Recovering Password Locked Files?

jcb33 · 15 Sep 2011 at 11:52

Hey all,
Just installed Windows 7, with the intention of moving my old "My Documents" over from one hard drive to another. They were from a user account on Windows XP that was password protected however, and when I try to move, or access any of the fies it places a padlock on the foder and will not let me do so.

Is there anything I can do to regain access to them? I have tried going under permissions and granting myself access as suggested by a quick google but so far no luck.

Thanks,
Jcb33.

marc2003 · 15 Sep 2011 at 12:02

before trying to grant permissions to yourself, did you take ownership first? that should then work fine.

jcb33 · 15 Sep 2011 at 12:32

marc2003 said:
before trying to grant permissions to yourself, did you take ownership first? that should then work fine.

I have to go with no... Also I am feeling like a total PC novice right now but how do you take ownership?

*EDIT* Google strikes again, thanks for that, I had no idea I needed to take ownership. Problem solved, athough it does make me question how usefull a password actually is if someone can come along, take my HDD and take ownership of the files with the click of a button...

Thanks!
Jcb33.

chaosophy · 15 Sep 2011 at 22:28

That's where blocking physical access to the hardware comes in and why companies lock these things away in access controlled rooms and disable things like USB connections and booting from other devices than the internal HDD's.

If someone can get hands on with your PC their is a lot they can do to get around the security on it. A bit like leaving your locked car parked down some dodgy side road Vs locking it in your garage.

Craig321 · 15 Sep 2011 at 22:34

jcb33 said:
I have to go with no... Also I am feeling like a total PC novice right now but how do you take ownership?

*EDIT* Google strikes again, thanks for that, I had no idea I needed to take ownership. Problem solved, athough it does make me question how usefull a password actually is if someone can come along, take my HDD and take ownership of the files with the click of a button...

Thanks!
Jcb33.

File permissions aren't really designed to protect against somebody having direct access to your data.

If you need to protect it properly then use TrueCrypt. You can also give the file encryption stuff a try in Windows 7, although IIRC that's Ultimate only.