EFS

[Andre van der lans]

I had to re-install Windows xp PRO and was confronted with encrypted files
which I was unable to read.
The files were encrypted using Encrypting File System (EFS) in Windows XP
before the virus attack and re-installation of the platform.
Has anyone a suggestion as how to remove the encryption?

 

[Brian Komar [MVP]]

I had to re-install Windows xp PRO and was confronted with encrypted files
which I was unable to read.
The files were encrypted using Encrypting File System (EFS) in Windows XP
before the virus attack and re-installation of the platform.
Has anyone a suggestion as how to remove the encryption?

Did you back up your EFS encryption keys before reinstalling? If not, do
you still have the original Documents and Settings folder for your user
account.
If you have this folder, there are 3rd party software options that could
be used to recover your files. Search the newsgroup, there are several
threads on your issue. You must know your previous password as well.

If not, there is no way to recover the files

Brian

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

I had to re-install Windows xp PRO and was confronted with encrypted files
which I was unable to read.
The files were encrypted using Encrypting File System (EFS) in Windows XP
before the virus attack and re-installation of the platform.
Has anyone a suggestion as how to remove the encryption?

This package MAY be able to unencrypt your files:-
http://www.elcomsoft.com/aefsdr.html

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Do you have the original keys or profile?
If not, the data is for all practical purposes gone for good if you can not
restore them.

See the links near the bottom of this page for ways to help prevent this
type of data loss in the future:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/encrypt.htm