Vista - Accessing files - ownership doesn't help

Hi,

Like everyone here, I've recently installed Vista (or rather - got a new
computer with Vista on it). I've transferred the files from my old computer,
and when trying to access them, got the usual 'access privilege' message, so
I changed ownership, as was suggested by the computer's 'help' , and even
restarted the computer, just to be sure. But now, even though my (admin)
account is the owner of all these documents, I still get the same 'user does
not have access privileges' message (or just - 'cannot access', in case of an
excel file).

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Ruth

Oh, and I also checked the 'permission' issue - my account seems to have
permission to all these folders, but all the 'checks' are in grey, so I can't
change them, only deny permission (which is obviously not what I want to do)

thanks!

"RuthB" <RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1F7FE515-C3EF-40AD-BE05-A603BC76C6E6@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> Like everyone here, I've recently installed Vista (or rather - got a new
> computer with Vista on it). I've transferred the files from my old
> computer,
> and when trying to access them, got the usual 'access privilege' message,
> so
> I changed ownership, as was suggested by the computer's 'help' , and even
> restarted the computer, just to be sure. But now, even though my (admin)
> account is the owner of all these documents, I still get the same 'user
> does
> not have access privileges' message (or just - 'cannot access', in case of
> an
> excel file).
>
> Can anyone help?
>
> Thanks,
> Ruth


Were the files encrypted on the XP computer? Right click on a file and pick
properties, then click on the Advanced button. Is there a tick beside
Encrypt file?

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca

No, not encrypted, nor 'read only'. mysterious...

"Kerry Brown" wrote:


>
>
> Were the files encrypted on the XP computer? Right click on a file and pick
> properties, then click on the Advanced button. Is there a tick beside
> Encrypt file?
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>
>
>

Hello,

- What folder did you copy your files to?
- Are you familiar with using the command prompt?

- JB

On Fri, 1 Jun 2007 06:36:01 -0700, RuthB
<RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Like everyone here, I've recently installed Vista (or rather - got a new
>computer with Vista on it). I've transferred the files from my old computer,
>and when trying to access them, got the usual 'access privilege' message, so
>I changed ownership, as was suggested by the computer's 'help' , and even
>restarted the computer, just to be sure. But now, even though my (admin)
>account is the owner of all these documents, I still get the same 'user does
>not have access privileges' message (or just - 'cannot access', in case of an
>excel file).
>
>Can anyone help?
>
>Thanks,
>Ruth

Hi,

I copied the entirety of 'my documents' folder - including subfolders - into
the new 'documents' folder.

I have used command prompt before, but only with very specific instructions

Ruth

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> - What folder did you copy your files to?
> - Are you familiar with using the command prompt?
>
> - JB
>
> On Fri, 1 Jun 2007 06:36:01 -0700, RuthB
> <RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >Like everyone here, I've recently installed Vista (or rather - got a new
> >computer with Vista on it). I've transferred the files from my old computer,
> >and when trying to access them, got the usual 'access privilege' message, so
> >I changed ownership, as was suggested by the computer's 'help' , and even
> >restarted the computer, just to be sure. But now, even though my (admin)
> >account is the owner of all these documents, I still get the same 'user does
> >not have access privileges' message (or just - 'cannot access', in case of an
> >excel file).
> >
> >Can anyone help?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Ruth
>

I found now that I can change the properties of a single file so that I can
access it - I need to add my user name to the permissions. quite basic of
course. the annoying thing though, is that I defined the entire parent
folder, with all it's subfolders and files, with permission for my user name,
but it doesn't seem to "catch". Instead of my own user name there is an
unknown user with a long string of numbers as its name (starting with
S-1-5-21).

Does this make any more sense?

cheers.

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> - What folder did you copy your files to?
> - Are you familiar with using the command prompt?
>
> - JB
>
> On Fri, 1 Jun 2007 06:36:01 -0700, RuthB
> <RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >Like everyone here, I've recently installed Vista (or rather - got a new
> >computer with Vista on it). I've transferred the files from my old computer,
> >and when trying to access them, got the usual 'access privilege' message, so
> >I changed ownership, as was suggested by the computer's 'help' , and even
> >restarted the computer, just to be sure. But now, even though my (admin)
> >account is the owner of all these documents, I still get the same 'user does
> >not have access privileges' message (or just - 'cannot access', in case of an
> >excel file).
> >
> >Can anyone help?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Ruth
>

Yes, this can happen sometimes when accessing files created from
another installation of Windows.

I would recommend using the following command-line tool to give
yourself permission to all of your files and folders:

- Open an elevated command prompt by right-clicking it and clicking
Run As Administrator
- Browse to the folder you need to accessr (e.g. cd
documents\oldfolder)
- Type: icacls . /grant USEROI)(CI)(F) /L /T /Q
(Where USER is your username)
(Or, if you want ANY user to be able to access these files, replace
USER with Users)

- JB

On Mon, 4 Jun 2007 11:54:01 -0700, RuthB
<RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I found now that I can change the properties of a single file so that I can
>access it - I need to add my user name to the permissions. quite basic of
>course. the annoying thing though, is that I defined the entire parent
>folder, with all it's subfolders and files, with permission for my user name,
>but it doesn't seem to "catch". Instead of my own user name there is an
>unknown user with a long string of numbers as its name (starting with
>S-1-5-21).
>
>Does this make any more sense?
>
>cheers.
>
>"Jimmy Brush" wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> - What folder did you copy your files to?
>> - Are you familiar with using the command prompt?
>>
>> - JB
>>
>> On Fri, 1 Jun 2007 06:36:01 -0700, RuthB
>> <RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>> >Hi,
>> >
>> >Like everyone here, I've recently installed Vista (or rather - got a new
>> >computer with Vista on it). I've transferred the files from my old computer,
>> >and when trying to access them, got the usual 'access privilege' message, so
>> >I changed ownership, as was suggested by the computer's 'help' , and even
>> >restarted the computer, just to be sure. But now, even though my (admin)
>> >account is the owner of all these documents, I still get the same 'user does
>> >not have access privileges' message (or just - 'cannot access', in case of an
>> >excel file).
>> >
>> >Can anyone help?
>> >
>> >Thanks,
>> >Ruth
>>

)
> - Type: icacls . /grant USEROI)(CI)(F) /L /T /Q
> (Where USER is your username)

Nearly there, but the 'USEROI)(CI)(F)' part (with the USER changed
appropriately) is said to be an invalid parameter

Ruthi

> (Or, if you want ANY user to be able to access these files, replace
> USER with Users)
>
> - JB
>
> On Mon, 4 Jun 2007 11:54:01 -0700, RuthB
> <RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I found now that I can change the properties of a single file so that I can
> >access it - I need to add my user name to the permissions. quite basic of
> >course. the annoying thing though, is that I defined the entire parent
> >folder, with all it's subfolders and files, with permission for my user name,
> >but it doesn't seem to "catch". Instead of my own user name there is an
> >unknown user with a long string of numbers as its name (starting with
> >S-1-5-21).
> >
> >Does this make any more sense?
> >
> >cheers.
> >
> >"Jimmy Brush" wrote:
> >
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> - What folder did you copy your files to?
> >> - Are you familiar with using the command prompt?
> >>
> >> - JB
> >>
> >> On Fri, 1 Jun 2007 06:36:01 -0700, RuthB
> >> <RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Hi,
> >> >
> >> >Like everyone here, I've recently installed Vista (or rather - got a new
> >> >computer with Vista on it). I've transferred the files from my old computer,
> >> >and when trying to access them, got the usual 'access privilege' message, so
> >> >I changed ownership, as was suggested by the computer's 'help' , and even
> >> >restarted the computer, just to be sure. But now, even though my (admin)
> >> >account is the owner of all these documents, I still get the same 'user does
> >> >not have access privileges' message (or just - 'cannot access', in case of an
> >> >excel file).
> >> >
> >> >Can anyone help?
> >> >
> >> >Thanks,
> >> >Ruth
> >>
>

On Tue, 5 Jun 2007 05:48:01 -0700, RuthB
<RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

Sorry, if your username has spaces in it, you'll need to put it in
double quotes. For example:

icacls . /grant "Jimmy brush"OI)(CI)(F) /L /T /Q

- JB

>
>)
>> - Type: icacls . /grant USEROI)(CI)(F) /L /T /Q
>> (Where USER is your username)
>
>Nearly there, but the 'USEROI)(CI)(F)' part (with the USER changed
>appropriately) is said to be an invalid parameter
>
>Ruthi
>
>> (Or, if you want ANY user to be able to access these files, replace
>> USER with Users)
>>
>> - JB
>>
>> On Mon, 4 Jun 2007 11:54:01 -0700, RuthB
>> <RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>> >I found now that I can change the properties of a single file so that I can
>> >access it - I need to add my user name to the permissions. quite basic of
>> >course. the annoying thing though, is that I defined the entire parent
>> >folder, with all it's subfolders and files, with permission for my user name,
>> >but it doesn't seem to "catch". Instead of my own user name there is an
>> >unknown user with a long string of numbers as its name (starting with
>> >S-1-5-21).
>> >
>> >Does this make any more sense?
>> >
>> >cheers.
>> >
>> >"Jimmy Brush" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hello,
>> >>
>> >> - What folder did you copy your files to?
>> >> - Are you familiar with using the command prompt?
>> >>
>> >> - JB
>> >>
>> >> On Fri, 1 Jun 2007 06:36:01 -0700, RuthB
>> >> <RuthB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >Hi,
>> >> >
>> >> >Like everyone here, I've recently installed Vista (or rather - got a new
>> >> >computer with Vista on it). I've transferred the files from my old computer,
>> >> >and when trying to access them, got the usual 'access privilege' message, so
>> >> >I changed ownership, as was suggested by the computer's 'help' , and even
>> >> >restarted the computer, just to be sure. But now, even though my (admin)
>> >> >account is the owner of all these documents, I still get the same 'user does
>> >> >not have access privileges' message (or just - 'cannot access', in case of an
>> >> >excel file).
>> >> >
>> >> >Can anyone help?
>> >> >
>> >> >Thanks,
>> >> >Ruth
>> >>
>>