can I get a user certificate backup using the recovery prompt?

[PJ6]

I knew my Windows installation was unstable and managed to copy everything
onto a secondary drive... only, I forgot to unencrypt it and back up my user
certificate. So Windows finally died and I'm going to need to re-install
it... but now I'm worried if I do that, I'm going to lose my original
certificates and the contents of my backup drive will be lost forever. I can
still boot Windows into recovery mode with the CD, is there a way at that
prompt to get a copy of the user certificate?

I will be very grateful for anyone who can help me out.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

I don't know if you are going to be able to recover the certs in that
fashion. If no one else has any ideas, you may want to try this:
http://www.elcomsoft.com/aefsdr.html

It's not free, but may help recover the data.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[PJ6]

Wow. OK, well at least I now know all is not lost even if getting the cert
back is a lost cause.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[PJ6]

OK the tool will work, but I'd rather not have to use it as intended - it
decrypts by copying to a new location. I would MUCH rather be able to
convert the certificate information it finds and uses (however so) to a
native login on my new Windows XP installation so I don't have to get a new
drive, copy everything out, and then put it all back. Is there any resource
you could recommend to dig into this a little more deeply?

Paul

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

No, not really. What you need is someone who is an expert with EFS, and that
isn't me. All I can offer is the alternative solution.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org