Accessing Encrypted XP files on Vista machine

[Jeff Granger]

My XP desktop died and I bought a new Vista Business PC.

I salvaged my old SATA HDD and installed it in the new PC.

I can access all of the files except the ones in an encrypted folder. Any
suggestions how to gain access to these files?

Jeff

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My XP desktop died and I bought a new Vista Business PC.

I salvaged my old SATA HDD and installed it in the new PC.

I can access all of the files except the ones in an encrypted folder.
Any suggestions how to gain access to these files?

Jeff

If your encryption certificates and keys were not backed up for
transfer to the new OS, and the workstation isn't part of a domain
(whose Administrator might act as the designated recovery agent), those
files are gone, for all practical purposes. Encryption works well and
there is no "back door" or hack to access the files. (Wouldn't be much
point to EFS if it were easily by-passed.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Jeff Granger]

OK - There's one last hope..

I do have an Acronis disk image of my old drive - would the cerificates and
keys be on there somewhere? What would I look for, and where?

We are talking about a small home network here, so there's no domain.

Jeff

 

[Bruce Chambers]

OK - There's one last hope..

I do have an Acronis disk image of my old drive - would the cerificates
and keys be on there somewhere?

Yes, they should be.

What would I look for, and where?

We are talking about a small home network here, so there's no domain.

You'd have to restore the entire WinXP installation, and then boot into
it, to access the keys and certificates.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot