Reclaim Files after Window Re-Install

[mtg42]

I was getting a BSOD that I couldn't fix, in desperation, I re-installed windows. I recreated User Accounts with the same names as before, and windows created mtg42.computername. The original mtg42 dir is still there, only I cannot access it. I tried using the CACLS command, both as mtg42 (an Admin account) and booting in Safe mode as Administrator. No luck. When I use CACLS to list permission, the orig mtg42 dir is ONLY open to mtg42 & "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" Oops, must have forgot the /e option last time I used CACLS.
1) Any way to claim ownership of "orphaned" files?
2) If not, any way to force permisions?

Also, all my programs are there, and some will run by clicking the exe, some won't. Any way to make them work?

Thanks

I found that although even as admin I had no access to the files / directories, I could, while in safe mode, take ownership, then I have full access (woohoo).
I'd still like an easier way to re-use my old user account. I'm considering two options.
1) edit the registry to change every instance of "mtg42.computername" to just mtg42,
though I'm not sure which copy of ntuser.dat to keep.
2) rename old user account dir, delete new account, create new account again, then move stufover.
Any suggestions?

Thanks. . .

[opensource888]

My suggestion is to have all your files backed up and make a new(format) installation of your OS, its quite messed up because your re installation.
use this Freeware (http://www.freewareupdater.com/)/OpenSource (http://www.freewareupdater.com/blog/) to back your files...

[haapy]

I was getting a BSOD that I couldn't fix, in desperation, I re-installed windows. I recreated User Accounts with the same names as before, and windows created mtg42.computername. The original mtg42 dir is still there, only I cannot access it. I tried using the CACLS command, both as mtg42 (an Admin account) and booting in Safe mode as Administrator. No luck. When I use CACLS to list permission, the orig mtg42 dir is ONLY open to mtg42 & "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" Oops, must have forgot the /e option last time I used CACLS.
1) Any way to claim ownership of "orphaned" files?
2) If not, any way to force permisions?

Also, all my programs are there, and some will run by clicking the exe, some won't. Any way to make them work?

Thanks


I found that although even as admin I had no access to the files / directories, I could, while in safe mode, take ownership, then I have full access (woohoo).
I'd still like an easier way to re-use my old user account. I'm considering two options.
1) edit the registry to change every instance of "mtg42.computername" to just mtg42,
though I'm not sure which copy of ntuser.dat to keep.
2) rename old user account dir, delete new account, create new account again, then move stufover.
Any suggestions?

Thanks. . .


Re-installing windows as you did (recovery mode) is at best a last ditch solution for the reasons that you have discovered.

For future reference, here is a list of BSOD errors and solutions.

http://aumha.org/a/stop.htm

Changing the registry as you suggest in #1 may be dangerous, as mtg42 is not the current user.

Here is how to reset permissions.

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/reset-the-registry-and-the-file-permissions-in-windows-xp/

I would run a registry cleaner.

A good free data backup is Comodo.