I can't gain access

First I got annoying messages telling me that original windows files had been deleted and replaced with unknown files. At this point I didn't have any firewall installed (yes, I am stupid :rolleyes: ). After a while my computer stopped working, so I decided to reinstall windows on my other, smaller HD so I at least could save some of my files.

The only problem is that I can't gain access to files in the other accounts on the "big" HD. When I reinstalled windows on the "big" HD I couldn't log in to those old accounts either...

How am I supposed to gain access to the files in the "old" accounts again? Is there any kind of "software" I can download to hack them or something?

What accounts are you talking about?

Windows user accounts

XP or 98 or ME or...? :razz:

XP Pro

Copy them to your Documents and settings dir on your windows drive, then they should be accesseble by the admin acount, they should be anyway, strange...

Hit F8 when you start up and go into safe mode. Should be able to access all files then.

I tried safe mode and logged in as admin, but I couldn't access or copy the folders...

I'd recommend a virus scan to see if you're infected. These are two free online virus scanners:

http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

What does it say when you try and access them? Your HD may be slightly screwed or those sectors of the disk may be corrupted therefore won't work. You may need to use a data recovery program on those files.

I have a swedish version of windows, but I'll post some pics of it anyway:


Problem when copying file/folder

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Can't be created or replaced if: Access denied
Make sure the disk isn't full, protected or being used.

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Problem when copying file/folder

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Can't copy NTUSER. Access denied.
Make sure the disk isn't full, protected or being used.

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My translation is quite crappy since I don't have the english version...
I virus-scaned with Panda and there was 1312 infected files, lol :rolleyes:

[EDIT]
I don't have a clue what the NTUSER file in the second pic is...

I doubt there will be a program to 'hack' it for you, XP uses the NTFS file system which I believe is designed to prevent that kind of thing- so basically if you did convert your HD to this file system from FAT when you installed XP then you're screwed if this copying method doesn't work :sad:

Oh wait you changed file system?! That screws everything up lol!

I do believe your data is dead now :razz:

I did find a program that did let you access other accounts files when you couldnt get in to them ill see if i can find it again :smile:

but if you did change the filesystem there gone :sad:

goes searching

I don't even know how to change the file systems... maybe I did that without knowing. How exactly do I change the file systems?

Myrk- said:
I do believe your data is dead now :razz:

Will the data "die" after a certain time?

Rumple, plz find that program for me if you can. Maybe it could help me out...

scratches buttocks

ignores tacky consistency of fingers

uhh, you don't suppose its all that screwy text do you?

what do you mean Orph :razz: ?

Myrk- said:
You may need to use a data recovery program on those files.

Where can I find one of those? (I'm gogglin' right now after one, but perhaps one of you know where I can find a good one)

By the way, I think those annoying messages telling me that windows files had been replaced began appearing after installing MSN Messenger 6.2...

OtZman said:
what do you mean Orph :razz: ?

whistles tuneless melody

:rolleyes:

If you convert from NTFS to FAT, you get 8-character file names I think. Then only way to do it is to make all the free space on the drive to be converted into a new partition, format it with the new filesystem, then move all files that will fit from the old partition into this one. If they won't all fit at once, you will have to expand the partition with the new file system once it is full, using the space you freed up with the moving.

I wasn't aware you could convert back from NTFS to FAT?

sorry OtZman cant find it :sad:

You can Lep, but it puts all your filenames to 8 characters long, so most software that you had won't run any more.

scary_jeff said:
You can Lep, but it puts all your filenames to 8 characters long, so most software that you had won't run any more.

who would want to switch back? is there any positive benefit jeff?

FAT32 is faster in some situations, but not all. For example, if you have a directory with 2000 files, NTFS will display them faster, but if you have one big file, FAT32 will copy it faster... or something like that. NTFS is more secure.

scary_jeff said:
FAT32 is faster in some situations, but not all. For example, if you have a directory with 2000 files, NTFS will display them faster, but if you have one big file, FAT32 will copy it faster... or something like that. NTFS is more secure.

well, the only big files i have, seem to be on CDR soon after completion, so i reckon i can stick to NTFS for a bit :smile:

thanx jeff

NTFS also doesn't have the HORRENDOUS fragmentation issues that afflicted FAT32, at least not in my experience and general concensus on the system.

may be my imagination though, but fat32 seems to defrag a whole lot faster.. my new pc defrags slower than my old 550 did, in spite of the same size hard drives.

maybe my files are just so much bigger now.. i didn't have 700 megs movies then :/

I don't think that it's a problem with the filesystem... I can access all "old" files but those that were stored in the "account folders", Like "C:\Documents and Settings\[something]". On the login screen those old usernames doesn't appear at all. It seems like both my HDs use the NTFS system.

may be my imagination though, but fat32 seems to defrag a whole lot faster.. my new pc defrags slower than my old 550 did, in spite of the same size hard drives.

maybe my files are just so much bigger now.. i didn't have 700 megs movies then :/

I believe NTFS files have to be contiguous. So, like you said, having large files (which have to be contiguously placed) would take awhile to move.

Now I've formated my HD. This time I made a 7gb partition for Windows and programs. I hope I don't have to encounter this problem in a loooooong time again.

Thx for your help guys :smile: