Retrieving files from password protected user

I have xp sp2, & recently had a blue screen error that I couldn't resolve.
Eventually, the rep from Dell that I had on the phone had me reinstall xp,
overwriting the original so that I could retrieve my files. That is done,
however now I can retrieve everyone's files by finding their old user file,
however I can't open mine. I am getting an access denied message when I try
to open it. The rep said it was probably because my user acct was password
protected & the others were not. He did not know how to access the files. Is
there some way for me to get into my old password protected user acct & find
my files?

Yes, the files can be used by claiming 'ownership'
Q308421 - HOW TO Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;Q308421
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Mark L. Ferguson
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"coffee16" <coffee16@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:18B0B444-6F6C-4501-B6FC-3BDAE67D0817@microsoft.com...
> I have xp sp2, & recently had a blue screen error that I couldn't resolve.
> Eventually, the rep from Dell that I had on the phone had me reinstall xp,
> overwriting the original so that I could retrieve my files. That is done,
> however now I can retrieve everyone's files by finding their old user
> file,
> however I can't open mine. I am getting an access denied message when I
> try
> to open it. The rep said it was probably because my user acct was password
> protected & the others were not. He did not know how to access the files.
> Is
> there some way for me to get into my old password protected user acct &
> find
> my files?

"coffee16" <coffee16@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:18B0B444-6F6C-4501-B6FC-3BDAE67D0817@microsoft.com...
>I have xp sp2, & recently had a blue screen error that I couldn't resolve.
> Eventually, the rep from Dell that I had on the phone had me reinstall xp,
> overwriting the original so that I could retrieve my files. That is done,
> however now I can retrieve everyone's files by finding their old user
> file,
> however I can't open mine. I am getting an access denied message when I
> try
> to open it. The rep said it was probably because my user acct was password
> protected & the others were not. He did not know how to access the files.
> Is
> there some way for me to get into my old password protected user acct &
> find
> my files?

It matters if this is XP Home or Pro, the service pack doesn't. If it's XP
Home, it's just permissions.

If it's XP Pro the same applies, but if you also encrypted those files, you
need to import the account credentials. If you don't have those, the files
are basically lost forever.

HTH
-pk

Thank you VERY much for the help, it worked like a charm & only took a few
minutes.