EFS File Encryption

[me]

Alright, this really sucks. I have a machine w/ XP Pro
(SP1) that is full of encrypted files using EFS. The guy
using the computer doesn't work here anymore and failed to
give the password. I went into the Admin account and
changed his password so I could get into the account,
completely forgetting that the change of password would
render the private key useless. Nothing has been deleted
or changed other than the account password. Is there any
way I can recover these encrypted files and have access to
them again? I appreciate it.

 

[Guest]

you let an employee have enough right to use the
encryption?! Hope he was given a nice severence package
and is willing to talk to you all...

see the 100k other messages on this group about your
options (basically, you are screwed) when the encryption
keys are lost. Hopefully you have a backup on cd or tape
or something that is not encrypted?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Contact the employee and reset the password to original.
Otherwise study thoroughly the information on the bottom of this page
to help prevent this again:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/encrypt.htm

EFS is very good at keeping data from unauthorized users and to EFS
you are unauthorized.