Re: Encryption Confusion - Accessed denied - Yes, I Googled HELP PLEASE

Summer wrote:
> Hi people, Boy did I do the wrong thing...XP Pro SR2:
>
> I got curious about file/folder encryption so I did a little reading
> at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316/en-us before attempting it.
>
> Started to encrypt My Documents folder per the above kb article and
> then canceled (turned chicken-I kept remembering the posts from
> unfortunate souls who tried encryption and realized I needed to learn
> more before proceeding). Noticed that some of the file/folder names
> were now "green" in color. Assuming they were encrypted, I did the
> steps for decrypting the My Documents folder. The folders' names now
> appeared in "black" text. I assumed ALL (including files in the
> folders) had been decrypted.
>
> Exported the cert with its private key to a CD, JUST IN CASE, and
> "removed" the cert from the Personal window in Internet Explorer
> (because I read this protects the encrypted files from physical theft
> of the computer).
>
> Got brave (I mean stupid) again and tried encrypting the My Docs
> folder, but again canceled.
>
> THEN, I noticed that certain FILES were still encrypted so I
> attempted to decrypt them by importing the cert from the CD. My file
> decryption attempts on the individual files failed. I tried
> decrypting them from the folder level but this had no effect. I see
> there are now TWO nearly identical certs in the Personal window (each
> has a different serial number). Apparently, my second attempt at
> encryption created another certificate(?). And how did the original
> cert get listed again even though I "removed" it? :-/
>
> I "viewed" the original cert for clues to what I was doing wrong and
> read: "This CA Root Certificate is not trusted, etc." So, thinking I
> needed to put it in the trusted cert area, I imported it there, too.
> Still could not decrypt the files and now have two certs in the
> Personal and one in the Trusted area.
>
> Followed the instructions here
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/encrypt.htm to take ownership. Turned
> off file sharing so I could see the security tab, etc. Several
> attempts. I am still unable to decrypt the files. And not only are
> there 3 certs, but now I have three names in the name list? Because
> there are so many certs and names everywhere, I am thoroughly
> confused. (aargh!)
>
> Tried going back-in-time (I love this) to a restoration point, but
> that didn't work, (of course). Undid the restoration and am back
> where I was (in the present). :-)
>
> Have spent hours on this. Just want to get my system back to where it
> was before I added all this stuff to it. Can someone *please* tell me
> how to clean up this mess? If you need more detailed info, please let
> me know. Thanks for reading this!

LOL! Recover your files from your last back up.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"


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