Error Accessing Encrypted Files

[Wade]

I have just got a new laptop with Win XP Pro through my
company (migrating from Win 2k). Everything was going
fine until I had to change the domain logon password.
The system would not let me change the password. So call
up IS and they changed the password from the Domain end
on the server. I reboot and now I can not access the
majority (not all) of my data (Word, Excel, Powerpoint
etc.). It appears that the changing of my password from
the Domain admin area has caused all of my files to be
encrypted so that I cannot open them. Any way to undo
this to get my data back????

Thanks
Wade

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Hopefully it is an Ownership issue, Take Ownership, #8 on this link:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/adsecurity.htm

If the files were actually encrypted by you, have them change the
password back.
Also see:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/encrypt.htm

 

[Wade]

The ownership issue did not work. I am looking into the
second suggestion. The thing that I am not understanding
is that I did not encrypt the files and being new to Win
XP, I am not sure if this is a normally "on" item or
not? I do have my old password and am looking into
the "Advanced EFS Data Recovery", but I am first backing
up the data (in its state of encryption), just in case I
need to try something else.

Can you explain to me how the network admin forcing a
password change to my domain logon cause this to
happen?????

Thanks
Wade

-----Original Message-----
Hopefully it is an Ownership issue, Take Ownership, #8

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Wade;
Encryption (EFS) is not normally on and it takes a deliberate action
to encrypt the data.
Unless Windows has been customized differently, encrypted data files
will show as green where compressed are blue.
Is it possible the data is damaged?

 

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

In explorer, what color is the text of the files you are trying to
access - by default, black would be a normal file, blue is compressed
and green is encrypted. If they are indeed green, then call IS and
have them change the password back to the original password, then try
to access the files. If you are good to go, then try to change the
password, from the workstation/laptop - if you can't, then you will
have to have IS resolve the problem, as you must be able to change the
password from your workstation/laptop to preserve the certificate
integrity of the profile doing the encryption/decryption. Also, at
the same time, have the domain administrator designated as a recovery
agent, in case your profile gets severely corrupted, you can at least
have them decrypt them without you loosing all your hard work.