Permission Error when copying files from different hard drives

dvdfan

Im fixing a pc for a friend. There pc wouldnt get to windows and couldnt load in safe mode, so when trying to do a recovry using the windows cd it kept giving me a ftdisk.sys is coprupt message so i decided best thing is to copy the My Document files and do a clean reinstall.

So i hooked the drive up to my own pc as a slave and i decided to copy all the files. Trouble is i kept getting premission errors that the file is write protected or in use, an example is the ntuser.dat file and also any main folder from a user i couldnt open or access to copy, i presume this is for a good reason so i couldnt steal someones hard drive and get access to files that would normally be protected by a password, so my question is, is there any way around this so i can copy all the files? and if there is should i just copy the whole Document & Settings folder and paste it on the new install and will everyones files and user profiles be the same as before or is there a better way to do it

Thanks

dvdfan

Some added details i forgot the error i get is

Access is denied

My OS is Win XP Home Edition SP2, the drive im trying to copy from is Win XP not sure what version but both drives are NTFS

Ive came across this solution

There may be a case of encryption on the old W2K disks, that you have not (yet) installed on XP-home.
Also, you will be a different user on XP from W2K, even if you used the same name. You can take ownership of these files as follows:
Boot XP-home into Safe Mode (Press F8 a few times when starting up) as an administrator. Now use Explorer to go to the folders etc. on your W2K-drives, right-click them, select Properties, click the Security tab and click OK if a security message pops up. Click Advanced, then Owner tab. In the Name list select your (administrator's) name. Mark the Replace Owner on subcontainers and objects check box. Click OK, Yes and OK.

For taking ownership of files, rightclick them, Security tab, Advanced, Owner tab. In Name list select Administrator or Admin-group and click OK. Click Add and in the "Enter the object...list" type a user or group account or Administrator. Click OK. In the group or user name list, click the account you want (e.g. Administrator), then tick the check boxes for permissions, e.g. Full Control [Allow].

Hope this gets you on your way


however even though ive Win XP Home Edition i dont have a security tab when i right click and then go properties i have General, Sharing and Customise????

cance

its down to the ntfs permissions on the drive, your user account doesnt have access to the folder. i'm not 100% up on xp home, but you need to take ownership of the folder and assign yourself the permissions to write to the folder.

disable simple file sharing in folder options, then go to the advanced area of the security tab.

ref the profiles no, if you copy them across it will not recreate the user accounts.

Sherifu

you need to go into safe mode and log in as admin to see the security tab. Then you can set the permissions.

blackgold>>

Right click on the drive and click security and remove all the accounts on that and then go to the backup utility that comes with windows and use that to copy files and settings to the other hard disk.
Goodluck

dvdfan

Cheers All, as rkm said you need to be in safe mode to get access to the security tab

blackgold>>

No you don't. Glad you got it sorted.

dvdfan

blackgold>> wrote: »

No you don't. Glad you got it sorted.

If you can do it please share, a screenshot, is this windows xp service pack 2 your on about. when i right click and file or any drive and then go properties i have General, Sharing and Customise but there is no security tab????

blackgold>>

Cance said

disable simple file sharing in folder options

Tools->>Folder Options-->>View

dvdfan

Ok work with me black because i dont want to have to go into safe mode everytime, wheres this Disable Simple File Sharing?

blackgold>>

My OS is Win XP Home Edition SP2

Sorry I'm a retard I didn't read you had home edition.
I never knew home edition hadn't got that option , atleast i know now.
Sorry about that dvdfan.

dvdfan

No Problem black, thanks for the help, appreciated