Vista - Denied access to files on old HDD

I am trying to access files on a HDD from my old machine, which was Win XP.
Some folders prompted me to the security tab, and I was able to change
ownership and access those files. Others however just keep saying access
denied. For instance, I can't copy any files from the My Documents folder.
Yet I have gained access to folders within My Docs.
I have tried changing ownership of the entire my docs folder, but I end up
getting numerous denied messages as Explorer progresses through the files.

I do not understand the Security setup in Vista well enough to figure this
out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

"Hans" <Hans@discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:B61E44D6-28FE-4928-A678-1647E53C6E5E@microsoft.com...
>I am trying to access files on a HDD from my old machine, which was Win XP.
> Some folders prompted me to the security tab, and I was able to change
> ownership and access those files. Others however just keep saying access
> denied. For instance, I can't copy any files from the My Documents folder.
> Yet I have gained access to folders within My Docs.
> I have tried changing ownership of the entire my docs folder, but I end up
> getting numerous denied messages as Explorer progresses through the files.
>
> I do not understand the Security setup in Vista well enough to figure this
> out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Hans,

I just saw this issue a couple of times browing Microsoft newsgroups. The
problem occurs, if users are upgrading from Windows XP (or using old Win XP
drives). The reason could be ACL privileg separation settings with SIDs
assigned by a WIndows Domain Controller. Switching partitions when ugrading
to Vista may generates inaccessible issues. But there is help in sight. Just
use the commands:

takeown /F<folder> /r /d y
icacls <folder> /grand administrators:F /t

to overtake ownership and grant full access rights. You need to execute the
command in administrator mode.

Note: There is also a lousy implementation in thouse tools - if you run a
localised Windows Vista, you need to use localized parameter values. The
help screen shows definitely wrong values. Here in me German Vista I need to
use the value "j" (stands for the German Ja) instead of y (means Yes) in
parameter /d of takeown. Also the group names in the /grand switch needs to
be localized (i.e. administratoren instead of administrators). If you create
a small .cmd-file and substitutes <folder> in the commands above with %1,
you can create also a shortcut to this cmd-file. After changing the Extended
Properties of this shortcut to "Execute as Administrator" (hope the
translation is right), you will have a nice drag & drop tool. Just drag one
of the nasty folders to the shortcut, confirm the UAC dialog and the
owernship will be set to your selected Administrators account.

Hope that helps

Greets from Germany

G. Born

www.borncity.de

"GBorn" wrote:

>
> "Hans" <Hans@discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> news:B61E44D6-28FE-4928-A678-1647E53C6E5E@microsoft.com...
> >I am trying to access files on a HDD from my old machine, which was Win XP.
> > Some folders prompted me to the security tab, and I was able to change
> > ownership and access those files. Others however just keep saying access
> > denied. For instance, I can't copy any files from the My Documents folder.
> > Yet I have gained access to folders within My Docs.
> > I have tried changing ownership of the entire my docs folder, but I end up
> > getting numerous denied messages as Explorer progresses through the files.
> >
> > I do not understand the Security setup in Vista well enough to figure this
> > out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Hi Hans,
>
> I just saw this issue a couple of times browing Microsoft newsgroups. The
> problem occurs, if users are upgrading from Windows XP (or using old Win XP
> drives). The reason could be ACL privileg separation settings with SIDs
> assigned by a WIndows Domain Controller. Switching partitions when ugrading
> to Vista may generates inaccessible issues. But there is help in sight. Just
> use the commands:
>
> takeown /F<folder> /r /d y
> icacls <folder> /grand administrators:F /t
>
> to overtake ownership and grant full access rights. You need to execute the
> command in administrator mode.
>
> Note: There is also a lousy implementation in thouse tools - if you run a
> localised Windows Vista, you need to use localized parameter values. The
> help screen shows definitely wrong values. Here in me German Vista I need to
> use the value "j" (stands for the German Ja) instead of y (means Yes) in
> parameter /d of takeown. Also the group names in the /grand switch needs to
> be localized (i.e. administratoren instead of administrators). If you create
> a small .cmd-file and substitutes <folder> in the commands above with %1,
> you can create also a shortcut to this cmd-file. After changing the Extended
> Properties of this shortcut to "Execute as Administrator" (hope the
> translation is right), you will have a nice drag & drop tool. Just drag one
> of the nasty folders to the shortcut, confirm the UAC dialog and the
> owernship will be set to your selected Administrators account.
>
> Hope that helps
>
> Greets from Germany
>
> G. Born
>
> www.borncity.de
>
>
>

Thank you. I now have access to all my files and was able to move them off
that drive.

Thanks again.

Hans