unable to retrieve backuped up files - and encrypting issues generally...

[llama thumper]

hi all,

was wondering if anyone can give me any pointers as to how to retrieve
encrypted files i have saved using the windows backup utility, as well
as some sort of basic info on the web as to how windows encryption
works.

to keep it short, i've backed up some files which i have now restored.
the original files were in a directory that was encrypted, along with
everything in it. when i now try to open the file, which has been
restored to a desktop directory (not its original location), i cannot
open it, due to access privilegs problems.

what is possible (though unlikely) is that it was encrypted while i was
using a different windows password (still the same account though), but
I am not sure about that.

would appreciate any pointers as to how to get this resolved!

 

[Malke]

hi all,

was wondering if anyone can give me any pointers as to how to retrieve
encrypted files i have saved using the windows backup utility, as well
as some sort of basic info on the web as to how windows encryption
works.

to keep it short, i've backed up some files which i have now restored.
the original files were in a directory that was encrypted, along with
everything in it. when i now try to open the file, which has been
restored to a desktop directory (not its original location), i cannot
open it, due to access privilegs problems.

what is possible (though unlikely) is that it was encrypted while i
was using a different windows password (still the same account
though), but I am not sure about that.

would appreciate any pointers as to how to get this resolved!

http://tinyurl.com/6l6xx - MS information about EFS (Encryption)
http://www.elcomsoft.com/aefsdr.html - Encrypted files retrieval
application
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/encrypt.htm - encryption info
http://www.beginningtoseethelight.org/efsrecovery/ - more encryption
info

Malke

 

[llama thumper]

thanks for the links, will look into it.
could you tell me though, just quickly, as to what the problem is/could
be, and how to avoid it in the future?

 

[Malke]

thanks for the links, will look into it.
could you tell me though, just quickly, as to what the problem
is/could be, and how to avoid it in the future?

If you truly used EFS and neglected to export your encryption key and
set a recovery agent, the files are in all probability gone forever.

To add a recovery agent for the local computer -
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...docs/en-us/encrypt_to_add_recovery_agent.mspx

To change the recovery policy for the local computer -
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../proddocs/en-us/encrypt_to_change_policy.mspx

How to add an EFS recovery agent in Windows XP Professional -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;887414

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

EFS, Credentials, and Private Keys from Certificates Are Unavailable
After a Password Is Reset - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290260

Malke