cannot have File Access

  • Thread starter Thread starter James McGee
  • Start date Start date
J

James McGee

I just "redone" my computer,
Motherboard,mem,Hd, Big upgrade... kept my old hd as was
and used as slave{because folders I wanted to keep). They
were encrypted, now I cannot access them to retrive the
files. The other non encrypted folders are accessable. I
use the same username and password, and have admin
access, but it shows them as 0mb on the properties and as
not being encrypted, I dont know what to try next any
ideas?
 
Give up. If you did not backup your encryption certificates, your
previously encrypted files are history.

Now, if you only used the standard NTFS options of restricting access, See
Help and Support and search for "take ownership"

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421
 
If when you indicated that you kept the old harddrive,
you mean that you have all of the old XP install there
as it was, then you do have options.
First, I would make a full backup of that other drive
so that anything you do can be undone.
Your options are
1. try to make the old XP install bootable - provided
that you do remember the encrypting account and its
password when last used. To do this you may be so
luck as to just boot and have plug and play take care of
hardware changes (but that would be quite lucky). Else,
an upgrade repair install can be used to get the needed
driver changes in place. In either situation you will
likely have to reactivate - although if it only warns and
lets you in that would be sufficient to get the files out
into the clear. If you do have to use the upgrade install,
then do not be connected to the network afterwards as
you will be back without service beyond the level of the
CD you have used (and will get worm-holed in no time).
Option 2 - as you have the complete profiles from the old
system you can call MS and open a paid support call to
get you EFS files back accessible.
Option 3 - try Peter's or other third-parties' methods,
some of which are free and some not. Sorry that I do not
have a link at hand on this machine for Peter's directions,
but a google search should give you a few alternatives.
 
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