Gain access to user documents through external HDD kit

[VQpwrdSpec]

I have a user who needs a power supply for her computer. It is under warranty and the manufacturer said to back up all documents/pictures because they said for some reason they might get lost . Anyway I have the Vista HDD on an external HDD kit hooked up to an XP machine. I can see all of the folders on the HDD but I cannot access the users documents because of permissions. It comes up with Access Denied, is there any way around this?

Thanks in advanced for the help...

 

[PainlessTorture]

Are the files encrypted?

 

[VQpwrdSpec]

Nope but I figured it out I had to add my admin account to full control in the permissions tab for that folder.