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OT : Probs with XP useraccount from a diff. HD. SOLVED

SkarpoSkarpo
edited February 2005 in Sinclair Miscellaneous
Ok ... I have a new computer and I took out the HD from my old computer and installed it on the new one. I had a username/pw when I logged on the old computer.

On the new computer the old HD appears to be ok minus at least one folder. When I try to access the old HD D:Documents and SettingsSkarpo I get this error: "Access is denied" and the folder has 0 bytes in it. I have all of my maps and speccy games under that folder and am wondering how the heck I can access it.

The prob is "obviously" the fact that I have a useraccount and pw on the old HD but how can I get the new HD to grant me access to that username/folder/etc???

Should I just re-install it in my old CPU case and disable the user? That's right now quite a bother but it would be a last ditch effort kind of a thing unless you guys can help me out somehow.

Much abliged, yadda-yadda.

Skarpo
:)

[ This Message was edited by: Skarpo on 2005-02-12 21:32 ]
Post edited by Skarpo on

Comments

  • Lee FogartyLee Fogarty
    edited February 2005
    I don't think the problem is with user accounts as I have just done the same thing with mine & had no problem accessing the old drive to copy files. I had 3 user accounts on my old one.

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  • SkarpoSkarpo
    edited February 2005
    Were your accounts pw protected?

    Skarpo
    :)
  • Lee FogartyLee Fogarty
    edited February 2005
    yes.

    Is it possible to boot of the old drive & copy the files onto your new one?
    My test signature
  • madmekonmadmekon
    edited February 2005
    Tried using an undelete program? I had something similiar and the only way I could get anything back was to undelete.
    I'm a 21st Century digital boy, I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys.
  • AndyCAndyC
    edited February 2005
    The NTFS permissions don't allow you access.

    If you're using XP Pro, this is easy to fix. Right click the folder and go to the Security tab (you may need to diasble Simple File Sharing first - I can't remember.) Select Advanced, then Owner and change the owner of all files and subdirectories to your account. If you don't have permission to read files it'll usually offer to set these at the same time, otherwise just grant yourself permission.

    XP Home is another matter. IIRC it doesn't have the Security tab. You might be able to access it by booting into Safe Mode. Otherwise you need to download XCACLS and change the permissions via the command line.
  • SkarpoSkarpo
    edited February 2005
    Thanks AndyC! you got me on the right track!

    I created a new user on the new computer (the same name/pw as on the old comptuer) and then followed your instructions to the thea/tea/tee/Titspatrick.

    Now all the animals in the forest are friends again.

    Skarpo
    :)
  • SkarpoSkarpo
    edited February 2005
    FogartyLee: I forgot to mention at the top that in my case the new computer had a new/different username/pw and I was trying to "inherit" the access privileges of the user from the old HD. I am guessing that in your case you just created the same users/pw's on your new machine?

    Anywho ... thanks folks!

    Skarpo
    :)
  • AndyCAndyC
    edited February 2005
    Actually using the same username/password wouldn't make one jot of difference as each account is internally represented as a SID.

    So while you may think your login is bob/fred/funkymonkey or whatever, Windows sees it as something like {S-1-5-25-2342466834-434242345623-342423423-342342342-2133}

    If you can transfer a drive between machines without falling foul of this then either:

    a) You're using FAT32/FAT16 which doesn't support security

    b) The security permissions on the original drive were arranged such that one of the built-in groups had access and you're a member of the same group on the new machine (usually Administrators). This works between machines as various groups have fixed SIDs (the so called well known SIDs) e.g. S-1-5-32-544 == Administrators.

    All of which is a bit academic now you've sorted it...



    [ This Message was edited by: AndyC on 2005-02-13 01:37 ]

    [ This Message was edited by: AndyC on 2005-02-13 01:37 ]
  • SkarpoSkarpo
    edited February 2005
    Both old and new are XP Pro/NTFS.

    I tried before to create a diff. user/pw as an admin to no avail.

    Funny enough it didn't work until I created the same username/pw as the old one as an Admin(and it had been an admin on the old one.)

    I am not kidding ...

    Maybe I am just lucky enough to have a username/pw which gave the same SID twice ;)

    In any case the problem is solved and I am happy, and I honestly don't give a ... how it all worked, but you did help me and I am glad for that, thanks again :)

    Skarpo
    :)

    [ This Message was edited by: Skarpo on 2005-02-13 04:38 ]
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