I have a couple of excel sheets and word documents encrypted on my
windows xp system. The file names are coloured green.
I tried to open them but got access denied message etc...
If i try and change the attributes then that wont work either.
If i try and move or copy the files out of the folder to somewhere
else it wont let me do that says write proteted.
Does anyone know how i can try and get these back?
Please note, im not looking to crack the password! - just how to
recover these files using windows xp.
Look for the user, who created that file. Encryption keys are linked
with me the users (Domain user, Domain Admin.)
Thanks., but i am the domain uer and admin, i dont have any user
profiles/logins setup, its just a turn it on and goes striaght into
windows xp, you dont have to select who is using it.
I cannot understand it,? ive definately not been playing around
with any user settings at all.
Well, Just see the properties of the files. If you are the owner of
the files then you will be able to change it's properties. Right
click, Tab General, UnCHeck encryption.
also on security Tab, you can give full access to yourself. ( Read,
Write, Modify etc.)
I just discovered I have the same problem. Can't recall the last
time I successfully opened one of my encrypted files, but now
anytime I try to open, change attributes or anything, it gives me
"access is denied". I checked the Encryption details and it shows
my username as the one who can access the files --
username@mycomputername. Using XP home and SP3 updated. Seems to
have occurred in the last week or so.
I've not changed any password in the XP OS---I use the same one
I've always used. Any help would be appreciated.
For everyone with this trouble - you should restore your exported
certificates and private keys.
Didn't export your certificates and private keys? Then, for all intents and
purposes, your files are likely lost to you. Consider this a learning
experience - learn to follow the best practices for the methods you choose
to protect your data. ;-)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316
Specifically:
"Why you must back up your certificate?
Because there is no way to recover data that has been encrypted with a
corrupted or missing certificate, it is critical that you back up the
certificates and store them in a secure location. You can also specify a
recovery agent. This agent can restore the data. The recovery agent's
certificate serves a different purpose than the user's certificate."
