Motherboard failed on a Server 2003 installation. I can not get a replacement for at least 2 weeks. Tried putting the C drive into an external SATA enclosure but can not get to certian driectories. Any ideas?

Usually those enclosures work very well. Are you getting error messages or are the directories just not there?

I would suspect the issue has nothing to do with the enclosure but ownership of files. Google taking ownership of files and follow the microsoft how to. You do understand that when you get the new server you can't put this drive in and expect it to work.. correct? Example of Oxymoron: Person who is pro life and anti sex education. Education is key to prevention. Prevent conception you prevent abortion. Abstinence training clearly isn't working.

Response 1: the enclosure is fine. Windows XP (the OS I am trying to access the enclosure from) gives an "Access is denied" message. I do not know if this is something inherent in how Server 2003 creates / manages files or something else. Response 2: Agreed, it is not the enclosure. I will Google file ownership. I hope it will work as I am unsing the same MB as was orginally in the computer, everything else will remain the same. The MB may be a different revision, if so could be some problems. Hoping safe mode will help me resolve any problems. In either case at the moment just want to get my files so I can continue work and school. Thanks for the input, will update thread later.

If same mainboard THEN DO NOT TAKE FILE OWNERSHIP if you expect to put that back in the server!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Example of Oxymoron: Person who is pro life and anti sex education. Education is key to prevention. Prevent conception you prevent abortion. Abstinence training clearly isn't working.

just use acronis true image with universal restore to take the server install from the dead computer, and move it to new hardware. When you get your replacement board do the same thing to the new server

Too late for that. It would also appear to be too late to stop the taking of file/folder ownership. Only way to restore it now is a repair reinstall of 2003 to correct the system ownership of files. Example of Oxymoron: Person who is pro life and anti sex education. Education is key to prevention. Prevent conception you prevent abortion. Abstinence training clearly isn't working.