How to access files from a portable hard drive - help please!!

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Our PC got fried in a thunderstorm a little while back. We decided to get a new base unit rather than attempting to repair the old one.

The old hard drive is fine though, and is linked up to the new PC. Mostly we can access files from it no problem, but some of my files when I try to open them I get the error message 'access denied'. I have never protected them in any way - does anyone have a clue as to why this would occur, and are there any ways around it??

Many thanks!

The files could be corrupted... that's all I can think of.

Can you give more information? For example, what file in particular always gives 'access denied'? What operating system are you using (Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, Windows NT, Vista, something else)?
Does it happen on Folders as well as individual files?
What is the full error message you get? For example "Folder is not accessible. Access is denied." (Windows XP will say this sometimes when using NTFS file system)
What file system is the drive using? (Try right clicking on the drive icon, select properties... may tell you NTFS, FAT32)

If it is a Windows XP system, then try this - how to take ownership of folders

Wow, excellent, thank you very much! I've printed off the link for DH to have a look at (I don't even know how to run the pc in safe mode, duh).
Both are XP Home, NTFS and the error message says 'Access to F:\Documents\etc\etc. was denied'. No hint of why!