fresh install -- need to access previous installation

  • Thread starter Thread starter DougE
  • Start date Start date
D

DougE

I recently had a motherboard failure, and I was unable to get my existing
installation of Windows XP Pro to boot from the new mobo. (FYI: There is a
way to do this, but I blew it I guess.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html)

So I did a fresh install on a different drive. Everything is fine so far.
The fresh install runs so much better.

But now I still have that other drive with all my stuff on it. The problem
is my home directory is password protected. I want to hack into my old drive
to retrieve some things, then I will nuke it.

Could someone please tell me how I should go about logging onto my old home
directory? Can I do this through Windows Explorer somehow?

TIA
 
DougE said:
I recently had a motherboard failure, and I was unable to get my existing
installation of Windows XP Pro to boot from the new mobo. (FYI: There is
a way to do this, but I blew it I guess.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html)

So I did a fresh install on a different drive. Everything is fine so far.
The fresh install runs so much better.

But now I still have that other drive with all my stuff on it. The
problem
is my home directory is password protected. I want to hack into my old
drive to retrieve some things, then I will nuke it.

Could someone please tell me how I should go about logging onto my old
home
directory? Can I do this through Windows Explorer somehow?
Click to expand...

The word "hacking" has exciting connotations for people who aren't real
hackers, but it is completely unnecessary to do any "hacking" in your case.
You simply need to take ownership of the files. That assumes of course that
you didn't *encrypt* the files (XP Pro's EFS). If you did and neglected to
back up your encryption key, the files are for all intents and purposes
gone. If you didn't encrypt the files, no problem.

Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP [Q308421] -
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

How Do I Get the Security tab in Folder Properties? -
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_security_tab.htm

Malke
 
Thanks. That just worked. And you are right -- asking someone to help you
fix your computer is not hacking. But after several days of installation, I
took the simplest route on this one. And you made it possible, again many
thanks.

Malke said:
DougE said:
I recently had a motherboard failure, and I was unable to get my existing
installation of Windows XP Pro to boot from the new mobo. (FYI: There is
a way to do this, but I blew it I guess.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html)

So I did a fresh install on a different drive. Everything is fine so far.
The fresh install runs so much better.

But now I still have that other drive with all my stuff on it. The
problem
is my home directory is password protected. I want to hack into my old
drive to retrieve some things, then I will nuke it.

Could someone please tell me how I should go about logging onto my old
home
directory? Can I do this through Windows Explorer somehow?
Click to expand...

The word "hacking" has exciting connotations for people who aren't real
hackers, but it is completely unnecessary to do any "hacking" in your case.
You simply need to take ownership of the files. That assumes of course that
you didn't *encrypt* the files (XP Pro's EFS). If you did and neglected to
back up your encryption key, the files are for all intents and purposes
gone. If you didn't encrypt the files, no problem.

Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP [Q308421] -
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

How Do I Get the Security tab in Folder Properties? -
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_security_tab.htm

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!
Click to expand...
 
DougE said:
Thanks. That just worked. And you are right -- asking someone to help
you
fix your computer is not hacking. But after several days of installation,
I
took the simplest route on this one. And you made it possible, again many
thanks.
Click to expand...

Glad that sorted it for you. Thanks for taking the time to let me know.

Malke
 
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