Cannot Access My Files

[Guest]

Hello All,

I moved a hard drive from a broken computer to my Dell system, now I can't
access my files on that drive. All the folders on that drive are now colored
green and I get "Access Is Denied" whenever I click on the folders. This is
really pissing me off because the files are mine and I can't use them now.
What's up with the green colored folders now. I'm really starting to hate
Windows!

I think this might have something to do with NTFS file permissions, but I
normally format drives using FAT32 so I can avoid the NTFS crap. How do I
get my stuff back?

 

[Stefan Z Camilleri]

Hello All,

I moved a hard drive from a broken computer to my Dell system, now I
can't
access my files on that drive. All the folders on that drive are now
colored
green and I get "Access Is Denied" whenever I click on the folders.
This is
really pissing me off because the files are mine and I can't use them
now.
What's up with the green colored folders now. I'm really starting to
hate
Windows!

I think this might have something to do with NTFS file permissions, but I
normally format drives using FAT32 so I can avoid the NTFS crap. How do
I
get my stuff back?

Green coloured folders usually mean that the files are encrypted. Try
taking ownership of the files
(properties>security>advanced>ownership>replace owner)... it generally
works, but i never tried it with encrypted files.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421/en-us

 

[Guest]

When I right-click on the green folders and select properties/advanced there
is a checkbox indicating the folders are encrypted. I think I did encrypt
them but it was so long ago I don't remember what I did. Will I ever be able
to access the files again?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Before you encrypt anything important, you should back up your
personal encryption certificate (with its associated private key)
and the recovery agent certificate to a floppy disk and store it in
a secure location. If you ever lose your original certificate
(because of a hard disk failure, for example), you can restore
the backup copy and regain access to your files. If you lose all
copies of your certificate (and no recovery agent certificates exist),
you won't be able to use your encrypted files. No back door exists,
nor is there any practical way to hack these files.
(If there were, it wouldn't be very good encryption.)

HOW TO: Remove File Encryption in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308993


Without a backup of the original Encryption Certificate Key, encrypted files
are unrecoverable as they will stay encrypted forever. There is no recovery
method since the encryption algorithm is now completely different with a
reinstall of Windows XP.


See if the following articles help in any way:


HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421


Best Practices for the Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223316


Encrypting File System in Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/cryptfs....


EFS Files Appear Corrupted When You Open Them
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329741



--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I right-click on the green folders and select properties/advanced there
is a checkbox indicating the folders are encrypted. I think I did encrypt
them but it was so long ago I don't remember what I did. Will I ever be able
to access the files again?