How to recover data from a windows protected drive

I had a drive fail giving me a " read error" on boot. I had a password set up in windows. I installed a new drive and set up the failed drive as a slave. I can see my data on the old drive, but it will not allow me to open or copy my main folder in the "document and settings" area because of the windows password. Is there any way to get to the data in "My documents" and my "desktop" on the windows password protected disk? I would really appreciate anyone's input that can help. I my using xp home.

Thanks,

cylon

Edited by cylon, 24 August 2009 - 07:36 AM.

The password only has importance when trying to boot into that O/S installed.

Since you are not trying to do that, you can access any/all data files...normally.

The exception occurs with the Documents & Settings folders, due to the way that they are set up. It's easily overcome by a procedure known as "taking ownership" of the files in question.

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

http://www.winxptutor.com/ownership.htm

Louis

I wish that were true, but whenever I try to access the data folder which contains my documents and desktop I get the message "access denied" and the folder will not open. I think this would be true if I could access my original Windows, but since this is another install it does not seem to work. I have tried to take ownership as described in the articles you provided. I appreciate your assistance, and if you have any more idea's, I will appreciate them

thanks,

cylon

Edited by cylon, 24 August 2009 - 10:25 AM.

Louis,

YOU WERE RIGHT AND I WAS WRONG! I went back and retried gain access with the information you provided and it "WORKED". I now can recover my lost data. Thank you very much for your assistance. I owe you one.


cylon

Well done, happy computing .

Louis