DescentBB

Ok heres the deal... Girlfriend has an old computer that has a bunch of pictures and other things on it that she wants. Windows won't install for some god aweful reason but thats not what I want resolved. The folder that has all her stuff in it is the admin folder and when I put the drive in her new computer it won't let me access it. Any tips or suggestions would be helpful...

Boot to a linux live cd with a flash drive attached. My personal favorite is Knoppix.

Strife wrote:Ok heres the deal... Girlfriend has an old computer that has a bunch of pictures and other things on it that she wants. Windows won't install for some god aweful reason but thats not what I want resolved. The folder that has all her stuff in it is the admin folder and when I put the drive in her new computer it won't let me access it. Any tips or suggestions would be helpful...

The folder was password-protected. Unfortunately hard drives are not portable between Windows installations. Each user in a Windows install has what's called a SID. This SID is used for, among many other things, locking the contents of password-protected volumes, folders, and files. Since the SID is generated at account creation, even if you have accounts with the same name on the new computer, they will not have the same SID, and you will not be able to open reasonably protected files/directories.

Your best bet is to boot into a LiveCD that has ntfs3g installed, as captain_twinkie suggested.

If your account on her new PC has admin rights, try taking over ownership of that folder.

CDN_Merlin wrote:If your account on her new PC has admin rights, try taking over ownership of that folder.

I tried that. I can't seem to find the option in folder options to turn off simple file sharing... (aka give me more security options) I'm using... oh wait... she has xp home edition... Nevermind!

I think you can get to standard sharing & security in home edition if you boot into safe mode.

You could also put the hard drive in an external USB enclosure (or similar) and connect it to a Mac.

Knoppix Live CD has saved so many files for me that I've lost count. I can read HD's that Windows cant even mount. I have some tools and utilities that are freeware that I can offer. Again Linux based.

Save you hours, nay, days of grief and allow some semblance of success.

So X 3 Knoppix.

DCrazy wrote:I think you can get to standard sharing & security in home edition if you boot into safe mode.

Nope. Hook the drive up to a comp w/ XP Pro (if available), then take ownership & copy.

Grendel wrote:

DCrazy wrote:I think you can get to standard sharing & security in home edition if you boot into safe mode.

Nope. Hook the drive up to a comp w/ XP Pro (if available), then take ownership & copy.

Thats makes me more irriated than before... I was trying to install xp pro on that drive and the cd key wouldn't work... Even tried a few new ones from a keygen and those failed... Weird. I used that key the night before at my house.

If you're using an OEM version of the XP CD, you have to use an OEM key.

There are a number of special SKUs for individual manufacturers, preventing you from using a keygen made for corporate installs on a Dell-bundled XP install CD, for example.

DCrazy wrote:I think you can get to standard sharing & security in home edition if you boot into safe mode.

no that doesnt work, but i have a method that does work, lemme find it and ill post it.


GOT IT:

how to set File Security. Unfortunately this only applies to Windows 2000pro/XP pro systems.
XP Home Edition also has this function, but it is hidden, thus requiring you to boot into safe mode and then log in as 'Administrator'.


There is a much more easier way to make sure you got access to the tab without booting and into safe mode.
Go to: ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/wi ... tools/scm/
Download the SCESP4I.EXE file. Safe it somewhere to your hard drive.
Ones it is download double click on it and let it extract to a location of your choice. Then right click on the 'setup.inf' and choose install. Let it install and then reboot to let the changes have affect.
Now you can set File Security in XP Home Edition without having to boot into safe mode.