EFS certificates/keys still available after Repair installation of Windows XP

[Guest]

Can anyone tell me if my user account's EFS certificates/keys will still be available after I perform a repair installation of Windows XP Pro?

My system died and I replaced the Motherboard and CPU. The system will not start Windows now... not in Safe mode or any mode. The system just restarts. I assume this is due to a driver problem so I want to install Windows using the Repair mode.

I have encrypted most of my data files and, of course, do not have a key backup (really wished Windows forced you to make abackup before using EFS). The drive is good and readable so I assume my user profile and settings are intact as well. I know the password to the Administrator and my account. The computer is a local installation and not on a domain.

If I just repair the installation, will I be able to log on using my old user account and decrypt the files? I am too afraid to do anything at this point for fear that the keys will disappear forever.

Thanks
Jason

 

[Roger Abell]

A Repair/Upgrade install is supposed to preserve defined
accounts and groups and as much of the set of installed apps
as it can (it may ask for install disks for them).
It has done this for me when I have used this method in the
past. Now, that is not a guarantee that everything will be
rosy for you. If you can devise a way to first get a copy
of the existing system so you have a recourse that would
of course be advised.

--
Roger Abell
Microsoft MVP (Windows Server System: Security)
MCSE (W2k3,W2k,Nt4) MCDBA

Can anyone tell me if my user account's EFS certificates/keys will still

be available after I perform a repair installation of Windows XP Pro?

My system died and I replaced the Motherboard and CPU. The system will

not start Windows now... not in Safe mode or any mode. The system just
restarts. I assume this is due to a driver problem so I want to install
Windows using the Repair mode.

I have encrypted most of my data files and, of course, do not have a key

backup (really wished Windows forced you to make abackup before using EFS).
The drive is good and readable so I assume my user profile and settings are
intact as well. I know the password to the Administrator and my account.
The computer is a local installation and not on a domain.

If I just repair the installation, will I be able to log on using my old

user account and decrypt the files? I am too afraid to do anything at this
point for fear that the keys will disappear forever.