Help with Opening an Encrypted Folder

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kyle
  • Start date Start date
K

Kyle

I have recently reinstalled Windows XP Pro, and I had
left a folder on my old install of Windows encrypted.
Now that I installed Windows again, I can't access the
folder. I really need to get the stuff out of that
folder because it is really important. How can I access
this folder? I know the password I used to encrypt it...

THANKS FOR ANY HELP
 
HOW TO: Remove File Encryption in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308993

Without a backup of the original Encryption Certificate Key, encrypted files
are unrecoverable as they will stay encrypted forever. There is no recovery
method since the encryption algorithm is now completely different with a reinstall
of Windows XP.

See if the following articles help in any way:

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

Best Practices for the Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223316

Encrypting File System in Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...chnet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/CryptFS.asp

EFS Files Appear Corrupted When You Open Them
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329741


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell

----------------------------------------------------------------


| I have recently reinstalled Windows XP Pro, and I had
| left a folder on my old install of Windows encrypted.
| Now that I installed Windows again, I can't access the
| folder. I really need to get the stuff out of that
| folder because it is really important. How can I access
| this folder? I know the password I used to encrypt it...
|
| THANKS FOR ANY HELP
 
The EFS private key that decrypts a users EFS files [user or recovery
agent - if one was used] is stored in the users profile and managed by the
certificates mmc snapin for user. Your EFS private key may be recoverable ,
but not by normal means. Microsoft has a tool, but the call is going to cost
you probably a couple hundred bucks. There is a compamy called Elcomsoft
that also has a recovery tool that may work as long as the old profile is
intact and you know the password for the account. They have a demo version
that will at least let you know if the key is recoverable. The full version
is around $99. Also see link below to a fellow who posted in the W2K
security newsgroup who shows a method that he has used to recover EFS files
in a similar situation using tools from Sysinternals to change computer ID.
I have not verified that it works, but it sure may be worth a try for you.
Good luck. --- Steve

http://tinyurl.com/ptly -- Link to newsgroup article.
http://www.elcomsoft.com/aefsdr.html -- Elcomsoft.
 
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