file access previous xp installation

I have two partitions on my hard drive, one for the operationg system and the other for data files. I re-formatted and installed Vista on the operating system partition. Unfortunately, I forgot that I had protected certain folders on the data partion through my previous XP SP2 version so the guest accounts could not open these files. Now, under Vista I get a "Windows cannot access the file" error when I try to open the file. Is there a way to recover these files or are they encrypted beyond recovery? Unfortunately, I did not back-up my previous installation of XP as I figured I would do a clean intall if needed as the os was becoming unstable. However, the usernam and password are the same for both XP and Vista Installations.

Log with an account that has administrative privilege.
Open My Computer and right click the partition that contains the files you want to access and select Properties.
Click on the Security tab.
Click the Edit... button.
Click the Add... button.
Enter the local username of the account you want to have access to the partition (use ; for multiple usernames).
Click the Check Name button and confirm the usernames were recognized (underlined).
Click OK.
Find that username in the list and single left click to highlight it.
Click the check box for Full Access under the Allow column.
Click OK then click OK again.
You now have full access to that partition under Windows Vista.
God Bless, Wayne

"garvinr" wrote in message

I have two partitions on my hard drive, one for the operationg system and the other for data files. I re-formatted and installed Vista on the operating system partition. Unfortunately, I forgot that I had protected certain folders on the data partion through my previous XP SP2 version so the guest accounts could not open these files. Now, under Vista I get a "Windows cannot access the file" error when I try to open the file. Is there a way to recover these files or are they encrypted beyond recovery? Unfortunately, I did not back-up my previous installation of XP as I figured I would do a clean intall if needed as the os was becoming unstable. However, the usernam and password are the same for both XP and Vista Installations.

I had a similar situation with not being able to access any of my data files (docs, pictures, anything) from my previous WinXP install, but I HAD NOT encrypted them or in any way put any restrictions on them in WinXP. It made no difference when I gave the partition access as you described. (Or I was not able to change the partition access due to error messages; can't quite remember.) Still couldn't open them. Plus, I thought the administrator was supposed to already have the priviledge to open files. Turning off UAC made most of them accessible, but not all, and I'm not sure if they were all editable or just read only. And I still couldn't move them or even copy all of them to another drive where I thought they might overcome the "old system" restrictions. Just how do you migrate your old files into Vista without running into all the ridiculous security restrictions?
"Wayne Abruzzo" wrote:

Log with an account that has administrative privilege.
Open My Computer and right click the partition that contains the files you want to access and select Properties.
Click on the Security tab.
Click the Edit... button.
Click the Add... button.
Enter the local username of the account you want to have access to the partition (use ; for multiple usernames).
Click the Check Name button and confirm the usernames were recognized (underlined).
Click OK.
Find that username in the list and single left click to highlight it.
Click the check box for Full Access under the Allow column.
Click OK then click OK again.
You now have full access to that partition under Windows Vista.
God Bless, Wayne

"garvinr" wrote in message I have two partitions on my hard drive, one for the operationg system and the other for data files. I re-formatted and installed Vista on the operating system partition. Unfortunately, I forgot that I had protected certain folders on the data partion through my previous XP SP2 version so the guest accounts could not open these files. Now, under Vista I get a "Windows cannot access the file" error when I try to open the file. Is there a way to recover these files or are they encrypted beyond recovery? Unfortunately, I did not back-up my previous installation of XP as I figured I would do a clean intall if needed as the os was becoming unstable. However, the usernam and password are the same for both XP and Vista Installations.

I have two partitions on my hard drive, one for the operationg system and the other for data files. I re-formatted and installed Vista on the operating system partition. Unfortunately, I forgot that I had protected certain folders on the data partion through my previous XP SP2 version so the guest accounts could not open these files. Now, under Vista I get a "Windows cannot access the file" error when I try to open the file. Is there a way to recover these files or are they encrypted beyond recovery? Unfortunately, I did not back-up my previous installation of XP as I figured I would do a clean intall if needed as the os was becoming unstable. However, the usernam and password are the same for both XP and Vista Installations.

Might be a stupid suggestion but have you tried to alternate click (right click) on the folder where the file resides, select properties and click on the security tab in the new window that opens? From there you might be able to add yourself or modify permissions.
"garvinr" wrote:

I have two partitions on my hard drive, one for the operationg system and the other for data files. I re-formatted and installed Vista on the operating system partition. Unfortunately, I forgot that I had protected certain folders on the data partion through my previous XP SP2 version so the guest accounts could not open these files. Now, under Vista I get a "Windows cannot access the file" error when I try to open the file. Is there a way to recover these files or are they encrypted beyond recovery? Unfortunately, I did not back-up my previous installation of XP as I figured I would do a clean intall if needed as the os was becoming unstable. However, the usernam and password are the same for both XP and Vista Installations.

Oh I see, you are talking about encryption..
"Silo" wrote:

Might be a stupid suggestion but have you tried to alternate click (right click) on the folder where the file resides, select properties and click on the security tab in the new window that opens? From there you might be able to add yourself or modify permissions.
"garvinr" wrote:
I have two partitions on my hard drive, one for the operationg system and the other for data files. I re-formatted and installed Vista on the operating system partition. Unfortunately, I forgot that I had protected certain folders on the data partion through my previous XP SP2 version so the guest accounts could not open these files. Now, under Vista I get a "Windows cannot access the file" error when I try to open the file. Is there a way to recover these files or are they encrypted beyond recovery? Unfortunately, I did not back-up my previous installation of XP as I figured I would do a clean intall if needed as the os was becoming unstable. However, the usernam and password are the same for both XP and Vista Installations.

I'm a Vista newbie, and I also am plagued by permission problems when trying to edit or view an XP document, file, object, or whatever. Right clicking on every folder is riduculous. Is there a way to turn off permissions on my entire C: drive (XP)?
"Silo" wrote:

Might be a stupid suggestion but have you tried to alternate click (right click) on the folder where the file resides, select properties and click on the security tab in the new window that opens? From there you might be able to add yourself or modify permissions.
"garvinr" wrote:
I have two partitions on my hard drive, one for the operationg system and the other for data files. I re-formatted and installed Vista on the operating system partition. Unfortunately, I forgot that I had protected certain folders on the data partion through my previous XP SP2 version so the guest accounts could not open these files. Now, under Vista I get a "Windows cannot access the file" error when I try to open the file. Is there a way to recover these files or are they encrypted beyond recovery? Unfortunately, I did not back-up my previous installation of XP as I figured I would do a clean intall if needed as the os was becoming unstable. However, the usernam and password are the same for both XP and Vista Installations.