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Accessing Windows XP Desktop files on former drive connected by USB

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nemome

Technical User
Apr 17, 2007
18
US
My XP HOME laptop died. I need files off the drive. I removed the functioning drive and used a USB adaptor to connect it to my desktop. The files I need are stored on the desktop in my password protected account. Since the laptop is dead and I'm accessing the file from a different make and model computer, I can't boot from this hard drive (or don't know how) to view the desktop and access the files from this login account. I've tried changing the properties and sharing the files to no avail. Thanks
 
If it is not showing up on your desktop pc, try strapping it differently, moving the jumper to slave and double check your pin placement, that its not in backwards.

Computers are like bikinis. They save people a lot of guesswork.
-Sam Ewing-
 
Oh, I can see the disk just fine. I just can't access the files because it was originally the boot drive. So, files I need are locked behind the XP account "Door." When I try to access my account files in the "Documents and Settings" folder,
I get an "access is denied" message.
 
Here is what you need to do, Open My Computer on your desktop. Go to Tools then folder options. Click the View tab and scroll to the bottom under Advanced settings and look for "Use simple sharing (recommended)" and take the check mark out of it. Click apply then ok.

Go to the USB drive and open as far as you can on your hard drive. Click double click it then Documents and Settings and then your login name. Once you get an error message, right click on the file and go to Sharing and Security (or Properties) then click the Security tab. Click the Advanced button then click the Owner tab. Look for your login name and tick a check mark for "Replace owner on sub containers and objects" then click Apply then OK.

Back under the Security tab again click Add, then type "Everyone" without the quotes then click Check Names. Click OK. Again back under the Security Tab click once on Everyone and the tick the Full Control under Allow then click Apply then OK.

You should now have access to the entire folder. Good luck.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!
 
Thank you. O.K. I'll bite, what's PEBKAC?
 
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