How do I recover encrypted files?

[Guest]

The Windows XP on my computer has been hopelessly corrupted by a virus. Even
the system repair function on the Windows XP disk won’t fix it. In order to
preserve my data and email, I removed the old drive and installed a new one
and reinstalled Windows.

My problem is that I have an encrypted directory and I need to recover the
files. I created a Windows login with the same name and password but I still
can’t read the files.

I have the old disk installed in an external box, connected via USB.

If I have the disk and my old user name and password can I recover my files?

Thanks,

Marc

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

The Windows XP on my computer has been hopelessly corrupted by a
virus. Even the system repair function on the Windows XP disk won't
fix it. In order to preserve my data and email, I removed the old
drive and installed a new one and reinstalled Windows.

My problem is that I have an encrypted directory and I need to
recover the files. I created a Windows login with the same name and
password but I still can't read the files.

That's normal.....encryption wouldn't be worth much if that worked.

I have the old disk installed in an external box, connected via USB.

If I have the disk and my old user name and password can I recover my
files?

I believe you'll need to boot from that disk, and log in as the account you
used to encrypt the files. I suggest you export the key and keep it
somewhere safe (outside of your hard drive).

 

[Lem]

The Windows XP on my computer has been hopelessly corrupted by a virus. Even
the system repair function on the Windows XP disk won’t fix it. In order to
preserve my data and email, I removed the old drive and installed a new one
and reinstalled Windows.

My problem is that I have an encrypted directory and I need to recover the
files. I created a Windows login with the same name and password but I still
can’t read the files.

I have the old disk installed in an external box, connected via USB.

If I have the disk and my old user name and password can I recover my files?

Thanks,

Marc

If you didn't back up your certificate or specify a recovery agent,
you're probably SOL. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316/en-us
("Why you must back up your certificates" about 3/4 down the page).

This *might* be of some use:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/community/columns/security/5min/5min-401.mspx?mfr=true

Also
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/guidance/cryptographyetc/efs.mspx


--
Lem -- MS-MVP - Networking

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[NoConsequence]

The Windows XP on my computer has been hopelessly corrupted by a virus. Even
the system repair function on the Windows XP disk won’t fix it. In order to
preserve my data and email, I removed the old drive and installed a new one
and reinstalled Windows.

My problem is that I have an encrypted directory and I need to recover the
files. I created a Windows login with the same name and password but I still
can’t read the files.

I have the old disk installed in an external box, connected via USB.

If I have the disk and my old user name and password can I recover my files?

Thanks,

Marc

That stuff is probably gone forever unless you backed up your
certificates.

What state secrets were you protecting, by the way? Why did you need
to encrypt ANYTHING on your Home Computer? There are easier ways of
protecting the old porn files, after all.