My Documents Lost Forever?

[PRIVATEpastry]

I recently had to re-install Windows XP Pro. I stored all of my videos and music in my documents and I can't access them anymore! I can still see the folder, but it says that access is denied. Is there any way around this, or will I have to just start from scratch?

[jivetrky]

If you had the folder encrypted and that's why it's saying access denied...then you will probably not get at them. But if it's jus saying that because you are not the owner, then you can just take over ownership.

[Treker]

you got off easy.. I managed to delete my gf's my document folder that contained her last 2years of work and photos of 'us' .. I'm so screwed

[redduc900]

As long as you're logged on as Administrator, or an account which has administrative priveleges, regardless of whether the files and folders are on the root volume or a different drive / partition... you can access the data, but you first need to take ownership (like jivetrky suggested). Check to make sure "Use simple file sharing" is unchecked, under "My Computer" | Tools | Folder Options | "View" tab | Advanced settings.

Right-click the folder(s) you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties. Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears). Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab. In the Name list, click your user name, Administrator if you're logged in as Administrator, or click the Administrators group. If you want to take ownership of the contents of that folder, click to select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check box...and click OK. The following message will appear:

"You do not have permission to read the contents of directory. Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control? All permissions will be replaced if you press Yes." Click Yes, click OK...and then reapply the permissions and security settings that you want for the folder and its contents.

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

[jivetrky]

you got off easy.. I managed to delete my gf's my document folder that contained her last 2years of work and photos of 'us' .. I'm so screwed


ACK! I feel sorry for you....no "friendly time" for at least a month for that one!

[PRIVATEpastry]

Yes! Thanks a million jivetrky and redduc! You guys saved me from hours of reloading songs and pictures and movies. :)

[dylskee]

you got off easy.. I managed to delete my gf's my document folder that contained her last 2years of work and photos of 'us' .. I'm so screwed
http://www.recovermyfiles.com/
Program works awesome, i used it recently and i was able to recover everything i lost. I deleted about 5GB of MP3's, that's whats so nice about that program, you can select specific file types and then search.