Hello,recently i formated my computer (installing win xp sp3)before i format it i copied files i needed after the format to my external hard diskwhen i loged in my windows i wanted to see a file i needed at my external diskwhen i tried to open a txt file it was saying Access denied and i couldn't open it.then i tried to open a picture (JPEG) and i couldn't see the picture (No preview available)and now i cant copy/use any of my files!!! i have tried everything about ownership etc. thanks1 person needs an answerI do too

To start with, if your files were encrypted with the Encrypting File System (EFS) on your old XP Pro machine and you don't have a backup of your encryption certificate, then your data is lost. EFS-encrypted files should have shown with green filenames on your old system. "Best practices for the Encrypting File System" < http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316 >Assuming that these are not encrypted files, then usually taking ownership of the file(s) will remedy the problem. Not knowing what "have tried everything about ownership" means exactly, all I can do is ask specifically if you've followed the steps in KB308421: "How to take ownership of a file or a folder in Windows XP" < http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421 >Even if you take ownership of a file it is possible that you don't have permissions to it. Right-click on the file -> Properties -> and then select the "Security" tab and examine access permissions to the file. If you don't have a "Security" tab, it is because Simple File Sharing is enabled. In XP Pro, disable Simple File Sharing and if XP Home, then boot to Safe Mode to get this tab. Set access permissions accordingly. "How to disable simple file sharing and how to set permissions on a shared folder in Windows XP" < http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874 >Assuming that you have done all the above and you still can't access your files, try creating a free Live Linux boot CD such as Knoppix, boot from this CD, and see if you can access your files. If it is strictly a permissions issue, then Linux should be able to access the files. Knoppix: < http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html >HTH, JW