Need Help with Windows 7 Pro setup - access old hard drive

[fohat.digs]

I have just formatted and installed Windows 7 Professional on a small SSD. (aka C:)

I have a nice fresh 1TB hard drive that I want to use for everything else, including the default location for all my program files. (aka D:)

The old drive is now in an external enclosure, and I want to use is as a backup/source. I can access everything except for the old Users/Harry/ folder which includes My Documents and My Pictures and such. I get the message that I do not have permission to access them.

How do I grant myself access to dig them out again?

D@mn you once again, Microsoft!

[fohat.digs]

Also, when I am logged in as an administrator, why do I still have to jump through hoops to get permissions?

That whole structure is simply something I have never understood, since I have not worked very much on 'big" systems.

[vun]

Usually what I do when something like this happens is I boot Ubuntu from a USB stick and just move/delete/alter the files Windows won't let me. For instance when there are files I can't delete because Windows tells me they're not there, despite showing up in explorer.

[SpAmRaY]

I'm not sure if you used encryption or anything like that but this might help

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-take-ownership-to-explorer-right-click-menu-in-vista/

[microsoft windows]

YOU SHOULD JUST USE WINDOWS 98. THAT'LL SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS.

[IvanIvanovich]

Right, you just need to take ownership of the files again under your new account. It's not a big deal, something you will get used to if you reinstall. Administrator account is still not really full administrator. It's just less locked down than a standard user account. You can go into computer management>local users and groups and enable the actual administrator account which is most privileged after trustedinstaller, though it's not really necessary for doing anything.