Decrypt files or folders

[R. Jawad]

I can not open my encrypted files, which I place in my
hard disk 2 e:, after formatting hard disk 1 C: and
reinstalled WindowsXP. And when I try to turn off file
encryption I get error message saying that it cannot
decrypt any file! How can I decrypt these files? Thanks

 

[Starr]

Are you logging into your files as yourself? Meaning the
same person you were logged in as when you encrypted the
files on the previous hard drive? Only the user account
that encrypted the file can decrypt it.

IF the above does not help and you are a stand alone
machine then your next step would be to export the
Recover Agent Private Key.

1. Log on to your computer as thelocal administrator
account (not just an account with administrative access)
2. Open the Run dialog box and type secpol.msc to open
the Local Security Settings window.
3. In the tree pane, expand the Public Key Policies
folder, and then select the Encrypted Data Recover Agents
folder.
4. In the pane of the right, right click the name in the
Issued To column, and choose All Tasks then Export to
start the Certificate Export Wizard. This will walk you
through the process to export a certificate from your
system.
5. Ensure that you store the exported certificate and
private key on an external medium (floppy etc) and don't
let it out of your sight!

I hope this helps and that you don't have to go too deep
into this.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Are you sure it is not an Ownership issue:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

If the files are encrypted.
If you did not back-up the encryption key or the Recovery Agent and
are not on a domain, the files are as good as gone.
This must be accomplished while you have access to the files.
If you have not already done so, it is now to late.

If you can restore the original profile (not recreate) you may be able
to recover the data.
Recreating profiles and passwords is irrelevant.
Contact Microsoft if you can restore the profile.
Or:
http://www.beginningtoseethelight.org/efsrecovery/index.php

EFS is very good at what it does and there is no back door.
Read and understand these links before using EFS to keep from
permanently losing your data:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/administration/recovery/default.asp
(58 pages)
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=223316