Cipher.exe can't encrypt the user Desktop folder

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dean
  • Start date Start date
D

Dean

I wonder if someone saw this behavior before. I use the following
command:

cipher.exe /E /S:"%userprofile%\desktop" /A /F

to encrypt the user Desktop folder. All the files and subfolders are
encrypted but the Desktop folder itself.

However, if I use Windows Explorer GUI and go to the desktop folder
properties/advance..., I can encrypt the desktop and all subfolders
and files.

Therefore, EFS has a different behavior on Desktop folder between
Windows Explorer GUI and cipher command line tool.

Can anyone or MS online support give some explanation here?

Thanks,

Dean
 
Shell releases its handle to the Desktop folder when it calls EncryptFile.
That's why it succeeds in encrypting the Desktop folder itself.

Thanks.
Pat
 

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