PCTech Forums

I am a tech trying to unlock the Documents and Settings folder on a Laptop Hard drive connected to my Desktop. The customer destroyed the Laptop trying to get the drive out. I am able to access the drive just not the user folders. I have never had to do this and need some help.

Try loging onto your system as the administrator and see if that gives you access to the folder.

You might have to disable "simple file sharing" if you have it enabled. Then take possession of the folder

I tried to disable the simple file sharing but was unable to. Unfortunately I just have XP home on the work computer and that option isn't given. I even went into the registry and changed the forceguest to zero. That didn't change any but killing my ability to share to the network. I followed another lead I found and the option wasn't even there in which they told me to change. Any other ideas?

Disabling simple file sharing is a little convoluted. Its the default setting for XP Home Here is a cut and paste from MS on it:

How to turn off simple file sharing:

1. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab.
3. In the Advanced Settings section, clear the Use simple file sharing (Recommended) check box.
4. Click OK.

Reboot and you should be able to get into those folders by rt clicking on them and clicking on the security tab

I was able to get access to the files on another techs computer who had XP pro. I just tried your solution to go into safe mode and the security tab was there. I initially thought about doing exactly that but thought to my self, why would it be different. I just wonder why Microsoft took that option off for the home version. I guess so people would by XP Pro. Well thanks for the help.