New OS - can’t get files in old EFS-encrypted directory

  • Thread starter Thread starter Caobhin
  • Start date Start date
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Caobhin

About a month ago, my OS/programs drive crashed. I’ve purchased a new
drive, installed the OS (WinXP pro) and am now trying to get back some
encrypted files.

I have 3 directories that are present on a 2nd ’data’ hard drive that
were encrypted w/ the old OS’x WinXP EFS. I have *.cer and *.pfx files
that I exported from the old OS, before it died. I imported/added
these keys and certificates to the new OS. I even tried to re-create
the old user account on my new OS. Nevertheless, the new OS will not
allow me to read or decrypt anything w/in these EFS-encrypted
directories.

Anyone have suggestions?

-Kevin
 
Caobhin said:
About a month ago, my OS/programs drive crashed. I’ve purchased a new
drive, installed the OS (WinXP pro) and am now trying to get back some
encrypted files.

I have 3 directories that are present on a 2nd ’data’ hard drive that
were encrypted w/ the old OS’x WinXP EFS. I have *.cer and *.pfx files
that I exported from the old OS, before it died. I imported/added
these keys and certificates to the new OS. I even tried to re-create
the old user account on my new OS. Nevertheless, the new OS will not
allow me to read or decrypt anything w/in these EFS-encrypted
directories.

Anyone have suggestions?

-Kevin
Click to expand...


Have you also taken ownership of the old folders?

HOW TO Take Ownership of a File or Folder in WinXP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q308421


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Caobhin said:
About a month ago, my OS/programs drive crashed. I've
purchased a new drive, installed the OS (WinXP pro) and am now
trying to get back some encrypted files.

I have 3 directories that are present on a 2nd 'data' hard
drive that were encrypted w/ the old OS'x WinXP EFS. I have
*.cer and *.pfx files that I exported from the old OS, before
it died. I imported/added these keys and certificates to the
new OS. I even tried to re-create the old user account on my
new OS. Nevertheless, the new OS will not allow me to read or
decrypt anything w/in these EFS-encrypted directories.

Anyone have suggestions?

-Kevin
Click to expand...

Actually, I solved this today. All I had to do was set ownership of
the parent directory to the ’administrators’ group on my new OS. That
allowed me to get in, read, and decrypt the files.

-Kevin
:D
 
Caobhin said:
About a month ago, my OS/programs drive crashed. I’ve purchased a new
drive, installed the OS (WinXP pro) and am now trying to get back some
encrypted files.

I have 3 directories that are present on a 2nd ’data’ hard drive that
were encrypted w/ the old OS’x WinXP EFS. I have *.cer and *.pfx files
that I exported from the old OS, before it died. I imported/added
these keys and certificates to the new OS. I even tried to re-create
the old user account on my new OS. Nevertheless, the new OS will not
allow me to read or decrypt anything w/in these EFS-encrypted
directories.

Anyone have suggestions?
Click to expand...

You mentioned EFS..
....and you mentioned you had backups of the keys/certs.. (Good.)

But you did not mention any errors (specific) you were seeing..
Access Denied?
Did you "take ownership" first?
 
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