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    File Security Question when doing Fresh Installation (XP)

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by basskiddanny, Jul 12, 2008.

  1. basskiddanny

    basskiddanny Notebook Evangelist

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    Hey guys,

    Currently my laptop is running Windows XP, and I have a single login account which is password protected.

    I have backed up all of the "My Documents" folder to an external HDD, ready to re-format. My question is that as the files are password protected, if I re-format then transfer them back to the laptop internal HDD, when I try and access the files is it going to give me an error message because it is expecting the old account to be the only account with access to the files??

    In the sharing tab I do NOT have the box ticked that says "Make this folder private" so I am assuming I will be okay??

    If I DID have it ticked i'm assuming I would run into the problem posted above?
     
    basskiddanny, Jul 12, 2008
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  2. Nebelwand

    Nebelwand Notebook Consultant

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    What file system do you have on your external drive? FAT32 doesn't support any security features at all. If it's NTFS, you'll get an access denied message anyway, because the new Windows installation won't know the user SID referenced by the the old files' ACLs. Simply log in as an admin, turn off simple file sharing, and take ownership of the files/directories.

    Just make sure your stuff isn't encrypted with EFS before touching the old install. If it is, either decrypt or learn how to back up the keys/certificates first.
     
    Nebelwand, Jul 12, 2008
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  3. basskiddanny

    basskiddanny Notebook Evangelist

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    The file system on my internal and external drives are both NTFS.
    My OS is XP Home so I don't think it supports EFS anyway, so that's one thing less to worry about for me.

    When you say to login as admin and take ownership of the directories do I need to do this on the fresh installation or on my current installation?

    My accounts is an admin account at the moment and the "My Documents" folder is not shared on the network, but I do have the "Shared Docs" shared on the network.

    Is there an option to completely turn off Simple File Sharing??

    Really appreciate the help.

    Dan
     
    basskiddanny, Jul 12, 2008
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  4. Nebelwand

    Nebelwand Notebook Consultant

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    IIRC, the security settings are hidden in XP Home and you have to boot into safe mode for them to be available.

    The new one.

    Yes for XP Pro, not sure about Home. I'd suggest booting into safe mode, opening the properties page of one of your directories and looking for the security tab. If it's still not there, check if Windows Explorer now has a "Use simple file sharing" option that can be disabled (Tools, Folder Options..., View tab, Advanced settings).
     
    Nebelwand, Jul 12, 2008
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