I got 2 HDs on my computer. The one has XP on it crashed. I reinstalled XP,
but couldn't access some files on my 2nd HD. Those files are in a folder
that was encryped and read-only. I've gained the owernership of the
folder,
and removed the read-only attributes, but couln't copy, open, or
deencryped
the files. Every time I tried to do so, I got a err message saying access
is
denied.
If you mean the files were encrypted with EFS, then it's not an issue of
ownership. The EFS encryption is based on the account SID (Security
Identifier) under which they were encrypted. A new install of XP, even
though the account name might be the same, creates a different SID which
can't be used to decrypt the files. In essence they are lost to you unless
you backed up the certificate used for the encryption and/or designated a
recovery agent. That is why EFS is commonly referred to as the delayed
recycle bin. There are many pitfalls with that that can lead to loss of
access to the data.
That being said recently a couple of web sites have come out with ways to
get around EFS. Whether they work or not I don't know.
Advanced EFS Data Recovery
https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph..._PROG_PAGE.ELCOM.16298944.13567307.US...X.X.X
http://www.beginningtoseethelight.org/efsrecovery/
There is a cost, an I believe you need to know what the password was when
you originally encrypted the files.
Here are some links for how to best set up EFS so this doesn't happen again.
Encrypting File System in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/cryptfs.mspx
How To Encrypt a Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308989
How To Remove File Encryption in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308993
How To Encrypt a File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307877
HOW TO: Share Access to an Encrypted File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308991
Best practices for the Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=223316
How to back up the recovery agent Encrypting File System (EFS) private key
in Windows Server 2003, in Windows 2000, and in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=241201
How to add an EFS recovery agent in Windows XP Professional
http://support.microsoft.com