A way to access inaccessable files?

Long story short, my mom fried her Mobo and I was charged with the task of backing up her files. Her HD wouldn't load Windows (she'd be prompted with the load in Safemode/Last good setting/normally screen, all of which would just cause it to reset). So I pop her HD into my box to just burn them from there, but when I tried to access her users file in Documents and Settings it said I wasn't able to access it (for whatever reason. I'm guessing because she was the administrator or something?). I could open and look at every other file and folder on the computer (backed up all my brothers stuff too) but couldn't touch hers. Is there any way around this so I can get to her stuff?

While logged in as an administrator, either add yourself to the access control list, or take ownership of the files. If you don't know how, F1 is your friend.

New motherboard = new computer = you have to buy a new winders license.

Use lunix lol.

>>3
Irrelevant. The problem is NTFS file permissions.

all irrevalent, especially 3. he fails.

jsut throw the hardrive at her head, letting it engulf the HD. then she wil lhave al lher files back where hey belong, in her empty head.

get a file recovery program such as Rstudio to get at them. it always worked best for me off a liveCD, but it doesn't necessarily have to.

Some of these replies are the most ignorant I've seen.

New motherboard doesn't require a new license.

A repair install of the OS using an OEM cd or the original shipped CD (so long as it doesn't format the entire drive first, like a restore cd) is the way to correct the change in motherboard issue.

If you insist on backing up the data first. Use the option Tools->Folder Options, Security tab, then hit advanced and look for the tab or button that has the take ownership option.

You have to do this in safemode on windows xp home. windows xp pro can do it in normal mode.

>> New motherboard doesn't require a new license.
o rly.
http//www.aviransplace.com/...

Microsoft recently made a change to the licence agreement saying that a new motherboard is equal to a new computer, hence you need to purchase a new Windows licence.

Here is what Microsoft has to say:

“An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a “new personal computer” to which Microsoft® OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required.”

The reason Microsoft gave for this term is that “Microsoft needed to have one base component “left standing” that would still define that original PC. Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the “heart and soul” of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created.”

Microsoft sent a memo to its OEM partners asking them to enforce this new policy, every time they upgrade a computer for a client.

Here's the key point in the license text though:

for reasons other than defect

If you're replacing the motherboard because it's fried, you're probably still good to go. You might have to phone Microsoft and give them a sob story to get the activation put through, but it changes very little.

>>1

Similar thing happened to me with my motherboard.  I had the same problem with accessing certain files.  Try sharing the folder and then accessing it from another computer on your network.