HELP!!...WinXP and HDD experts needed

[Harrybaws]

I've been bogged down with the lsass.exe error for the past week. On startup, the system boots as normal but then gives the error message "lsass.exe error - object not found", right before the XP login screen would normally appear. It then goes into a never ending loop of restarts giving the same error.

Now i've already seen how many people are getting this error, from looking around various help forums. I've also tried every fix suggested, all to no avail(safemode, last good config and winXP recovery/repair). A full re-install appears to be the only fix that works. I'm keeping that as a last resort because i have 3gig of un-backed up files on the disk, that i don't want to lose.

I've practically given up on finding a fix for the error. All i want now is to be able to recue my files before i do a re-install from the OEM disk.

I've already hooked up the HDD as a slave into another XP machine. This allows me into most of the folders on the disk but surprise, surprise,..NOT the folders i need into. Both the "System Volume Information" and the "username" folder are inaccessible. When i try to open them, i get the "access denied" message. I'm guessing that this is because the folders were userpass protected on the other XP, which is why this XP doesn't recognise the userfolder?. Nothing i've tried lets me into the folders .

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated before i go insane because of this damn error.

[Siliconjunkie]

http://www.techimo.com/forum/showthr...ight=lsass.exe

Thats the big thread here on this problem. May be able to find help there.

[JimG]

Ok, System Volume Information is non-accessible regardless of username/password. Even the Administrator can't get into that folder. It's not an issue because it's some systems thing.
Did you try creating an account on the other (working) XP machine that matches the username and password of the account on the nonworking XP HD? That should let you access the files. There is one problem, the Security ID. No 2 computers have the same, and that could be preventing you from accessing your files. I had to get files off an NTFS drive once ... gotta remember how I did it; but I think it was creating the account on the working machine that did it.

[meese]

Why do you want to open "System Volume Information"? This is a system folder and you can't store anything in it anyways unless you change the permissions, but you definitely don't want to do that. If you mess with that folder, your system will get screwed.

As for the user. I just copied a user from one pc to another one. I log on to that machine as administrator. I right click the folder and go to permissions. I change permissions and add Everyone. Then I can access the folder. I don't know why you can't do this.

[Harrybaws]

At last....some replies .

First of all. Thanks Siliconjunkie but i've been there and done that .
As to the System Volume Information.....well i want in there because i could manually edit/set a system recovery point(that's where they are stored) and go back to a working configuration. It's a lot of hassle but previous replies to the isass.exe error, say that it works. But since i can't get into it, i'm guessing sorting out this user issue is the way to go.

I've already tried your suggestion JimG and i still couldn't get into the user folder. As you say, the security ID isn't the same so creating an identical username and password doesn't work....well it didn't for me!!??.

Meese, you however mention that you "copied" the user from one pc to the other. How would I do that, baring in mind that i can't boot into the offending XP??. The fact i can get into most of the Windows folder when the HDD is a slave, could i just copy over the profile?. If so, how?????....detailed instructions would be nice .

Thanks for all the help so far guys. It's all really appreciated . I'm going to go and see if i can find anything about copying user profiles to different machines. I'll update tomorrow to let you know how i have or haven't got on.

[meese]

All of your user profiles are listed in C:\Documents and Settings\username. As long as you are not logged in as the user you are trying to copy then just select the user folder and copy it to a different pc. Thats if you have a network environment in order to do this.

As far as "System Volume Information" I was able to change the permissions and edit this folder. Again I don't know why you can't do this.

[ac_blazer]

Here are some thngs that should help,
if you are in xp home you will need to be in safe mode, otherwise the security tab in properties will not be availible.

in xp pro you will need to go into your folder options and disable or uncheck the box for "use simple file sharing"

with that out of the way...

right click on the folder you want to gain access to and select either properties or sharing & security and add your current user name to the list with full controll permisions, you may have to assume ownership of said folders this is done under special permisions, make sure to check the box including subfolders & files

But thats not all even doing all this there may yet be stubborn folders that wont let you copy/access them so you'll have to repeat the proccess for these ie.. assume ownership/permisions

remember to include everyone in the user list with full control or you may run into trouble when putting the hdd back into its native system

good luck if you understand what I've just said your on your way .. if not get someone else yo do it for you-preferable a proffesional.