Ok, who's gonna help me? Windows XP problem

I reinstalled now having problem copying files from backup

[walkman]

I had a few problems and eventually formatted and reinstalled, but not before copying everything on another HD. Now I'm trying to copy some of those files (mainly Outlook Express files), but I get an error that says that either the file is in use, or I don't have access to it. The files are on Drive D so I don't know. I even tried to make the user name identical. Any ideas why? I have owner access.

Please help. It would suck since I can see the "old" files and settings. Te transfer settings thingie wasn't working before I formated...this was the only thing I could do.

[SlowMove]

>since I can see the "old" files and settings.

I'm not sure that I understand, but if you can see the old files in Outlook Express, you should be able to open up a folder on the newly formatted drive in your file manager and drag and drop all the files that you want from the Outlook Express window into the file manager window.

[walkman]

Hi,
thansk for answering...
drive C has the new Windows installation. Drive D is the backup of Drive C before formating and reinstallation.

I can see them on Drive D, but can't open or copy them to the current drive. I get the either in use or permison denied thing. I want to restore as much as possible from the backup drive...

[SlowMove]

If all else fails, try adjusting hardware, booting up "D" as "C", and burning files to disk.

[walkman]

"If all else fails, try adjusting hardware, booting up "D" as "C", and burning files to disk. "
Hmmm...or try to copy it from dos...will try that tomorrow. enough of a headache tonight. what a day!

It doesn;t work. I copied the files to another directory, still get the same error when I try to open them or have outlook get them. Anyone understand this ownership thing on XP (home)?

On edit: I had used the "make files private" option on the user accounts. That's why I think. No way to unscramble those?