How do I access "private" files and folders on an

On my old system, when I created my account password, it asked, "Do you want to make your files and folders private?", and I answered "Yes, Make Private".

Now, I want to access my files, and I cannot!

I only have Windows XP Home (I say this as some solutions on the Internet apply only to functionality available in Windows XP Professional).

How can I access my old "privatized" files and folders?

How are you connecting to the 'old system'? Where are those files located and where are you now? What is the old system and what error message are you getting?

I'm not sure if Home Edition has this feature, so go to Folder Options > View and check if there is an option called Use simple file sharing. If yes, reply here and I'll post the remaining instructions.

Sorry, XP Home does not have that feature!

Sorry, I don't know of another method right now. Will let you know if I find one.

Microsoft gives the same solution as you:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810881

And they say it applies to:
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

But this is wrong... there is no "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)" check box under "Advanced Settings" where they say to look.

If you answer my questions about your setup, I may be able to find another way.

Sorry, I completely missed this post somehow until now...


The old hard drive is the same hard drive I am using now, only before I re-installed Windows XP Home on it, I deleted all files and folders off of it except for the "Documents and Settings" folder which I renamed to "old matthew's stuff" to avoid duplicate files/folders name problems. So I now have "old matthew's stuff" with my old desktop and favorites (in IE) that I cannot access!

The error message is this (as copied directly from the dialog window):

Boot into safe mode by restarting the PC and press F8.
Logon as an administrator
Disable simple file sharing (only way to do it in XP Home)
Right click the folder and click properties
Click the security tab
Click the Advanced Button
Click the Owner tab
Make sure the owner is your username and apply the changes if any were made

I rebooted into safe mode, loggedi in as administrator, and I cannot find the option to disable file sharing. It is not found where http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810881 says it should be found (Start, My Computer, Tools menu, Folder Options, View tab, Advanced Settings, Use simple file sharing (Recommended)). Is it in another location?

For what it's worth, I continued without disabling simple file sharing, unsuccessfully. I was able to enter the main user folder, named "Matthew", and see its contents, but was unable to enter any folders contained within "Matthew".

Is your drive formatted as NTFS of FAT32?

NTFS

Just checking.

Use simple file sharing (Recommended) is the last option in advanced settings of the view tab. That is the only place it should be.

It is not there. I will take a screenshot to show everyone. This is Windows XP Home that came with a Dell... I wonder if that matters?

Here is a thought. While logged is as Administrator in safe mode go to the Matthew folder and right click it and select properties. Go to the security tab and add your user account to the list and give yourself Full Control.