It maybe an NTFS permissions issue. How can I find out? Where can I get info on taking ownership of files in this case?
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How to decrypt Windows XP encrypted files
I need assistance to decrypt backed up data files (mostly word & pdf) that have been encrypted using windows XP utility to keep them private.
All files have been copied to an external disk, then the computer was reformatted and restored to factory condition using the restore software provided by Toshiba. I found out that I no longer have access to these files (they appear green in windows explorer).
I tried a couple of software packages demos to try to gain access, they were
1. elcomsoft advanced efs data recovery (aefsdr) that works in 2k/xp.
2. passware efskey that works similarly to aefsdr,
I was not able to decrypt my data files.
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Answers
if that is the case follow this link to know how:
http://support.microsoft.c
wish you luck,,
If you have not backed up your or system encryption keys, you won't be able to decrypt it.
There is a tool "Advanced EFS data Recovery", but for using it also you need your system keys.
What happens is, when you encrypt the first file from your user account, a key pair is created for you. you need to backup these keys.
You can follow these steps for future...
Follow these steps to backup:
1) Open mmc.exe
2) From the file menu, choose "Add/Remove snap in"
3) click on the Add button
4) Select Certificates and click add
5) Select "My User account"
6) click close and then ok
7) In the tree view select
Console root\Certificates - Curren t User\Personal\Certificates
8) on the right hand side you should see on certificate listed with "intended purpose" value of "Encrypting File System".
9) Selcet it, right click and select All task\Export
10) Select, "Yes, export the private key"
11) click next twice,
12) Enter a password
13) choose a file name for export and click next
14) you will get a warning, just allow the access.
For import, follow steps 1-7, then
8) click on the right hand side, right click all taks\Import
9) selcet the certificate, and follow the wizard.
If you're in a networked Windows environment, you might try these steps from Microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/r
Otherwise, have you tried restoring them to a FAT32 partition?
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by: AymanAdamPosted on 2007-08-04 at 01:44:21ID: 19630318
Did you backup your encryption certificate before reinstalling?
If not, you won't be able to access it anymore (as this is the point of
encryption).
If the issue is only NTFS permissions (and not encryption), you'll need to
take ownership of the files and give yourself permission to access the
files.
See Help and Support for details on how to restore encryption certificates
and to take ownership of your files.