activating?

[ranchmom5]

New to all this and just bought a used computer running Windows 7 RC. I have been messing with things all morning trying to figure out how to access old files off my old Hdd that I installed. Anyway, in the course of my meanderings I came across a screen that says "activate Windows; 7 days remaining". Do I need to activate this? There is a product key on the screen, but when I did the first steps toward activating, it wouldn't accept the zeros at the beginning of the key.

Also, still frustrated with trying to figure out how to get access to old files. AND....can't find my Quicken files anywhere! Is there a way to boot directly into that old Hdd - running XP - and see if I can find them that way and backup to flashdrive?

[ranchmom5]

Ok...found the Quicken files I am after, but keep having the same troubles. Says I need permission from administrator to access the files. I did have a password on my XP desktop. HELP!!

[GomJabbar]

AFAIK, the product key should not have any leading zeros. The product key should be 5 groups of 5 characters each, mostly letters, but a few numbers.

As far as the permissions problem, you need to change this from the security tab of the folders you are trying to access. You need to add a group or user and give them permissions. You access the security tab from a menu choice when you right-click on the folder. I don't think you have to be in SAFE MODE in Win 7, but if you do not see the security tab, boot up in SAFE MODE. I am in XP at the moment, so I can't check.