Encrypted Files

[Guest]

I have encrypted files stored into the D Drive ( where My Documents directory
resides) of my laptop. When I reformatted my C Dirve and kept the same user
id and password to login I cannot open my encrypted files. Is there a way I
can undo the encryption on these files.

Please help.

Mike

 

[Vanguard]

I have encrypted files stored into the D Drive ( where My Documents
directory
resides) of my laptop. When I reformatted my C Dirve and kept the same
user
id and password to login I cannot open my encrypted files. Is there a way
I
can undo the encryption on these files.

Not unless you followed the instructions provided by reading up on EFS on
how to export the security certificate. Without the certificate to import
under your new install of Windows, all those encrypted files no longer have
the required certificate to decrypt them.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have encrypted files stored into the D Drive ( where My Documents directory
resides) of my laptop. When I reformatted my C Dirve and kept the same user
id and password to login I cannot open my encrypted files. Is there a way I
can undo the encryption on these files.

Please help.

Mike

Bad news, I'm afraid.

If the your encryption certificates and keys were not backed up
before the reinstallation, and the workstation isn't part of a domain
(whose Administrator might act as the designated recovery agent), those
files are gone, for all practical purposes. Encryption works well and
there is no "back door" or hack to access the files. (Wouldn't be much
point to EFS if it were easily by-passed.)


--

Bruce Chambers

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You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have encrypted files stored into the D Drive ( where My Documents
directory resides) of my laptop. When I reformatted my C Dirve and
kept the same user id and password to login I cannot open my
encrypted files. Is there a way I can undo the encryption on these
files.

Not good.
You have probably lost everything you encrypted unless you followed a good
backup procedure and backed up your personal encryption certificate (and
recovery agent certificate) to external media and store in a secure
location.

For the future - you may want to read this:
http://www.compulink.co.uk/~davedorn/computing/windows/xpencrypt1.htm

And this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316/

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Are you sure they are encrypted? Unless you know that you did this, it is
more likely just an ownership issue. If you know you did, then the advice
from others sticks. If not, then read this:
http://rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Taking_ownership

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Rick,

Thanks to all your responses. YES I encrypted the files and I did not bother
to export the key certificate to retrieve the files. Luckily I backed up the
files into my desktop which lost the encryption and was able to restore them.

Mike