemode
first...but I didn't.
Instead, after numerous attempts at trying to start the computer myself , I
tried to perform a re-install of the original XP Prodisc first.
The system installed fine right up to13 minutes remaining, then would
spontaneously reboot- and start over at 39 minutes again and continually
repeat this process.
I pulled the drive out of the system, put it in another system as a
secondary slave only to have an anti-malware program run on it from the
masterdrive.
(FYI, I did not attempt to boot into this drive on this computer)
It found 7 trojans, and 2 websearch toolbars which I deleted.
I pulled the drive backout, put it in the original computer, tried to boot
it but unfortunately, it still had all the botched re-install setup files
trying to run!
I could not for the life of me cancel this setup process!

Now being stuck in setup mode and not being able to access safe mode
(because of setup) or complete the re-install, I cannot access the original
owners "my documents" folder which apparently has pictures and avi files of
the deceased.
For sentimental reasons, I need to access these files.
I have already performed another XP install on this drive...using
"Windows.000" as the other windows folder.
I can certainly see the folder and can get to the name of the profile (name
is "owner") but cannot get access.
Can anyone please tell me what I can do to gain access to this other
profile's "My Documents" folder??
I don't necessarily need anything else on the profile but those pictures and
avi files.
Many many thanks if you could!
 
Luvrsmel said:
Ok I'm not sure whether I'm posting to the right newgroups regarding this
problem so please forgive me if I'm not.

I need to gain access to a deceased person's profile in a "My Documents"
folder.
This computer was confiscated, shortly after the person died, by a
relative.
Nine months later this relative has handed the computer over to me to fix
their recurring booting problem.
They mentioned the importance of pictures and movies on the computer and
they were hoping they weren't lost because of the recent problems the
computer was having.
So, attempting to be the helpful tech guy, I thought I would try to tackle
the problem.

Had I thought about it more, I should have just tried to boot into
safemode first...but I didn't.
Instead, after numerous attempts at trying to start the computer myself ,
I tried to perform a re-install of the original XP Prodisc first.
The system installed fine right up to13 minutes remaining, then would
spontaneously reboot- and start over at 39 minutes again and continually
repeat this process.
I pulled the drive out of the system, put it in another system as a
secondary slave only to have an anti-malware program run on it from the
masterdrive.
(FYI, I did not attempt to boot into this drive on this computer)
It found 7 trojans, and 2 websearch toolbars which I deleted.
I pulled the drive backout, put it in the original computer, tried to boot
it but unfortunately, it still had all the botched re-install setup files
trying to run!
I could not for the life of me cancel this setup process!

Now being stuck in setup mode and not being able to access safe mode
(because of setup) or complete the re-install, I cannot access the
original owners "my documents" folder which apparently has pictures and
avi files of the deceased.
For sentimental reasons, I need to access these files.
I have already performed another XP install on this drive...using
"Windows.000" as the other windows folder.
I can certainly see the folder and can get to the name of the profile
(name is "owner") but cannot get access.
Can anyone please tell me what I can do to gain access to this other
profile's "My Documents" folder??
I don't necessarily need anything else on the profile but those pictures
and avi files.
Many many thanks if you could!


Take a look at these articles for more info:

"Access is Denied" Error Message When You Try to Open a Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810881

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

Note: If you are running Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, you
must start the computer in safe mode, and then log on with an
account that has Administrative rights to have access to the
Security tab. To start in Safe Mode, reboot your computer and
start tapping the F8 key as soon as you see anything displayed
on the screen. Keep hitting F8 until the Advanced Startup
Options menu appears. Use the up and down arrow keys on your
keyboard to select Safe Mode. Hit Enter.

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
Luvrsmel said:
Ok I'm not sure whether I'm posting to the right newgroups
regarding this problem so please forgive me if I'm not.

I need to gain access to a deceased person's profile in a "My
Documents" folder.
I have already performed another XP install on this drive...
using "Windows.000" as the other windows folder.

I can certainly see the folder and can get to the name of the
profile (name is "owner") but cannot get access.

Can anyone please tell me what I can do to gain access to this other
profile's "My Documents" folder??
<end snips>

You likely get "Access Denied" when trying to get to the files/folders -
because of NTFS file/folder permissions.

Easy enough.

How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
There is important information there dependent on the version of
Windows XP you are doing this on (Professional, Home..)
 
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