im not new here, but i am so desperate right now. i had my computer working perfectly with multiple users on the same comp... and i didnt want my brothers accessing my user folder under documents and settings, so i set it up to "make this folder private" well stupid me, my computer gets F***ED to all hell, and i have to reformat because it wont even start up. now, i just installed windows on a THIRD hard drive, and while trying to copy over my personal folder it says access denied for obvious reasons. the drive is NTFS. QUESTION. (please, anyone PLEASE help, i am so desperate its not even funny, im on the verge of tears right now because of the amount of work lost if i cant recover this one stupid folder.) if i convert the drive to Fat32 from NTFS, will i be able to access that folder?? more importantly, will anything get erased??? thank you so much in advance. please, anyone help!!

converting from ntfs to fat32 requires the partition on the hdd to be changed. So memory locations and the like will be compleatly wiped. So yes u will lose what is on the drive.

Yes you can try using Partition Magic to convert the drive back to FAT32 then you'll have access to your folder. PM will not erase your data converting to FAT32, great program. If you don't have contact me. E.

okay, two different responses.. i which one is right?

Go to this web page: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;kbinfo Then in the upper left corner under "Search the Knowledge Base", type in: access denied Then click the Green arrow. At the next page, next to "Select a Microsoft Product", find and click Windows XP in the list. Then click Green arrow below that. Then look at the KnowledgeBase Articles for yourself.

not sure if this will help go to control panel> folder options click on View tab, scroll down, uncheck USE SIMPLE FILE SHARRING. Then click on the folder that you can't access with right moust button and go to Properties. Click on Security tab. And NO, don't convert it to FAT32. I got 2 harddrives myself, used Partition magic 7 to convert from NTFS to FAT32. Lost all data. Could not recover it with EASYRECOVERY PROFESSIONAL. DON'T CONVERT. What happens when u boot from your harddrive? Have you tried doing it from SAFE MODE?

yeah, i tried safe mode, and last known good boot or whatever its called.. nothing. you see, i was playing around with those stupid programs that are supposed to make keys for any windows product (i do have a legal version.. i was just playing around) and it said it was installed and needed to restart my computer. im guessing it took my existing activation key and corrupted/trashed it. thats what i get, i guess. well, i havent converted, but i did turn off simple file sharing, and then i "replace owner on subcontainer and files" so now i can see and access files on the folder that i want. only ONE problem. im only allowed access to SOME of the files in the folder, even though they all say that i have specific permissions to access them. so, what gives? i even set up my user account on the new win install to have the same username and password as before, and the same computer name.. still, nothing. one last question: is there any way i can copy over from the old install of windows all my user settings? so basically, im tricking the computer into thinking that i am the old user? thanks again everyone for everything.