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Windows 8.1 install, xp drive unable to access documents & settings folder
I installed Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8 upgraded to WIndows 8.1 Pro on a Workstation with Windows XP installed. I performed a Custom/Advanced not an upgrade. What happened is it has created kind of a dual boot, Windows 8.1 and Previous version of Windows. It did not create a Windows.old or migrate the user in documents and settings to the Users folders. I cannot see Documents and Settings but I know it is there but I receive Access Denied. If I boot to the Previous version of Windows I receive a Console Recovery Window, I log in a Administrator but when I access Documents and Settings I receive Access Denied again.
I have tried to change attributes with the Attrib command, access denied.
Anyone had this issue before and know a solution?
thanks,
I have tried to change attributes with the Attrib command, access denied.
Anyone had this issue before and know a solution?
thanks,
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ASKER
There is only 1 Windows 8.1 installation. The Windows 8.1 did not create the Windows.old or migrate anything to the Users folder. Are you saying that the Documents and Settings is an empty pointer?
I never had it to create the previous version of Windows as if a dual boot before.
thanks,
I never had it to create the previous version of Windows as if a dual boot before.
thanks,
Correct, the documents and settings isn't an actual directory, it is just a junction.
I do not understand what you are saying.
Windows 8.1 is a DIFFERENT operating system from Windows 8. If you installed Windows 8.1 natively, it would not create a Windows.old folder.
If you had Windows 8 running, and then did a regular in-place upgrade to Windows 8.1, my recollection is that this also did not create a Windows.old folder. I am not sure why, but I am 95% certain I never had a Windows.old folder to get rid of. It was over a year ago so I cannot go back and look.
The upgrade would maintain all your documents. It did for me. So there was no need for a Windows.old folder.
What are you missing?
Windows 8.1 is a DIFFERENT operating system from Windows 8. If you installed Windows 8.1 natively, it would not create a Windows.old folder.
If you had Windows 8 running, and then did a regular in-place upgrade to Windows 8.1, my recollection is that this also did not create a Windows.old folder. I am not sure why, but I am 95% certain I never had a Windows.old folder to get rid of. It was over a year ago so I cannot go back and look.
The upgrade would maintain all your documents. It did for me. So there was no need for a Windows.old folder.
What are you missing?
ASKER
John, the installation media is Windows 8. You get the upgrade through Windows updates/Store for free to Windows 8.1 Pro. We have a bunch of keys we bought at the Windows 8 launch in January, 2013.
I installed Windows 8 onto a computer that was running Windows XP. I booted off the Windows 8 CD ROM and did an Advanced/custom install.
I installed Windows 8 onto a computer that was running Windows XP. I booted off the Windows 8 CD ROM and did an Advanced/custom install.
That is a helpful update. I would never ever recommend such an upgrade process. You should at this point be running Windows 8 64-bit and that means a fresh install.
If the custom install ditched your Windows XP data, I am not sure how you can retrieve it except from a backup (which I think is what rindi was suggesting).
If the custom install ditched your Windows XP data, I am not sure how you can retrieve it except from a backup (which I think is what rindi was suggesting).
ASKER
It was a clean OS install, never an update intended. You can't update XP to Windows 8. It is a 64 bit OS install. A 64 bit version installed and the old Docs & Settings migrated to the WIndows.old. I've done it before to some other workstations running XP. I never had it to create the dual boot before.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/restore-files-upgrade-windows-old
be sure to read it all especially the part about XP.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/restore-files-upgrade-windows-old
be sure to read it all especially the part about XP.
Do you have two installations of Windows 8 (8.1)? It looks like that. Are they different licenses? It could cause issues like you have if the same license.