Win XP Home Ed: Log on problem

[Dune]

Hi All!
A little while ago, I deleted Nero 6 from my add/remove option in the control panel on my notebook. When I restart Windows, the computer froze. I had to physically hold the on/off key for 10 second before Windows will respond or even start.

Now the problem appeared. On the Log-on page (where windows ask for you to click the user name/user icon), all the user names or icons have disappeared! I tried manual log-on(by press ctrl,alt and del together to get a smaller window where you can input your user name and password manually). The computer does not recognise my old user name and password!!!! I tried typing "administrator" as user name, but xp still does not accept it.(Same thing happens when I start win xp in safe mode,it still ask for user/password)

I am completely locked out of my own files. Now, I pull out the notebook harddrive and used USB cable to connect it to my desktop PC, I can see all the files in the notebook harddrive, but I can't access them.

All I need to do is to back up my critical files on the notebook. Could someone help? Any suggestion is much appreciated. I am really running out of ideals. Thank you!!

[dodecahedron]

I am completely locked out of my own files. Now, I pull out the notebook harddrive and used USB cable to connect it to my desktop PC, I can see all the files in the notebook harddrive, but I can't access them.

OK. i'm assuming that this hard drive is hooked up to a computer (running WinXP) and you can see the files, just can't access (open) them.
also assuming your account on WinXP has administrator privileges.

1st, go to Folder Options (Control Panel) -> View tab, in the Advanced settings make sure Use simple file sharing is unchecked.

2, in My Computer, right click the drive letter of the hard drive you're trying to access -> Properties -> Security tab. under the Group of users names pane click the Add button and then, in the Enter the object name to select box enter your username.

now you should be able to access the files.

hope this helps

[Dune]

dodecahedron,
Thank you for your help!
What happened is this:
1) The other desktop PC that I had was also using Win XP Hone Ed. It does not have thr option htat you mentioned. I had to hook up the notebook HD to a Win XP Prof. machine.
2) Even when I have "enter the object name to select", XP still does not allow me to access the files in the "My document" file. I had to change the "ownership" of the Notebook HD by going into the "Advance security setting for Document and settings" to change two things:
a) under the "Permission"tab, change the setting to "Full control"
b) under the "Owner" tab, change the name of the owner to your present computer admin name;
c)also you need to check the option to make all sub directory and subseq files comply to the above two options.

Anyway, thanks to your hint, I finally got my problem solved. Thank you! I am much obliged!

[dodecahedron]

glad i could help.

yeah, permissions and ownership were the next things i was gonna suggest you check, if the above hadn't worked.

i had such problems before, you can read about it, and the help i got, here:
http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13812

[Dune]

Wow!
We had very similar...almost the same problem! for the first part anyway.

Again, thank you for your help!!!

[dodecahedron]

again, welcome