If you used XP's encryption, just forget those files...
If you only had a password for your Windows username, you need to take
ownership of those files..
Courtesy of Rick Rogers
Taking Ownership:
Sometimes, in order to get access to a folder, you need to "take ownership"
of it. To do this, you must be using an administrator account, or an account
that has either a higher level of privileges or privileges equal to the
account currently in control of the folder. First, you must be able to
access the security tab of the folder properties. For the security tab to
appear in a WindowsXP Pro system, you must disable simple file sharing in
the control panel/folder options/view tab, it's at the bottom of the
advanced settings. For a WindowsXP Home system, you must restart in safe
mode and logon as administrator.
Right-click the folder, select properties. Go to the security tab and click
advanced. You can take control of the folders on the owner tab by clicking
on your user account, then click apply/ok. Note also that these sorts of
permissions are only available when using the NTFS file system, they are not
supported in FAT or FAT32. More details here:
HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP [Q308421]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421
An additional note for WindowsXP Pro users: This procedure will not help you
recover data if the files are encrypted. All you will be able to do is
delete them. To recover encrypted files you will need the original
encryption certificate or a Recovery Agent from the installation under which
they were encrypted. Without one of these, the files are not recoverable.
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Most learned on these newsgroups
Tumppi, Helsinki, FINLAND
(translations from/to FI not always accurate)
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