Need some PC technical help - GreenHybrid

Hot_Georgia_2004 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-12-2005, 07:18 AM

Yesterday I installed a program called "SONIC BACKUP" to restore some previous files that I backed up on DVD a few months ago.

After the archive restored "Successfully" I do not have access to anything in the "My Documents folder.

When I try to access the folder it only says "C:\Documents and Settings\Me|My Documents is not accessible."
"Access Denied."
Disk usage on the C drive indicates my files are still there, I just can't get to them.

A few things I tried without success to gain access:

*Restored to a previous XP Home backup point.
*Tried access with Safe Mode
*Installed the SONIC software again.
*Then uninstalled it.
*I had some registry changes notices from Spybot during the first SONIC installation so I also recovered a previous Spybot restore point.
These registry change notices were of an "Accept-Decline" type dialog box and some were accepted just as the PC was rebooting after the program installation. Perhaps some keys were damaged?
*Did a full system scan with Norton Antivirus- 0 infections.

I can tell you that last week I accidently ran an .exe file that was packed to the gill with trojans, auto downloaders and multiple spyware but felt sure that I had radicated them from my system.

I don't know if this is because of an undetected virus, a rogue SONIC backup or a registry entry gone bad with Spybot.

There is no program what-so-ever that has access to the My Documents folder.

I know this is short notice and appreciate any suggestions, but if I can't gain access in a few hours I'll have to format and restore my OS and reload all my applications again, as well to loose all my saves.

That would mean I'll have to start over on my video file and everything else I have saved.
NUTS!

Jason · #2 (**permalink**) 06-12-2005, 08:42 AM

That's pretty technical for me. Have you tried calling up computer support?

Hot_Georgia_2004 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-12-2005, 09:52 AM

Yes!

I did a google search on "XP Home Access Denied" and found:
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-275440.php

Quote:

Unfortunately, XP Home using NTFS is essentially hard wired for "Simple File
Sharing" at system level.

However, you can set XP Home permissions in Safe Mode. Reboot, and start
hitting F8, a menu should eventually appear and one of the
options is Safe Mode. Select it. Note, it will ask for the administrator's
password. This is not your administrator account, rather it is the
machine's administrator account for which users are asked to create a
password during setup.

If you created no such password, when requested, leave blank and press
enter.

Open Explorer, go to Tools and Folder Options, on the view tab, scroll to
the bottom of the list, if it shows "Enable Simple File Sharing" deselect it
and click apply and ok. If it shows nothing or won't let you make a change,
move on to the next step.

Navigate to the files, right click, select properties, go to the Security
tab, click advanced, go to the Owner tab and select the user that was logged
on when you were refused permission to access the files. Click apply and
ok. Close the properties box, reopen it, click add and type in the name of
the user you just enabled. If you wish to set ownership for everything in
the folder, at the bottom of the Owner tab is the following selection:
"Replace owner on subcontainers and objects," select it as well.

Once complete, you should be able to do what you wish with these files when
you log back on as that user.

I now have access to that folder.

Too bad last night in my desperation I trashed a bunch of folders and programs so I might as well reformat and reload everything.

Oh well at least I have my files to backup first.

Jason- Why is it that you don't like MS for your new notebook?

Seems like I have to agree about that.