Encrypted files

[Guest]

I had encrypted some excel, pdf and word files and was able to open them with
no problem. I performed a backup on an external drive. Reinstalled winxp
then restored from backup with no problem. Now I cannot open the encrypted
files. Is there anything I can do to be able to open these files?

thank you,

Still learning.
Paul

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Did you use any specific software to encrypt these files or did you use
encryption of XP?

If you used encryption of XP then you will need an administrator account
to take control of these files to open them. Windows encryption is
pretty tough to crack, though not quite impossible!.

I AM ASSUMING THE FILES ARE NOT CORRUPTED. One experience I had was
that when we copied the files to the DVD/RW, they were completely
corrupted and we couldn't open any files at all. So now before we close
the copying session we always test the copied work. I guess this also
applies to backup routines of the system.

hth

David

 

[S.Sengupta]

If you did not export the encryption keys,you can't.It requires the
original encryption certificate or a Recovery Agent made in the original
installation. To recover encrypted files you will need the original
encryption certificate or a Recovery Agent from the installation under
which they were encrypted. Without one of these, the files are not
recoverable.
For further information check it in Help and Support.

Also see:-http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

 

[Chas]

I had encrypted some excel, pdf and word files and was able to open them
with
no problem. I performed a backup on an external drive. Reinstalled winxp
then restored from backup with no problem. Now I cannot open the
encrypted
files. Is there anything I can do to be able to open these files?

thank you,

Still learning.
Paul

Hi Paul
I think you will have to retake ownership of the file
see here "How to take ownership of a file"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421&sd=tech

Chas

 

[Richard Urban]

If you did not save the encryption key in a safe place, being an
administrator will not help you to open these files. You need the key, in
addition to the privileges.

see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316/en-us

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Rock]

I had encrypted some excel, pdf and word files and was able to open them with
no problem. I performed a backup on an external drive. Reinstalled winxp
then restored from backup with no problem. Now I cannot open the encrypted
files. Is there anything I can do to be able to open these files?

thank you,

Still learning.
Paul

When you reinstalled XP it create a new security identifier for the
account. The files were encrypted with the SID for the original
account. Unless you exported and saved the recovery certificate and
then import it to an administrator level account in the new install, the
files are lost. That is one reason some people refer to XP's encryption
as the delayed recycle bin.

Best practices for the Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=223316

How to back up the recovery agent Encrypting File System (EFS) private
key in Windows Server 2003, in Windows 2000, and in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=241201

How to add an EFS recovery agent in Windows XP Professional
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=887414

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

If that works, the files are not encrypted.

 

[NobodyMan]

Hi Paul
I think you will have to retake ownership of the file
see here "How to take ownership of a file"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421&sd=tech

Chas

Wrong wrong wrong. If you would read any of the posts before posting
this erronous advice, you'd realize that taking ownership of the
encrypted files won't enable reading them.

The ONLY way to access these files is if the OP exported the
encryption keys. Without those keys, or a Recovery Agent made during
the original encryption, those files are lost forever.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Wrong wrong wrong. If you would read any of the posts before posting
this erronous advice, you'd realize that taking ownership of the
encrypted files won't enable reading them.

The ONLY way to access these files is if the OP exported the
encryption keys. Without those keys, or a Recovery Agent made during
the original encryption, those files are lost forever.

Actually, even if "OP exported the encryption keys" there is no guarantee that he
can open the encrypted files - if (and only if) the OP has used the encryption
provided in EXCEL and WORLD applications. The encryption algorithm used in these
programs is completely autonomous from Windows encryption and that is why there
are crackers on sale for such type of encryption.

Try googling for them and you will find hundreds.