I installed Windows 7 on a separatehd then my Vista machine. But to transfer or access files on my Vista hd i have to be in safe mode or use an XPVM as a go between, because of vista's profile folder security. what i need is a way to give me access with out preventing me from accessing the files when running the vista machine. I've thought that maybe taking ownership would work, but i haven't done that in case it would either make the files in access able at all in vista, make vista go crazy on boot, or mean that id have to keep changing ownership.Bill Gates look out!

Hi, Taking the ownership should not cause any problems. As you described, you need the permission to access the user profile in the Windows Vista system partition. You may just take the ownership of the folder "Users\[user name]". If you take the ownership of other folders, the Windows Vista system should not have issues either. Just pay attention that do not remove any system files.Arthur Xie - MSFT

ok, great to know that taking ownership should work and not cause any problems. as to removing files, i plan on using libraries (love them) to make it seem like the data's there (no need to have to copies). having to take ownership each time though would be annoying, but i could just set up a batch to run on boot toautomatically take ownership, right?Bill Gates look out!

Hi, Take the ownership one time should make it available forever.Arthur Xie - MSFT

But wouldnt taking ownership in 7 make me not have ownership in vista?Bill Gates look out!

Hi, No. The ownership you set in one system would not affect anything in the other system.Arthur Xie - MSFT

but then why and how does 7 block the folder in the first place?Bill Gates look out!

Hi, In both Windows 7 beta and Windows Vista, if the system find that the files or folders belongs to another operated system on the computer, the folders or files will be protected and we need privilege to access them. This behavior does not exist in any Windows XP computer. Therefore, the permission behavior only based on the system you are working on, but not other systems.Arthur Xie - MSFT

Ah, that makes a lot of sense. ok. thank you!Bill Gates look out!

well it everything seemed ok, but when i try to access folders in vista that iaccessed using 7, vista won't let me take ownership so i cant get to the files using vista!Bill Gates look out!