Accessing windows xp hdd after computer breaks 1

[Hunter97321]

I have a Compaq Presario notebook computer with windows xp that died. I bought an adapter to install the drive into my desktop. Everything works, using the drive as a slave, but I can't access the files that were under my previous user profile. Is there a way to change the atributes of the folder and files to allow access? I know what the user profiles password is and I am an administrator on my desktop pc. But that profile doesn't exist on my desktop. Anyone else found a work-around for this issue. I tried making the hdd from the laptop the master but, it wants me to activate xp. I don't want to switch my user license away from the laptop as I hope to fix it when I have the funds. Also, I already have an xp license for the desktop so that would be a waste. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[bcastner]

Take Ownership:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

 

[Hunter97321]

Many thanks for the quick and accurate response!