Decrypting files--Access Denied

[Wesley Chaplin]

I have been trying to decrypt files on an external hard drive with Windows XP
SP2 and have only been recieving access denied errors. I have changed the
ownership of the files with no success. It won't let me copy or move the
files. What do I need to do????????? I even have no idea how they have
gotten encrypted to begin with, I had not changed this.If someone could help
me, I'd appreciate it.

 

[ksreek]

what type of files you trying to decrypt ??
What method you trying to decrypt??
Can you tell me how did you encrypt those files earlier ?

If you have encrypted those files using the encrypt files options in the
WINDOWS XP then

You might need to log in as the administrator in safe mode and then take
ownership of the child account (Account Name) on which the files were
encrypted and then restart the computer after which you will be able to see
the account name
in userpasswords2 .Now access the folder you should be able to access..

ksreek
JMVP
MS pcsafety Escalations

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have been trying to decrypt files on an external hard drive with Windows
XP
SP2 and have only been recieving access denied errors. I have changed the
ownership of the files with no success. It won't let me copy or move the
files. What do I need to do????????? I even have no idea how they have
gotten encrypted to begin with, I had not changed this.If someone could
help
me, I'd appreciate it.

Why do you think the files are encrypted? You need to be accurate and
provide more details here. Whether this is XP Pro or Home is extremely
relevant, as native encryption is not supported or available in XP Home.

Encrypted files can be moved or copied, they just can't be viewed properly
(decrypted) . If you're getting Access Denied messages, or can't move
them, the problem may well be something else and not encrypted at all.
This is actually a good thing.

In XP, encryption depends on the account credentials. It is extremely
important, yet not required, to export the credentials if you ever use
encryption. Failing to do so can quickly lead to permanent data loss.

If the files were encrypted using EFS on another account or another system,
you have to import the credentials from the encrypting account.

HTH
-pk