How to recover encrypted files after I have reinstalled the System drive

[George]

Hi,

I have recently reformatted my C drive after which I
cannot access one of my folders which was encrypted prior
to the new installation. I have no backup of keys and
have not assigned any recovery agents.

Is there anyway I can access my files again. They are a
very valuable files to me.

Rgds
George

 

[Richard Urban]

Consider them lost - forever. Maybe the NSA could read them, or the FBI.
Then again, maybe not!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban


aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,

I have recently reformatted my C drive after which I
cannot access one of my folders which was encrypted prior
to the new installation. I have no backup of keys and
have not assigned any recovery agents.

Is there anyway I can access my files again. They are a
very valuable files to me.

Rgds
George

If the your encryption certificates and keys were not backed up
before the user deletion/creation caused by the reinstallation, and
the workstation isn't part of a domain, I'm afraid that 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

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever
count on having both at once. - RAH

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The data is most likely gone for good.
Follow this to help prevent this in the future:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/encrypt.htm

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

If you did not back up your encryption keys, then the files are not
retrievable. The strength of the encryption used on the files is such that
there no tool that you can use to access them. As another poster stated,
perhaps with an appropriate amount of time, perhaps the NSA or the FBI could
break them, but I don't think either agency will feel much motivation to
assist in this matter.

I guess you can chalk this up to another of life's lessons.

Bobby