Help w/sys recovery, encryption issues.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Randall Brock
  • Start date Start date
R

Randall Brock

My father recently caught some type of virus and screwed up his hard
drive, then tried to run system restore after deleting some key files.
System restore crashed and the hard drive was caught in a loop. So he
bought a new hard drive and installed the XP on that, due to the
encryption, I can't access a few of his files on the old drive. Is
there a way to export the encryption key or access those restore
points on the old drive?
 
If your father failed to make copies of his certificate (and no recovery agent certificates exist),
you won't be able to use your encrypted files. No back door exists, nor is there any practical
way to hack these files. (If there were, it wouldn't be very good encryption.)

HOW TO: Remove File Encryption in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308993

Without a backup of the original Encryption Certificate Key, encrypted files
are unrecoverable as they will stay encrypted forever. There is no recovery
method since the encryption algorithm is now completely different with a
reinstall of Windows XP.

See if the following articles help in any way:

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

Best Practices for the Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223316

Encrypting File System in Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/cryptfs.mspx

EFS Files Appear Corrupted When You Open Them
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329741

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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| My father recently caught some type of virus and screwed up his hard
| drive, then tried to run system restore after deleting some key files.
| System restore crashed and the hard drive was caught in a loop. So he
| bought a new hard drive and installed the XP on that, due to the
| encryption, I can't access a few of his files on the old drive. Is
| there a way to export the encryption key or access those restore
| points on the old drive?
 
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