Extreme problem -- locked out of my own files

[Michael West]

I've had to do numerous re-installs to get XP Home
up and running due to hardware incompatibilities.
Now everything is looking pretty good except for
one HUGE problem. Hundreds of my files are now
inaccessible.

Under the previous installation, I made these files
"private" using the My Documents "make private"
function. After I did that, I had to do a clean reinstall.
The files are still there (on a second HDD) but XP
tells me "access denied" when I try to open them.

Under the previous installation I had used the account
OWNER with a password to make them private. I
am now using the OWNER account name again,
with the same password.

I can see that during the last re-install XP saved the
account information it found by appending the
machine name to it -- OWNER.MACHINE1.

So what's the story? I know the password, but it
doesn't ask for it. I am the person who made those
files private. I am the Owner/Administrator.
BUT XP WON'T give me access to MY OWN files??

Any advice much appreciated. And yes, I am trying to
remain calm.

--Mike

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

Michael West wrote:

> I've had to do numerous re-installs to get XP Home
> up and running due to hardware incompatibilities.
> Now everything is looking pretty good except for
> one HUGE problem. Hundreds of my files are now
> inaccessible.
>
> Under the previous installation, I made these files
> "private" using the My Documents "make private"
> function. After I did that, I had to do a clean reinstall.
> The files are still there (on a second HDD) but XP
> tells me "access denied" when I try to open them.

Hi

Most likely, taking ownership should fix this...

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421


--
torgeir
Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of the 1328 page
Scripting Guide: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter

[Michael West]

Torgeir Bakken wrote:

> Most likely, taking ownership should fix this...
>
> HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

Torgeir,

Yes, it seems to have fixed it -- thank you. My pulse
rate is now back down to near-normal.

It is interesting that that permissions dialog is
not mentioned in the 1000+ page book I bought
on how to use Win XP.

Also, there are some things I don't understand. When
I booted in Safe mode and entered the Security settings,
I noticed a "phantom" user listed along with OWNER
and ADMINISTRATOR. The name shown for the
phantom user is a long string of characters.

Another mystery is that XP tells me there are two
identities, OWNER and ADMINISTRATOR even
though I have not created the ADMINISTRATOR.
How do I know whether it is safe to delete this identity
so that I can create a new ADMINISTRATOR when I
have finished installing and configuring everything?

Thanks,
MW