Removing “Denied Access Files”

Recent need to do system reload, computer created backup files of all files on computer. As the My Documents files were “Private” cannot access them. Could not figure out how to restore the backup files to new OS. Deleted many files but I have three back ups that have files that are denying access to delete. Is there a way to a)unlock the My Documents files that was Private before the backup, b)delete all the remaining files that are denying access. Have full Administrator privledges, current Win XP SP2, Office 2003 SP3.

Thanks