Cannot decrypt files on WinXP SP2 after restoring C: with Ghost

[Guest]

My computer runs Windows XP SP2. It has one admisnistrator account, which
will be called admin in this question. After completing all necessary
installations and account customizations, I backed the entire C: drive up
with Norton Ghost 2003.
While using the computer, I encrypted several important files on my
removable drives with the admin account. Recently, I had to restore the
entire C: drive from the Ghost image following a computer crash. After the
restoration, I have been unable to access nor decrypt the files encrypted
before the crash, despite the fact that I was using the exact same admin
account that has been Ghosted along with system files on the C: drive. What
can I do to regain access to these files?

 

[Richard Urban]

Unless you imaged your computer "after" you set up your encryption (or
exported your certificates and keys to a safe place for reuse), I am afraid
that your files are inaccessible.

It's the same as if you "borrowed" a program and installed it on your
computer today. You create many files using said program. Now your friend
leaves and takes his disk with him (moves to a foreign country). Tomorrow
you go back to an image you made three weeks ago. How are you going to
access those files you created yesterday?

It's called - planning!

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!