Decrytping Files from past OS Install

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe Francoeur
  • Start date Start date
J

Joe Francoeur

Hello,

If anyone has any ideas as to what I can try, I'd be appreciative. I am
posting here and searching for possible solutions. Here goes the issue
basically:
I have two seperate HDs right now. I formatted the OS HD and reinstalled XP
Professional. I went to access some encypted files on my second hard drive
and I cannot access them now. What I really should have done is decrypt them
before the OS removal/reinstallation, but I did not do so. I encrypted the
files with XP's EFS. When I go to decrpyt the files with the cipher command
I get an "Access is denied" message. I believe I might need the key used to
encrypt my files, which I also neglected to note before the OS reinstall.
Is there any feasable way that I can decrpyt these files? If any more
details are needed, feel free to ask. Thanks for your Time
 
Joe,

If you did not export either yours or the key recover agent (if you created
one) keys before the OS install and you do not have a full backup of your
previous Documents and Settings and profile then in all likelihood the files
will not be recoverable.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups
 
Joe;
Are you sure it is not an Ownership issue:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

If the files are encrypted.
If you did not back-up the encryption key or the Recovery Agent and
are not on a domain, the files are as good as gone.
This must be accomplished while you have access to the files.
If you have not already done so, it is now to late.

If you can restore the original profile (not recreate) you may be able
to recover the data.
Recreating profiles and passwords is irrelevant.
Contact Microsoft if you can restore the profile.
Or:
http://www.beginningtoseethelight.org/efsrecovery/index.php

EFS is very good at what it does and there is no back door.
Read and understand these links before using EFS to keep from
permanently losing your data:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/administration/recovery/default.asp
(58 pages)
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=223316
 
Hello,

If anyone has any ideas as to what I can try, I'd be appreciative. I
am posting here and searching for possible solutions. Here goes the
issue basically:
I have two seperate HDs right now. I formatted the OS HD and
reinstalled XP Professional. I went to access some encypted files on
my second hard drive and I cannot access them now. What I really
should have done is decrypt them before the OS removal/reinstallation,
but I did not do so. I encrypted the files with XP's EFS. When I go
to decrpyt the files with the cipher command I get an "Access is
denied" message. I believe I might need the key used to encrypt my
files, which I also neglected to note before the OS reinstall. Is
there any feasable way that I can decrpyt these files? If any more
details are needed, feel free to ask. Thanks for your Time
Click to expand...

If you didn't back up the keys before formatting/reinstalling then the
encrypted files are lost. There are no back doors or cracks available
(wouldn't be secure if there was)
 
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