I'll try to make this brief.
My Dell dimension 4300 died.
So, I took the hard drive out, and made it a slave on our kids computer-a Gateway that is about the same age as my Dell. However, the Gateway is rarely used, so it is in much better shape.

Anyway, I made it a slave in hopes that I could acess my files and copy them to the hard drive on the gateway, so I could later xfer them to the new computer I ordered.

I am able to see the files, and a lot of them, I was able to move over. Program files, things like that copied with no problem.
However when I tried to copy my personal settings, more specifically the outlook express identities, I kept getting "Access Denied". In fact, pretty much anything in the Documents and Settings folder was inaccessible.
I tried making it a shared folder,, moving it, copying it, renaming it etc... but got Access Denied.

Both Computers were/are running on Windows XP, both have all the most recent updates. I have administrator rights on both of them.

I also tried setting up the old hard drive as master but it won't boot up in the gateway. It will, but it boots up to the window asking if I want Last known good config, Safe mode, or start normally. If I choose safe mode, it runs a string of text, then stops. If I choose Last known good, or Start normally, it just hangs up and does nothing.

What are my options? Any ideas? I NEED to get those identity files- I can't operate business without them!

If you're using XP it may be that you need to take ownership of the files.

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP

This article should help you with the outlook express transfer problem.

thank you! I have xp pro, and taking ownership is what did it!!

many many thanks!!

God Bless
A. Dailey

ok...I have all those files restored. Thanks a ton! However, I'm not sure where the address book files are located. I have xp pro.

I appreciate the person who gave me the info on backing up outlook, but I didn't have a chance to do it before the pc died so I'm having to go in and pull it off the old hard drive.

The address book is normally stored in a .wab file. Search the drive for any files with a .wab extension and you should find it.

In Outlook Express, open up the Tools or Options. Under the Maintenance tab will be something about "Store Folder". Click on that and you'll see where OE stores the files. The location will be similar for the old files (but the long number for the identity may change).

You may also want to try this free utility (I haven't tried it yet): http://www.amictools.com/v-amic_email_backup.html