Problems accessing files

[mic_y]

Hi guys,

working on a friends machine that got fried, and am having some issues.

The mobo, CPU and RAM were replaced as all the old components were completely dead. The hard drive is alive.

Now, I need to do a backup of all user data before formatting the system. My initial plan was to hook up the drive to my machine, copy stuff over, and happily format away. Unfortunatly, the files that need to be backed up (including Outlook Express data) are all in the normal c:\Docs & Settings\User and the guy had a password on his account. He had also made his docs and stuff private.

Is there any way to get around this?

Booting into the old installation of XP is not an option, as the system just BSOD's due to the differences in hardware. I am also going to try one of the portable editions (WinPE) or something like that now

But in the mean time, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Michael

 

[charlie_82]

Why not ask him for the login?

 

[Jabberwocky]

go to start->accessories->system tools->backup
choose backup files and settings
backup his account on his drive
restore it with the same program on your account

 

[Grimspoon]

Why not ask him for the login?

Dont think it will ask for login - I think it will just say access denied wont it? Im not sure actually.

 

[Jabberwocky]

i had the same problem before.... after burning my documents and settings to a cd.. i almost cried

 

[Juggy]

Use the take ownership option.

Right click folder, security, advanced, owner, replace owner with your account that's logged in.

 

[mic_y]

hey guys, thanks for the replies. Am going to try taking ownership.

It does not ask for a login, as I am booting off my hard-drive, and just trying to copy the contents from his drive over.

Another idea I had is trying to use Acronis True Image to get the data out, because AFAIK that somehow manages to circumvent the NTFS permissions. Would this work?

 

[Juggy]

Let us know what works.

hey guys, thanks for the replies. Am going to try taking ownership.

It does not ask for a login, as I am booting off my hard-drive, and just trying to copy the contents from his drive over.

Another idea I had is trying to use Acronis True Image to get the data out, because AFAIK that somehow manages to circumvent the NTFS permissions. Would this work?

 

[mic_y]

Ok, well, stuffed around with both Acronis and WinPE, with success in accessing the files (but little luck getting to where I need) as many of the files were in hidden folders, and there is no way to enable showing hidden folders in WinPE.

Finally, after all the stuffing around, I booted into Windows, and changed owners, and things started working without a problem. Managed to get everything off...

 

[howardb]

I had a similar issue previously with a client PC, but he couldn't remember his login - eventually booted inot safe mode, uninstalled all the hardware drivers, then booted normally and cancelled all the found hardware notices - changed the account and backed up with Acronis - wiped the drive and started again...

 

[Juggy]

Ok, well, stuffed around with both Acronis and WinPE, with success in accessing the files (but little luck getting to where I need) as many of the files were in hidden folders, and there is no way to enable showing hidden folders in WinPE.

Finally, after all the stuffing around, I booted into Windows, and changed owners, and things started working without a problem. Managed to get everything off...

Baddabing, glad you're sorted.