Windows 7: Format and re-install - now I can't access my mp3's

Hi All,

I have 2 hard disks. One (C has the OS (Win 7-64 Pro) and the other (E has all my data - images, music, docs etc.

After formatting and re-installing Win 7 on C: due to software related crashes, I now find that I am unable to play music files on the Windows Media Player. I firstly get security message that I do not have permission to access the folder, then on clicking OK. I then get directed to the Security Tab and select the PC name. I can then see the files in the folder but still cannot play them - Win Media Player gives the following message:

Windows Media Player cannot access the file. The file might be in use, you might not have access to the computer where the file is stored, or your proxy settings might not be correct.

How can I regain permission on these files which I am guessing is the problem. I am the admin (only registered user) on this PC!

How have two hard disk partitions or physically two hard disks?

Anyway: click start > type regedit >hit enter> Right click on the HKEY current user > select permission > tick all the permission boxes.



Click advanced > select all keys and subkeys too.

Do the same for HKEY local machine too.

Reboot. It should work.

Thanks Abhishek,

They are two physical drives. To be sure I did not format the wrong one, I actually disconnected it's cables. Only reconnected after the installation was complete.

Will report back after the reboot...

No, this did not work. Same security messages. Any other idea's. Surely I would not have to delete this folder and rebuild it by copying all my CD's again? I use my PC as something of a Media Center, like to have MP3 copies of all my CD's. I can access all my images etc fine, just the music files are a problem.

Have you looked into the "take ownership" process at all? That might be an answer....do you see it when you right-click on those files?

No - no option comes up for "Take Ownership" on right click - either the folder or the files inside...

Under Advance Settings I can get a option to do assign ownership but I get this as the Current Owner: Unable to display Current Owner.

That will work. Its a great alternative. Probably you have kept the box checked saying "protect my copyright" (or equivalent) while ripping to MP3/WMA. Thats you are getting it. It added an special hash to the ripped files so that no one can play/copy it other than that system owner.



@Noob: That will not work for non system files.

OK then, in that case I have no ideas here.

Looks like I have to reload everything then? That really makes my day ! It is not just re-ripping the disks - I rename all the tracks to suit my preference and have a single standard! That will take weeks.

Take Ownership Shortcut