Have'nt we put data on stake by encryption?

[salfi]

Hello everyone,

If Windows-XP crashes (single user environment)and you
are left with re-installation option only, what would be
the fate of encrypted data on hard drive? Will it be
accessible after new installation of XP?

salfi

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Yes the data is still accessible, but only if you backup your "private key"
first.

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=241201

HOW TO: Back Up Your Encrypting File System Private Key in Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;242296

How to Restore an EFS Private Key for Encrypted Data Recovery

 

[Roger Abell]

EFS data is decyptable only by accounts that have the
correct decryption key imported into them.
After a reinstall there is no such account, unless and
until the key is imported. This means you must have
exported and preserved it safely on some stored away
media.