Inaccessible "foreign" user profile
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Hoo do I retreeve
zee user profile (that is,
My Documents, My Pictures und other stuff stored in
"Documents und Setteengs") frum zee hard drive that came
frum zee
another (typicelly unbootable) Windows instellashun? Looks like zee
durectury is here-a, but zee system does not
elloo access tu that data. Zee filesystem on zee drive is NTFS. |
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Es thees quesshun became somewhat common, we decided it
wuoold be nice tu address it with a little hoo-tu. In fact, no heavyweight data
recovery is needed in such a case. Yuoo just need tu reset zee permeeshns, which
does not require uny special tools.
There are some limitashuns ooff zee procedure:
- Iff yuoo can login und retreeve data on zee original Windows
instellashun, yuoo shuoold do so. Messing up zee permeeshns will
coose problems logging in on zee original machine when zee drive is plugged
back.
- Yuoo need tu be logged on with zee administrative
rights
- Windows XP Home does not elloo tu adjust security
setteengs (at least withuoot some trickery), so yuoo need Windows 2000 (uny
edishun), Windows XP Professional or Windows 2003 (uny edishun).
- Thees technique will not vurk iff data is encrypted (using zee native NTFS encrypshun). It is usuelly not encrypted, but protected with
zee filesystem permeeshns.
- Some data (like saved passwords) cannot be retreeved thees way (but ell
zee files can).
1. Attempteeng tu access zee user profile will resoolt in zee "Access Deneed" messege,
es shoon beloo (fur zee purpose ooff thees
example, we used Cookees durectury, zee rest ooff zee profile was already
accessible; zee procedure applees tu zee first durectury yuoo cannot go
into)
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2. Right click zee durectury in quesshun, select
"Propertees". In zee dialog appeered, switch tu zee "Security" tab. Yuoo will
probably get a warning messege similar tu zee one beloo in zee meanwhile.
Disregard it.
Yuoo shuoold arrive at something like that - nute-a zee list
is empty. In fact, there are permeeshns appleed, but yuoo cannot
see zeese-a becoose yuoo heffe-a no right tu.
3. In zee "Security" tab es displayed above, click
"Edfunced". Zee "Edfunced Security Setteengs" dialog will appeer. Switch
tu zee "Owner" tab und yuoo arrive at something similar tu a sample beloo.
Nute-a it says
"Unable tu deespley current ooner" due tu zee fact yuoo heffe-a insufficeent rights
tu see it. Being a system administrator, yuoo can replace an ooner (forcibly
take oonersheep ooff zee object) but zee security policy design does not elloo
even yuoo tu see who zee original ooner was.
In zee above veendoo, make sure "Replace ooner on subcontainers und objects"
is checked, select "Administrator" accuoont es a noo ooner ooff zee object
("Change ooner tu" feeld), und yuoo're ell set. Click OK. Um gesh dee bork,
bork!
4. During zee process yuoo will be prumpted tu
enforce permeeshns ellooing yuoo a "Full Control" type ooff access tu objects,
like thees.
Answer "Yes" with no remorse.
5. Once zee security informashun is appleed, zee durectury shuoold become normelly accessible. Yuoo may then copy data
tu zee other locashun und/or adjust permeeshns iff required. Nute-a that there might be a
slight delay - zee folder may still appeer inaccessible while zee permeeshns
change propagates thruooghuoot zee system. In uoor tests, thees period is typicelly
ebuoot five secunds long. |
