Windows 7: Windows XP harddrive built into new Windows 7 computer, right problems

Dear Experts, dear freaks

I just set up a new computer and built in the old harddrive from a Windows XP machine. The new computer is running Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP1 (German).
I can access my XP Harddrive (NTFS) but when I try to open some files (Word Documents, PDFs), i am running into problems that Windows 7 is telling me that I don't have enough rights to open that file.
"The document can not be opened: The user has no rights"

I have read about this problem and I know that it is a problem of the user rights. The XP user that created those files is now with the new Windows 7 computer not available anymore which is causing some problems. I have to take over the rights of these files again and I am severely struggeling. I have about 1000 files in several subfolders.

Could someone help me with a step by step explanation? I would really like to sort this problem out! Any help is highly appreciated!

Thank you very much!
-snowchild



PS: If any further explanations or screenshots are required, please let me know.

right click folders properties (folder you want to take ownership to)
security tab
highlight the name you want to be owner of those folders and all check items are marked with check marks.


if that don't work click on advance and go to owner tab then click on edit. Highlight who has the right to be owner of that folder(s) and check where it says something about replacing the owner....

Thank you very much for helping! This works perfectly for single files! How can I actually do this for subfolders? There I haven't found out how to specify that!

did you make sure the full control is marked? supposed make items in that folder the owner as well

Try this:

Right-click Folder
Click Properties
Click Security
Click Advanced
Click Permissions
Edit Permissions
Select Replace all Child Object Permissions
Click Apply
Click OK