reinstall windows in a new directory. passworded files

  • Thread starter Thread starter mojohaas at yahoo dot com
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mojohaas at yahoo dot com

I reinstalled windows into a new directory on my computer. This was about 2
years ago. I then tried to open "My Documents" from the old installation,
and it will not let me because I had a password on my profile.
I created the same profile on the new installation and entered the same
password from my old install, but it still won't allow me to view anything
from the old install.

Can I access these files at all? I was told if I created a ghost drive I
could. Is this correct, and if so, or if not what software should I use to
try to recover/access these files.
 
mojohaas said:
I reinstalled windows into a new directory on my computer. This was about 2
years ago. I then tried to open "My Documents" from the old installation,
and it will not let me because I had a password on my profile.
I created the same profile on the new installation and entered the same
password from my old install, but it still won't allow me to view anything
from the old install.

Can I access these files at all?
Click to expand...


If you hadn't encrypted the data files (which could not have been
done with WinXP Home), you may be facing nothing more than a simple
permissions issue. Have you tried taking ownership of the old folders?

HOW TO Take Ownership of a File or Folder in WinXP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q308421


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
I downloaded a program that allows me to boot my computer from a usb drive
and will reset the password(s) for any accounts in windows xp. I have to tell
it what directory the .SAM file is in and it will clear the passwords.

My problem is that apparently the .SAM file is corrupt in the original
installation. That is the error message I keep getting when I try to boot
the old installation, before it reboots the computer. And the program I
downloaded, can't load the .SAM file from the old directory to clear the
passwords.
Any help with that???
Jason
 
mojohaas said:
I downloaded a program that allows me to boot my computer from a usb drive
and will reset the password(s) for any accounts in windows xp. I have to
tell it what directory the .SAM file is in and it will clear the
passwords.

My problem is that apparently the .SAM file is corrupt in the original
installation. That is the error message I keep getting when I try to boot
the old installation, before it reboots the computer. And the program I
downloaded, can't load the .SAM file from the old directory to clear the
passwords.
Click to expand...

I have no idea why you did all that - and it won't solve your problem
anyway. All you need to do is what Bruce already told you - take ownership
of the old files.

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
 
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