I replace my old hd with a new one than latter on I plugged the old one via usb and I was able to get most of the stuff from my old drive. But when I got to my documents folder it tells me "access denied, and is probably because on my old drive I had it set up where my documents where privet but right now I do not have the option to log in under my name and password for that particular drive so the questin is : is there any way I can retrieve those documents maybe if I copy the folder into my new drive and then try to open it? Can some one help me thanks
Al.

Log into the computer using an account that is a member of the Administrators group. Then, in Windows Explorer right-click the folder(s) for which you are denied access and choose "Properties" and the "Security" tab. Then either add the necessary accounts and permissions to give your new account access, or select "Advanced" and then the "Owner" tab and take ownership of the folder.

Also, if you used a special software utility to make these folders private or encrypted, that software will need to be used to make them accessible again.

Thanks but that did not work I have win xp and when I click on the folders properties there is no owners tab
But thanks anyway
Al.

You can try what you wrote above, but you are correct as why you cannot access the folder

You could connect the old one back as boot drive, copy your files to a cd or flash drive and then hook up new drive again and just transfer with cd or flash drive