Encryption

[Bill]

I had several critical files encrypted prior to re-
installing Windows XP. After what appeared to be a
sucessful re-installation of XP I noticed that when I
tried to access the encrypted files, garbage appeared in
the excel spreadsheets that had been encrypted. I
subsequently removed the encryption in
properties/advanced but it did nothing to solve the
problem. Any suggestions on how to salvage the files.

 

[null]

I had several critical files encrypted prior to re-
installing Windows XP. After what appeared to be a
sucessful re-installation of XP I noticed that when I
tried to access the encrypted files, garbage appeared in
the excel spreadsheets that had been encrypted. I
subsequently removed the encryption in
properties/advanced but it did nothing to solve the
problem. Any suggestions on how to salvage the files.

If your PC isn't a member of a domain, and you didn't backup the
encryption key, then you can't salvage them.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

If the your encryption certificates and keys were not backed up
before the reinstallation, and the workstation isn't part of a domain,
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 vulnerable.)


Bruce Chambers

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[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Bill;
See this link, but unless you saved the required components...
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/encrypt.htm