Copying encrypted file

[howard]

I tried copying a file that was in a XP encrypted directory. When I try
copying it across my LAN it won't go. So I copied it to a different
directory, and it says it can't copy summary information (I say OK), asks me
if I mind losing encryption, (I say ignore), and then it tells me it can't
encrypt it.

How do I get this file unencrypted?

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

I tried copying a file that was in a XP encrypted directory. When I try
copying it across my LAN it won't go. So I copied it to a different
directory, and it says it can't copy summary information (I say OK), asks me
if I mind losing encryption, (I say ignore), and then it tells me it can't
encrypt it.

How do I get this file unencrypted?

Howard did you (the account you are doing all this with) encrypt the file in
the first place ?
Have you done a reinstall since the file was encrypted ?

You should be able to right click on the file (select Properties and then
Advanced) and just uncheck the box for encryption.


--
Regards,

Mike
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[Howard Brazee]

Howard did you (the account you are doing all this with) encrypt the file in
the first place ?

I created an encrypted directory.

Have you done a reinstall since the file was encrypted ?
Yes.

You should be able to right click on the file (select Properties and then
Advanced) and just uncheck the box for encryption.

I didn't see that, I'll check again when I get home.

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Yes.

If you did not export your original user accounts certificates and keys then
you will not be able to decrypt the files as you no longer have the
appropriate decryption keys as part of your user account.
Just because your user account has the same name and password is not related
to your ability to access files encrypted using EFS.

Do you have a full and complete backup of your system prior to the
reinstall - including your users profile directory ?
--
Regards,

Mike
--
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[Howard Brazee]

If you did not export your original user accounts certificates and keys then
you will not be able to decrypt the files as you no longer have the
appropriate decryption keys as part of your user account.
Just because your user account has the same name and password is not related
to your ability to access files encrypted using EFS.

Do you have a full and complete backup of your system prior to the
reinstall - including your users profile directory ?

Not anymore. Everything looked fine.

I can read those files, but not move them to an unencrypted directory. I
wonder if I can unencrypt that directory or what can I do to fix my problem.
Dumb encryption if it allows me to see and use the data, only not export them.

Also, I need to find out about exporting my "original accounts certificates and
keys". I never heard of them. When I got a new motherboard, I needed to
reinstall Windows over the existing installation.

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

I can read those files, but not move them to an unencrypted directory. I
wonder if I can unencrypt that directory or what can I do to fix my problem.
Dumb encryption if it allows me to see and use the data, only not export them.

Also, I need to find out about exporting my "original accounts certificates and
keys". I never heard of them. When I got a new motherboard, I needed to
reinstall Windows over the existing installation.

You may be able to see the files in Explorer but you cannot read or open
them.
If they will not decrypt because you did a reinstall you will not be able to
mark the folder as unencrypted and expect them to decrypt.
You have lost the keys during he reinstall - the files are not recoverable.

As regards exporting your keys and certs you need to read up on and
understand more about how EFS works and the recovery process etc.
this is all covered in
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/cryptfs.mspx

As regards your new mother board all you needed to do was a repair install,
not a reinstall.
--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

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[Howard Brazee]

You may be able to see the files in Explorer but you cannot read or open
them.
If they will not decrypt because you did a reinstall you will not be able to
mark the folder as unencrypted and expect them to decrypt.
You have lost the keys during he reinstall - the files are not recoverable.

As regards exporting your keys and certs you need to read up on and
understand more about how EFS works and the recovery process etc.
this is all covered in
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/cryptfs.mspx

As regards your new mother board all you needed to do was a repair install,
not a reinstall.

I believe that's what they did. The people who put in the motherboard did this
- but I didn't tell them I had encrypted directories.

Looking at the directories - I do not see any indication that they are
encrypted. I have noticed the following anomalies:
1. I can't copy them without getting the encrypted error message.
2. When I clicked on the main directory, I saw it was read-only. I changed
it and sub directories to not be read-only.
3. I left and came back, the main directory was read only again.
4. I selected a sub directory and set it and sub directories to non-read-only.
It was 5 minutes to completion all night until I had to hard boot in the
morning as I could not cancel this process.
5. The directories are still read-only.

I'm printing up the above link and hope to discover some way to reset
everything.
I also hope to find out what I should have done before taking my computer in to
get a new motherboard.

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Howard to see if a file is encrypted.

2 things.
In Windows Explorer - Tools ... Folder Options ... View (tab) ... check Show
Encrypted and Compressed NTFS Files in color
Then when you look in Windows Explorer Encrypted files and folders will be
Green

Second thing.
Right click on a file or folder and Select Properties ... click Advanced
(button) and look at the compress and encrypt attributes.

As I said previously if you have done a reinstall and created a new user
account (even with the same name and password) you will not be able to
recover the files.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
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