Recovering password-protected folders.

[Lackey Man Ren]

I've been trying to recover photos and music files from a harddrive with a busted OS. This would not be a problem normally - I jam the offending harddrive into a computer that works and that's all she wrote - except the OS in question is Windows XP and the files are under a login profile that's password-protected. I can't copy them, I can't move them, they're locked down.

I tried logging into the profile and transferring the files, but the OS is so unstable that plugging in a flashdrive or trying to connect to a network results in the PC restarting. I've also tried disabling the password protection, but the settings refused to save and the files remain locked down. I also tried futzing around with the file permissions, but if that worked I wouldn't be here. I do not intend on running damage control on this PC. I just want to copy the files, format the drive, and reinstall the OS.

Any words of advice? Thanks in advance.

[DougL]

I would slave the harddrive on another XP system, logon with account which has admin rights,ensure on that system that you have removed the tick from the simple file sharing in windows explorer\tools\options\view tab. Then firstly take ownership of the slaved drive and then apply full permissions for you making sure these permissions propogate down through the sub directories. You should then be able to see the files in question.

Doug

[Lackey Man Ren]

It worked. Thank you, Internet dude who has shares my first name. It likely means a lot to my cousins.