We are WORKING on computer that began reporting page files too small.  Tried to install a repaired version of Win2000.  WOULD not allow a complete install.  Bought a new hard drive and successfully installed windows but when we install the old drive as slave, Windows  reports 'access denied' when we try to read data on drive. This happens with both old drives that were originally in computer.  We can read data in the Recovery Boot system on WIN CD but this system does not allow wildcards to copy data.  I'm sure that if we re-format drive it will solve problem but we need the data off it first.  Your help will be greatly appreciated.first i would run a diagnostic program on those hard drive..maker like maxtor/seagate etc have them and there is>http://www.theabsolute.net/sware/dskinv.html did you try altering the bios settings? or just chose the CABLE select option on those  hard drives...hth..Thanks for the reply.  We just solved the problem.  When we looked at the permissions on the drive there was a default user set up that I gave full control to.  Evidently, this is not enough.  I had to create a new user and set control parameters.  Once I did that, we had full access to the drive.  Interesting problem, simple solution that took us about 20 hours to find.