yeah, that'll be the easiest way ... go download overclockix, it's got NTFS filesystem support rolled into the kernel.
The problem you're having is that in the OLD install of XP, you prolly told it "make my docs private" ... which does a one way encryption of the directory and all subdirs ... withotu the original install with eth keys and registry entry to decrypt it ... it's a P.I.T.A to crack it
knoppix live CD's ignore it tho, and allow access to the files.