Reading directories that don't want to let you access them on NTFS disks

[lovingboth]

The clients managed to break the main WinXP Home PC used for their internet access again (the darlings kept installing assorted crap and the bootup procedure complained that the windows/system directory was corrupt and it wanted to go home...)

Even trying to use the hidden recovery partition didn't work (installation CDs? what are they?) this time, so a decision was taken to install Win2k on it as we do have a CD for that.

As the main partition didn't think it had been unmounted properly (it hadn't) this meant installing it on the hidden partition = a couple of minutes with PartitionMagic 7 to unhide it, and half an hour or so installing Win2k+SP4.

I'm now in a position where I can read most of the directories on the main partition and run the Win2k repair utils on it. But not the three directories I created on it before the problems and which have things I want to access on them.

I do not remember setting sharing restrictions on them, but it's not impossible that I did. I do have an account on Win2k that's the same username and password as the one that would have been used... and that can't access them either.

So, what should I try? Converting it to FAT32 isn't an option as PM7 thinks it still hasn't been properly unmounted.

Comments

[lproven.livejournal.com]

Can you do a "CHKDSK /F" on it?

Or boot it from the W2K CD, go to the Recovery Console and do "CHKDSK /R"?

Either of those might enable conversion to FAT32.

If neither of those works, can the Recovery Console see into the inaccessible directories? If not, you really need to try with an XP CD before you proceed, but if even that can't, I fear you may be stuffed. About the only other way might be to back them up - the Backup user should be able to "see" everything to transfer it - then restore to a FAT volume.

BTW, I'm not sure PM7 can handle XP volumes. You probably ought to try PM8. I *cough* believe it can be obtained readily on KaZaa Lite...

[lovingboth]

Yep, I can CHKDSK /F to my heart's content. I was expecting this to have solved PM7's problem with it, but alas no.

I'll try the recovery console. The problem with trying the backup route is that these directories have 'a DVD's worth' of files on, so there's no space for them on the other partition.

Ah, I hadn't noticed they're up to PM8 now...

[lovingboth]

chkdsk /r from the RC was slowly chugging through the disk when I left. We'll see what effect it has on Monday.

[lovingboth]

Either doing that or an 'upgrade' to PM8 (or the combination of the two) looks to have worked, and it's slowly converting as I type.

Thanks!

[lproven.livejournal.com]

Backup to an external disk, or temporarily fit a 2nd drive? Or indeed to tape or something?

[conflux.livejournal.com]

I would try PartitionMagic 8 as I think that sorts out XP problems better than 7. I also have a copy of XP Pro that I could lend you if all else fails.

[lovingboth]

PM8 did the trick!

[vampwillow]

Is it possible the directories you can't access were secured to the old admin account or some other restricted set of users? Although it is the same hardware the OS has changed so the access rights will have been lost on any directories you don't own.

Sign on as an admin and right-click he directory or disk and select the security tab and see what you get. If it *doesn't* have 'everyone - full control' flagged as allow then adjust the rights accordingly. It /should/ let you do this if you are admin. Hoefully then you'll gain access.

If this isn't it then probably you've lost it so far as what you can do is concerned. If the data is valuable and worth money to recover then contact Vogon or a similar operation to see what they can recover. They're good but cost.

[lovingboth]

It's not worth that much - it'd cost about a tenner to reaquire.

It's the principle of the thing :)