Accessing Windows user folders

[Tetsuro]

So, as some of you already know, the laptop's been smashed and I'm already working on getting a new PC for myself; with any luck, I'll have it this week already...

But the question is, in the event I do buy an adapter so I can plug the laptop's HD into the new PC, there is a possibility that XP installed on that HD won't boot up in the new machine as it's an OEM copy and tied to the hardware of the laptop (don't you just love DRM?) - which in turn means I won't be able to access any files in the XP user folders. I certainly couldn't when I tried doing it from Win2k on the same machine...

So, I want to know, is there any tool for Vista or any Windows OS in general that'll let you access the user files of another OS?

[The Stinger]

The problem would be user rights, this artical tells you how to take ownership:
http://brajeshwar.com/2005/file-access-denied-on-windows-xp-and-how-to-take-ownership/

[NutWrench]

You might be able to boot the laptop hard drive in Safe Mode but it definitely won't boot normally because the version of Windows on the laptop hard drive will be expecting a completely different hardware setup. (You'll get bluescreens everywhere if you try to boot normally).

Once you get the laptop drive connected, you'll need to boot your new PC with the original Windows CD and do a "new" install (not the repair install. Don't worry, the installer will check your laptop drive anyway). When the installer finds a previous copy of Windows on the laptop drive, it will give you the option of either wiping the whole drive or preserving it. Naturally, you'll want option 2. :)

As the installer finishes up, you'll need to choose a new Username. Don't choose the same username you used originally on the laptop. Windows will create a new, generic accout, but don't worry, your original data will still be in "Documents and Settings" under the old user name. (You'll just need to movie it over to the new account). However, your stuff in the Program Files directory will probably need to be deleted and re-installed because the Registry installation data is gone.

[Wamplet]

Also, if you use R-studio (http://www.r-studio.com/) on an XP drive, it will recover files that are not viewable normally, even if the drive is slaved/usb'd or if you had logged in as a different account with or without admin rights on the local computer and could not access them.

I don't know if it will recover encrypted files though. :o I haven't tried it on the new version.

[johnart]

AFAIK, once you connect your laptop HD as an external HD for your PC... it will be recognized as a different drive when booting your PC.