OneSeventeen
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How do I decrypt a folder I encrypted with a previous Windows install?
I had a folder with all of my private data and decided to encrypt it for security reasons.
As usual, my windows machine got bogged down and got a few viruses, so I formatted and reinstalled (feeling fine since my data, including the encrypted folder, was all on a separate partition).
I am now unable to access any of my previously encrypted documents.
I understand this is a good thing, considering it means other people couldn't get my data if they stole the hard drive, but I'm hoping that because the partition is on the exact same hardware I might be able to decrypt it. I can even tell it the username and password of the now non-existant user who created the folder and encrypted the contents.
Because I know the username, password, workgroup, computer name, and the hardware on the machine is all the same, can I retrieve the documents? (I'm also using the same license of XP Pro.)
Tax season will be just a little bit harder considering I only save my online receipts in PDF format inside of this encrypted folder.
As usual, my windows machine got bogged down and got a few viruses, so I formatted and reinstalled (feeling fine since my data, including the encrypted folder, was all on a separate partition).
I am now unable to access any of my previously encrypted documents.
I understand this is a good thing, considering it means other people couldn't get my data if they stole the hard drive, but I'm hoping that because the partition is on the exact same hardware I might be able to decrypt it. I can even tell it the username and password of the now non-existant user who created the folder and encrypted the contents.
Because I know the username, password, workgroup, computer name, and the hardware on the machine is all the same, can I retrieve the documents? (I'm also using the same license of XP Pro.)
Tax season will be just a little bit harder considering I only save my online receipts in PDF format inside of this encrypted folder.
SOLUTION
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ASKER
I used whatever Windows' default encryption methods are.
Basically I right-clicked on the folder, and under the file permissions (where you check read-only and things like that) I clicked "Advanced" and told it to encrypt the contents of the folder.
I did not save any private keys, so I may just be out of luck.
I have many linux live CDs and DVDs (I used to sell linux CDs at linuxoncd.net) but what would I do after booting? The folder is still encrypted.
I found hard-copies of my previous tax years, so it isn't that bad. I think I'll just buy a safe and an external hard drive next time I want to be paranoid.
Basically I right-clicked on the folder, and under the file permissions (where you check read-only and things like that) I clicked "Advanced" and told it to encrypt the contents of the folder.
I did not save any private keys, so I may just be out of luck.
I have many linux live CDs and DVDs (I used to sell linux CDs at linuxoncd.net) but what would I do after booting? The folder is still encrypted.
I found hard-copies of my previous tax years, so it isn't that bad. I think I'll just buy a safe and an external hard drive next time I want to be paranoid.
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SOLUTION
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ASKER
I will look into the trials of these applications tonight and post back which does the job.
I'll choose the one with the easiest setup and quickest solution then award points, but I'll probably just wave goodbye to the data because I don't know if it is worth $100 to me.
I'll choose the one with the easiest setup and quickest solution then award points, but I'll probably just wave goodbye to the data because I don't know if it is worth $100 to me.
ftp://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/knoppix/DVD/KNOPPIX_V5.1.0DVD-2006-12-30-EN.iso