How can i access these private files from my new computer?

my old computer died and i need to retrieve the data from my old hard drive. The files on my hard drive, however, were set to "private" on my old user account and i cant seen to access the files in the "my documents" folder because of this. I'm using the old drive as an external via usb 2.0. How can i access these private files from my new computer?

This question was answered on February 15, 2006. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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You will have to first take ownership of the folders/files you wish to access and then change the permissions and you will be able to access your data.

To take ownership of a folder use the following steps:

1. Right-click the folder that you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.

2. Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).

3. Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.

4. In the Name list, click your user name, or click Administrator if you are logged in as Administrator, or click the Administrators group If you want to take ownership of the contents of that folder, select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check box.

5. Click OK, and then click Yes when you receive the following message:

"You do not have permission to read the contents of directory folder name Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control?"

All permissions will be replaced if you press Yes.

(Note: folder name is the name of the folder that you want to take ownership of.)

6. Click OK, and then reapply the permissions and security settings that you want for the folder and its contents.

If you also find you need to take ownership of individual files, take these steps:

1. Right-click the file that you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.

2. Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).

3. Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.

4. In the Name list, click Administrator, or click the Administrators group, and then click OK.

(The administrator or the Administrators group now owns the file To change the permissions on the files and folders under this folder, go to step 5.)

5. Click Add.

6. In the Enter the object names to select (examples) list, type the user or group account that you want to give access to the file For example, type Administrator.

7. Click OK.

8. In the Group or user names list, click the account that you want, and then select the check boxes of the permissions that you want to assign that user.

9. When you are finished assigning permissions, click OK.

After this is done, you will have full access and control over your files.

About the author

Posted by daryl of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on February 15, 2006

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