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

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?

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

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.

dre@ms said:

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.

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.