Windows Support

I'm in the middle of a massive computer overhaul, and I'm left with some serious problems.  I have a new hard drive with a working operating system, but I'm having problems accessing a couple of my folders from my old hard drive (for some odd reason, the only folders that I can't access have some amount of porn on them? . . .).  Anyway, I keep getting the error message "Access Denied", and it tells me to make sure the folder isn't being used or write-protected.  I'm not able to change any properties of the folders either.  The folders say that they're Read-Only, but I can't change that.

I've run an error check on the hard drive already, and defragged the drive (where it was able to access the files in those folders). 

Why can't I access these folders?!

You don't have permissions set up on those folders. See, even if you reinstall Windows and use the same user names as before, the security identifier (SID) for your user account won't be the same, so your new user account no longer matches the permissions applied to any folders and files the old account had. To fix:

1. Turn off Simple File Sharing (uncheck the check box in the "View" tab of the dialogue box you get by going to Tools>Folder Options from any Explorer window).
2. Right-click>Properties on the folder that's giving you trouble and go to the "Security" tab.
3. Click the "Advanced" button, and go to the "Owner" tab in the dialogue box that appears.
4. Find your user name on the list and click it. Also, check the "replace owner on subcontainers and objects" checkbox. Click OK to apply (it may take a couple of minutes if there's a lot of files in there).
5. If you still get "access denied", add yourself as a user on the permission list in the security tab (as step 2 above) and give yourself full control.

I'm not finding the Simple File Sharing on the View tab, and the only tabs I have for each folder are General, Sharing, and Customize.  Where should I be looking?  (I have Windows XP Home Edition)

open cmd.exe and type "cacls /?"
but only use that command if nothing else works

>>3
Look...... seriously He already said it where you're supposed to look it. Are you a retard or what? Tools>Folder Options from any Explorer window

>>4
Before I go ahead and do that, what will that do?

Oh man, this isn't just stupid, this is comedy gold.

LOL

>>5 no, since he have XP Home he cant change that (the option just isn't there), one of the many reasons to use Pro (even if pirated) instead of Home.

>>1
What you need to do is to restart your computer and boot xp into safe mode, and then login using the Administrator account, that will give you access to the security tab that >>2 spoke of.

Alright.  I don't care if I'm stupid, so long as I can make sure I can access everything on my old hard drive.  I am now looking at the list of advanced settings on the view tab of the folder options.  What I do not see is anything listed as "Simple File Sharing".  I do not see any option that says anything about sharing.  Please make this simple for me:  EXACTLY what does it say?  i.e. "Automatically search for network folders and printers"

And as I mentioned earlier, #3, I see no Security tab in the folders options.  I have no idea why I am unable any of this, and I may be an inquisitive idiot, but please, offer me advice I can use.

Thanks to those who have tried to help me out so far.

Thank you #9.  I thought having Home might have something to do with it; that's why I mentioned it.

It is done.  I've now accessed and backed up those hard to reach files.  Thanks to #2 and #9 for offering good advice.
And the rest of you can kiss my Windows XP Home using ass.

>>10
Disable Simple File Sharing, it'll enable the Security Tab.

>>12
And the rest of you can kiss my Windows XP Home using ass.
Lol