View Encrypted Files

[MattH]

There are some encrypted files on my HDD that were
encrypted by a user that no longer exists. Obviously,
when I try to open one - Access is denied. Is there a
way around this?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Matt;
Do you have access to the original profile?
See this link:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/encrypt.htm

 

[MattH]

Nope... the account has been delete and/or the
password for the local user that encrypted the file is
not known.

 

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

You should be able to take ownership of them, allowing it to set
permissions, and then you will be able to delete them.
If you want to get into them, that is an entirely different affair.

 

[MattH]

Yeah, I would like to view them before I delete them.
The exact situation is, the Files are on a D: partion,
and Windows has been reloaded (with format) on C:
Obviously the user account has been deleted (during
format). The files on D: are still there, still
encrypted, and not accessable by anyone. Any hope?

 

[Drew Cooper [MSFT]]

Without the original profile there's no hope of reading them, like Jupiter's
post said.