"E:\ is not accessible. Access is denied" issue

[kodockz]

Urgent Advice Needed!

So here's the story. I have a laptop with +/- 120 GB HDD.

Had two partition; each +/- 58 GB:
1: Windows 7 RC
2: Data and Documents

Since RC validity will be over soon, I decided to install XP and try dual booting as the tutorial suggested.
So, I had the hard disk to become 3 partition:
1: Windows 7 RC -> 40 GB (shrunk from 58 GB)
2: windows XP -> 18 GB
3: Data and Documents -> 58 GB

Managed to have XP installed and running smoothly for a while. But did not proceed with dual boot attempt since my XP is running smoothly.

I manage to get a copy of Windows 7.
I installed windows 7. Isntallation went smooth. Problems didnt show up until the point that im going to access the data and documents partition (partition 3 or 'E:\' as it is now named by 7) to fetch some installation files.

I couldnt access the drive and it said " E:\ is not accessible. Access is denied ". On the hand, I am able to access
the XP partition/drive in this case (D:\). At the moment I am frustrated since 'E:\' drive/partition contains most of my data in the past 4 years!

help is appreciated...
-kodockz


edit:
-- Tried running XP; Able to access third partition (named 'E:\' as well) and back up data
-- still curious though why it is not possible to access 'E:\' using 7? Anything to do with XP installation?

 

[FZ21Z]

I think this is what you need to do - Take Ownership of Files and Folders - Windows 7

 

[kodockz]

Tried to implement the link above. Still when i click or try to explore the drive it says: Not Accessible; Access Denied. I put the ownership to my account.

Actually I did the above from 'disk management->drive->properties' instead of 'explorer->drive->properties'.
If I access the drive from disk mgmt, it will show how much space are used and available. While from the explorer it just shows 0bytes.

Another thing, when i run CMD as administrator and cd to E:\ and dir , i can see the folders inside. And i can open the files in side it.

 

[Ch@n]

This means ur current account is not an admin. Enable the default admin account in 7, logoff and login as the new admin. You will be able to access the drive. Then make ur user account as the owner for tht drive. You will be then able to access the drive when you login as ur account.

 

[kodockz]

This means ur current account is not an admin. Enable the default admin account in 7, logoff and login as the new admin. You will be able to access the drive. Then make ur user account as the owner for tht drive. You will be then able to access the drive when you login as ur account.

enabled admin account. I dont see my account when i tried to change owners (only administrator and administratorS ), but i see that its on my account already. Re check the bottom box (repalce owners on containers and objects) and clicked ok; it processed the owner changes until 'E:\System Volume Information': access is denied.

Then i continued. Log off Admin, re log on my account. Still the E:\ is not accessible, access denied.

update: logged back in to Admin account. Got a pop up Recycle bin on E:\ is corrupted, would you like to clean it ? Yes/No .. I chose NO.

SOLVED (for the moment).

One thing for sure, I did not pay attention the permissions list. My account was not in there. Tried to add my account and put full control using Admin Account. Log off admin to my account. So far i can access the drive.

 

[Ch@n]

You have did a right job and oops I havnt provided a complete walkthrough

If your account is not listed, you should search and add them. If your account is already the owner, remove/change it and redo it. Owner should be changed and then you have to check the permissions too, whether you are having the full rights.

As far now, you have done al the above steps and glad it solved your issue.

 

[kodockz]

Appreciate all of the help. Each has been helpful, lucky i find my way through.

 

[dmorrow1]

Same problem but with a usb stick, the files were imported through another computer running windows 7 whcih I no longer have. How do I reverse this? I don't need the files so if there is a way to reset the entire stick it would be ok, it is a 32gb duracell.

 

[gregrocker]

If you're sure you don't need the files then I'd wipe the stick with Diskpart Clean Command then format it again in Disk Mgmt. Partition or Volume - Create New

 

[iamgregor]

I think this is what you need to do - Take Ownership of Files and Folders - Windows 7

OF COURSE! This was my problem. I moved the drive from a different computer and the permissions were wonky. Though I could see the drive perfectly in disk management, when I tried to see it in explorer, it showed "local disk" only and didn't let me access it.