Hi,

I backed up (copied) my data to another drive and reformatted the disc
with my WinXP Pro and did a clean install. I cant decrypt the files or
folders. I tried to take ownership in Safe Mode and I do not have the
key(drive was reformatted). Went to security tab and tried to change the
attributes and uncheck encrypt. No good. Went to advanced, gave myself full
control, but couldnt change the special permissions, and nothing was
inherited from the previous installation.

Is there anything I can do?

"Tom N" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:32B0C503-FC4F-454C-94B5-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> I backed up (copied) my data to another drive and reformatted the disc
> with my WinXP Pro and did a clean install. I cant decrypt the files or
> folders. I tried to take ownership in Safe Mode and I do not have the
> key(drive was reformatted). Went to security tab and tried to change the
> attributes and uncheck encrypt. No good. Went to advanced, gave myself
full
> control, but couldnt change the special permissions, and nothing was
> inherited from the previous installation.
>
> Is there anything I can do?

AFAIK it is not possible to decrypt a file without the key.

I used Ontrack to recover formatted files off the disc. I looked for some
Certificate files (.cer ?), nothing except Adobe. Where can I find the
key(s)? I think it says both the public and private keys are encrypted also.
Without the keys and/or certificate I dont think I can use the recovery
agent, correct me if I am wrong.

=?Utf-8?B?VG9tIE4=?= <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:C7BC900E-3FAB-4F96-9499-(E-Mail Removed):

> I used Ontrack to recover formatted files off the disc. I looked
> for some Certificate files (.cer ?), nothing except Adobe. Where
> can I find the key(s)? I think it says both the public and private
> keys are encrypted also. Without the keys and/or certificate I
> dont think I can use the recovery agent, correct me if I am wrong.
>

You're right. You won't be able to recover your files unless you have
a backed-up certificate that you made prior to your re-install.
Certificates are encrypted with a combination of your Secure ID and
your password.

IMHO, using the Encrypted File System without first backing up your
certificates is like strapping a time-bomb to your data (and Microsoft
doesn't tell you that you need to do this until after the bomb goes
off). My approach is to use the freeware "Truecrypt" which only relies
on a passphrase to recover data. I would have my data now if I were in
your situation.

<http://www.truecrypt.org>

Sorry for your loss,
-- John

"Tom N" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
> Hi,
>
> I backed up (copied) my data to another drive and reformatted the disc
> with my WinXP Pro and did a clean install. I cant decrypt the files or
> folders. I tried to take ownership in Safe Mode and I do not have the
> key(drive was reformatted). Went to security tab and tried to change the
> attributes and uncheck encrypt. No good. Went to advanced, gave myself
> full
> control, but couldnt change the special permissions, and nothing was
> inherited from the previous installation.
>
> Is there anything I can do?

https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-...307.US...X.X.X

http://www.elcomsoft.com/help/aefsdr/introduction.htm

http://www.beginningtoseethelight.org/efsrecovery/

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]