Okay so 2 day's ago I was playing games as usual and before I knew it, It was time to fall asleep. Just before I jumped of the computer and into bed I thought it might be a good idea to do some updating (turns out not so good). So heading on over to Microsoft's Update Center and selecting pretty much everything but the obvious non needed programs, I clicked download and install. While I lay asleep that night it was updating and such. Woke up the following day and it said "Please restart system to finish update." and I did so.

Now this is where it all started to go bad.

It would boot fine, do the normal beep and what not, load the bios things with all the white text telling me what my computer is and then loading that XP Logo with the blue loading bar down the bottom. After it finished with the blue bar going from left to right it went to a black screen. In that black screen was a notification box telling me that I had a missing file (MSVCP60.DLL) and would need to reinstall this file. I thought to my self hm maybe it's just a once of error. So rebooted. No, the same thing happened. After some thought, rebooting isn't going to solve the issue so I tried to boot in safe mode. Nope, Still the same problem.

Later that day I pulled out my spare HDD with Win XP Home and booted that. Tried Googling the missing file, some people said to try and download the DLL and replace it where needed, nope still same issue (hoping I replaced the DLL in the right spot). So I told mum "oh no computer doesn't work", so now we have Win7 on its way. Obviously I am going to re-install my OS

The thing is I care about is precious files locked away in this un-bootable HDD.
Now since I can boot with the backup OS and go into My Computer and the old HDD is there with all the files still on it, I tried to copy the files. I could get the stuff out of "Program Files" and "Windows" but I could not get anything from "Documents and Settings" (this is the important files). It just keeps saying "Access is denied". Obviously because my user account was password protected.

I am aware of Win7 having a feature where you install the OS and it just puts your old OS (in my case XP) into a folder called "Windows.OLD". Which is fine and all but I would much rather do a clean install (Format and all)

Since I have tried Google and I would much rather keep my money then paying some rand at a comp shop to fix it, also maybe I could learn what to do for next time. I came here hoping someone knows how to unlock the denied Documents and Settings folder. So I could access all my "Important" files and folders.

Thank-you for your help.
Much appreciated as always.
Curley.

plug in old HDD.
install windows.

Plug in ****ed HDD
See if you can access files that way.

That's what I'm doing ATM. But it just keeps saying "access denied" to the files I want.

GGGGRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUMMPPPPPPPPPPPPYYYYYYYYYY

u need to take ownership of the user account if u want to access the files from the my documents folder and windows

I do this how?

http://mralan.blogspot.com/2005/04/how-to-take-ownership-of-folder.html

Thank you for finding that information but one problme.

Tricky bit is that, one must first go >> windows explorer >> tools >> folder options >> view (tab) >> scroll down and uncheck "Use simple file sharing (recommended)". Apply that and return to your main windows explorer window.

i cannot find that *the letters in large font*

Don't think grumpy's posting on this thread

GRUMPY VERSUS LANTERN @ KNOWLEDGE!

^^

That would be a nice battle. I have seen some posts from both Lantern and Grumpy and man there pretty good aye.

But yea I still can't access the files I need. It keeps saying access is denied.
I've googled and everything comes up with change security settings but where it tells you to go, for me there is nothing there.
If it counts I'm using Windows XP Home Edition SP1

Hey guy's don't worry I have worked out the issue. Well you guy's did. How you said you need to take ownership of the files was correct but my computer didn't allow me to view the buttons to make that possible. So I found another computer in the house and tried exactly what you guys were saying. Well it worked and the files have now been copied to a spare HDD. All that is left to do now is to wait for Win7 to arrive and be installed.

Thank-you guy's for helping out.
Much appreciated as always.

np!

I was about to suggest to do this: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421&Product=winxp

grumpy to the rescue