Windows 7 Cannot access Hard drives or run programs in normal mode (can in safe mode) Windows 7

  • Thread starter Thread starter Patrick_Dickey
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Patrick_Dickey

Hi, everyone,


So I got a computer from a friend of mine. Long story short, it wasn't working and she couldn't remember the password for her account. So, I used a reset disc to reset the password. Nothing was encrypted on the computer (or at least nothing should have been). Now, when I boot into the computer, programs won't run (OneNote fails to start properly), updates won't install, and if I try to access the C:\ or D:\ drives, I get the Message "C:\ is not accessible. Access Denied."


BUT, if I boot into Safe Mode, I'm able to access the drive without any problems and run programs normally. Ultimately, I'm trying to upgrade this to Windows 10 and keep her files intact. So, I need to know how to fix the computer so I can access the drive (and install things) in normal mode. I've checked the Ownership, and it shows her account as the owner. And it shows her as a member of the Administrators group.


I enabled the "Administrator" account and checked to see if it had the same problems as her account. It had no problems with installing updates or anything else. I also downgraded her account to a Regular User and will restart the computer after the updates are completed. My plan is to reinstate her account as an Administrator after I restart, hoping that it fixes the issues. If not, then I'll upgrade the computer to Windows 10 from the Administrator account, and hope that fixes the problem.


My questions are will my plan work? If not, what do I have to do to get her account back to where it works? Will upgrading with her account "broken" fix her account? What else am I missing? I've got plenty of time to work on this--as she doesn't need it back right away.


Thanks for any advice that you can give me.

Patrick.

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