Recovering Lost Stuff...

OK... My computer crashed, and wouldn't even start up, so I had to use a system recovery... when it finished, I had to make new accounts and everything, but I noticed that my old account was still there under documents and settings (I have XP Home btw). I had a protected account though, so it won't let me access it from the outside is there anyway for me to get my stuff back? And if not is there any way to delete it? Cause its taking up like 30 gigs and I can't access it -_- Thanks.

 

You can take ownership if you have an administrative account. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Log into windows with an administrative account
2. Navigate to the root folder you want to take ownership of (ie c:\documents and settings\username)
3. Right-click the folder and select 'Properties'
4. Select the 'Security' tab, and press the 'Advanced' button
5. Select the 'Owner' tab
6. Select the administrator account you are using from the list
7. Check the box that says, 'Replace Owner On Subcontainers And Objects'
8. Press the 'Apply' button

Now that you're owner, you can set file permissions for this folder so you can use or delete whatever it contains.

Please note that if you do not have a Security tab on the properties of the folder, then you will have to uncheck 'Simple File Sharing' on the view tab when you select 'Folder Options' from the 'Tools' menu of any windows explorer window.