How to retrieve data from old windows installation?

[jimhannon]

Hello,
I recently lost the ability to log into windows xp pro. I believe the MBR was corrupt or changed somehow. I reloaded windows on another harddrive and am unable to retrieve the data in "My Documents". I was the administrator and can still retrieve data from my wifes account on the old setup, but am denied access into my old account on the other harddrive, probably because it is the administrator account. When I click on my account, in "My Documents" it denies access, without the ability to even login. The is valuable data there, but I can't figure out how to get to it. The drive letter has changed to d:\, it is no longer c:\windows. Can anybody help me in figuring out how to access my data in my previous windows installation?

Here is the boot.ini file for my new installation c:\ drive.

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

Here is the boot.ini file for my old windows installation now the "d:" drive (p.s. used to be c:\ drive installation.)

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

thanks
Jim

[Miz]

Try the steps in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP to get access to your files.

[jimhannon]

I found a program that works great. I can restore all my data from the other hard drive, which I wasn't able to get to before. I am using Magic Reocovery Professional 3.2. It has relieved a lot of stress here....