EFS - copying to FAT

[donchanger]

I have a folder on a new laptop that is encrypted using EFS on XP Pro.
When I try to copy a file from that folder to a flash drive, I get a
message "Specified file could not be encrypted" with no way to
continue.

I also have an older XP Pro computer also encrypting a folder using
EFS. On that machine, trying to copy to a flash drive pops up a
warning box that the file can't be copied without losing encryption and
asking if I want to continue, which I can then do.

How do I get my new laptop to do what the older machine does? Any help
greatly appreciated.

Don Changer
Baltimore, MD

 

[Vanguard]

I have a folder on a new laptop that is encrypted using EFS on XP Pro.
When I try to copy a file from that folder to a flash drive, I get a
message "Specified file could not be encrypted" with no way to
continue.

I also have an older XP Pro computer also encrypting a folder using
EFS. On that machine, trying to copy to a flash drive pops up a
warning box that the file can't be copied without losing encryption
and
asking if I want to continue, which I can then do.

How do I get my new laptop to do what the older machine does? Any help
greatly appreciated.

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=886969

Were you copying or moving? Do you have the same driver/software on
both hosts for your particular USB stick (which you didn't mention)?

 

[donchanger]

Thanks for the link, but I had already seen that KB article - it didn't
help.

This is copying (haven't tried moving but I assume the same thing). It
is a SandDisk Micro Cruzer but I don't use any special drivers, just
plug-and-play in WinXP. I tried also with a Sony MicroVault, same
exact thing. Also happens when trying to copy to floppy.

I presume this is some setting that I once knew about and (stupidly?)
forgot. At least, I hope it's that simple.

Don Changer
Baltimore, MD

 

[CS]

I have a folder on a new laptop that is encrypted using EFS on XP Pro.
When I try to copy a file from that folder to a flash drive, I get a
message "Specified file could not be encrypted" with no way to
continue.

I also have an older XP Pro computer also encrypting a folder using
EFS. On that machine, trying to copy to a flash drive pops up a
warning box that the file can't be copied without losing encryption and
asking if I want to continue, which I can then do.

How do I get my new laptop to do what the older machine does? Any help
greatly appreciated.

Don Changer
Baltimore, MD

Copying a folder encrypted with EFS and maintaining the encryption
during the copy requires that the media you're copying to is NTFS
formatted. Your flash drive is formatted as FAT.

 

[donchanger]

Yes, I know.

What I want to know is how to copy the file to a FAT drive (flash,
floppy, whatever). Why doesn't XP let me do that (removing the
encryption, of course)?

Don Changer

 

[Vanguard]

Thanks for the link, but I had already seen that KB article - it
didn't
help.

This is copying (haven't tried moving but I assume the same thing).
It
is a SandDisk Micro Cruzer but I don't use any special drivers, just
plug-and-play in WinXP. I tried also with a Sony MicroVault, same
exact thing. Also happens when trying to copy to floppy.

I presume this is some setting that I once knew about and (stupidly?)
forgot. At least, I hope it's that simple.

Have you tried initializing the USB stick on the problematic host and
then copying the EFS-protected file to it?

 

[donchanger]

I'm not sure I know what 'initializing' the USB stick means but I do
know that I don't want to erase what's on it or be unable to use it on
more than one machine. I also know that I'm unable to copy to a floppy
disk so I don't think it's something unique about USB flash drives or
how they're formatted.

Don Changer
Baltimore, MD

 

[Vanguard]

I'm not sure I know what 'initializing' the USB stick means but I do
know that I don't want to erase what's on it or be unable to use it on
more than one machine. I also know that I'm unable to copy to a
floppy
disk so I don't think it's something unique about USB flash drives or
how they're formatted.

Well, I ran out of ideas. Can you copy the file to a non-encrypted
folder (where the Everyone group also has full permissions) and copy it
from there onto the USB stick or a floppy?