File encryption problem...

[Daniel]

Hello everyone, anyone found a fix or workaround for
regaining access to files that were encrypted by a
deleted user? I had to re-install windows, and did not
realize that i had accidentally encrypted a bunch of
files. I tried to recreate the user w/same password and
decrypt the files, no luck! PLEASE HELP!! Thanks!

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Hello everyone, anyone found a fix or workaround for
regaining access to files that were encrypted by a
deleted user? I had to re-install windows, and did not
realize that i had accidentally encrypted a bunch of
files. I tried to recreate the user w/same password and
decrypt the files, no luck! PLEASE HELP!! Thanks!

Hi

Recreating the user w/same password is not a solution.

If you can restore (from a backup) the user profile folders for the
user that encrypted the files and if you remember the password for
the user that encrypted the data, you might be able to save the files.

Take a look at this site for more details:

http://www.beginningtoseethelight.org/efsrecovery/


Also note that in addition to the encryption problem, you might
need to take ownership of the files as well:

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

 

[Fritz]

If the certificate used to encrypt the files is gone then so are the files.