Encrypted files

[Tonyyy]

I encrypted some files before formatting windows and reinstalling and now I
can't open those files...what to do?

 

[M and D]

Didn't backup the encryption key, eh? Say goodbye to your files.

Steven

 

[Tonyyy]

just like that say hello???? there must be another solution.... I thought
you people know somthin' 'bout computers...
Please can somebody else help me.??? Those files are important to me...

 

[Vanguard]

just like that say hello???? there must be another solution.... I thought
you people know somthin' 'bout computers...
Please can somebody else help me.??? Those files are important to me...

There is no backdoor to EFS (encryption file system). If you did not export
the EFS certificate so you could later import it then you no longer have the
necessary encryption keys to decrypt your files that were encrypted using
that old EFS certificate.

Go to Start -> Help and Support, search on EFS, and read about how you need
to export the EFS certificate (under "Managing Certificates"). Also read
the section "Best practices".

Without a copy of the private key that was on your hard drive in the EFS
certificate file, you have no way to decrypt those files.

 

[Tonyyy]

So that means I've lost these files forever????

There is no backdoor to EFS (encryption file system). If you did not
export the EFS certificate so you could later import it then you no longer
have the necessary encryption keys to decrypt your files that were
encrypted using that old EFS certificate.

Go to Start -> Help and Support, search on EFS, and read about how you
need to export the EFS certificate (under "Managing Certificates"). Also
read the section "Best practices".

Without a copy of the private key that was on your hard drive in the EFS
certificate file, you have no way to decrypt those files.

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[M and D]

That's right. You could try this:
http://www.google.com/search?q=password+cracker

Steven

 

[Tonyyy]

I don't believe you cause there must be another way to decrypt those
files...cause u can't loose important files just like that??? Common...WTC
crashed and they still found lost files on pc's...there must be another
solution...I had 20GB encrypted files and I can't even delete them...does
that mean that I can throw away my harddisc cause there is no more space?

 

[M and D]

Good luck to you, my friend.

Steven

 

[Tonyyy]

It sounds like these are protected with the Windows EFS. Is that the case?
If so, we do not have a solution for this. If these are something else,
please let us know.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you for contacting
Password Crackers, Inc.

Password Crackers, Inc.
http://www.pwcrack.com/

Good luck to you, my friend.

Steven

 

[Gil Baron]

This looks like a troll. If not then you have just learned how strong EFS is, There is one and only one way to recover. You have to by brute force try every possibe key. Oh! , the keyspace is to large? You, you got it, Those files are lost and gone forever,
That is what encryption is all about. You do not really want it any other way.
Next time,back up the certificate, sorry,
Of course I doubt this was a valid post in the first place because you refuse to accept the correct answers you were given.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Yes you can lose data just like that and it happens when EFS is improperly
used.
EFS is not low grade security with an easy break, EFS is designed to keep
data secure...and it works.
It sounds like you want permissions that can be circumvented as long as you
have physical access to the computer.
EFS can keep data secure if the computer is stolen or otherwise compromised.
However when use correctly with correct precautions taken, data loss is not
an issue.
Very few home users and even small businesses have any need for the level of
security offered with EFS.

The WTC computers you reference probably did not use EFS or they properly
used it and had the keys available.

Take Ownership of the data, #9 on this link:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/adsecurity.htm
You will not be able to decrypt the data, but you can move or delete it.

See the links near the bottom of this page for information on preventing
this type of data loss in the future:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/encrypt.htm
Unfortunately you now know why EFS is often called "The Delayed Recycle Bin"

 

[Richard Urban]

You don't listen very well, do you. Your files are gone - unless you have an
inside man in the NSA (National Security Agency).

--


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!

 

[Nog]

I don't believe you cause there must be another way to decrypt those
files...cause u can't loose important files just like that??? Common...WTC
crashed and they still found lost files on pc's...there must be another
solution...I had 20GB encrypted files and I can't even delete them...does
that mean that I can throw away my harddisc cause there is no more space?

Go to a crack site and fine the crack for the encryption program you used.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Not an option for EFS.
There is no "crack".
The keys are needed and apparently they are gone with the format thus the
OPs problem.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I don't believe you cause there must be another way to decrypt those
files...cause u can't loose important files just like that???
Common...WTC crashed and they still found lost files on pc's...there
must be another solution...I had 20GB encrypted files and I can't
even delete them...does that mean that I can throw away my harddisc
cause there is no more space?

How much money and time do you have to fix the problem? There is a
possibilty that a data recovery lab could get the needed keys from your hard
drive even after a format. Their prices usually start around $1,000 and your
hard drive will probably be destroyed in the process. You will have to send
the drive to them and pay a fee whether or not they can recover anything. If
they are able to recover the keys then you will have to figure out how to
import them into your current install to decrypt the files.

To delete the files all you have to do is take ownership.

Kerry

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Kerry;
Data recovery will not work without the keys, at least not for anywhere that
kind of money.
That will work to recover data from a damaged hard drive.
If possible at all, the tools at the NSA as Richard suggested would be
required.

 

[Gil Baron]

Data recovery will not work without the keys, at least not for anywhere that
kind of money.
That will work to recover data from a damag

Even data recovery is USELESS. If data recovery alone would get the data then EFS would not be secure. I don't know the details of EFS since I don't use it but I guarantee that physical access alone will not do it.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

That is essentially what myself and others have already said.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org

Data recovery will not work without the keys, at least not for anywhere
that
kind of money.
That will work to recover data from a damag

Even data recovery is USELESS. If data recovery alone would get the data
then EFS would not be secure. I don't know the details of EFS since I don't
use it but I guarantee that physical access alone will not do it.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Kerry;
Data recovery will not work without the keys, at least not for
anywhere that kind of money.
That will work to recover data from a damaged hard drive.
If possible at all, the tools at the NSA as Richard suggested would be
required.

It is possible to sometimes recover data (the old profile with the keys)
after a hard drive has been formatted. Here is a link to one service. Google
will find many more.

http://www.ecodatarecovery.com/forensic.html

Kerry

 

[Kerry Brown]

Even data recovery is USELESS. If data recovery alone would get the
data then EFS would not be secure. I don't know the details of EFS
since I don't use it but I guarantee that physical access alone will
not do it.

If you have physical access and the drive was not overwritten many times
with various bit patterns it may be possible to recover the keys. It is
expensive and results are not guaranteed. Once you have recovered the keys
it is easy to decrypt the files.

Kerry