Re: A reinstall and encryption problem

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Are you sure that they are encrypted? Or is it just that you do not have access rights or ownership of the files? If you have Windows XP Home Edition then the good news is that your files are not encrypted, XP Home cannot do file encryption, follow Mark's advice to take ownership of the files.

If you are using XP Pro and if the files are encrypted then right click on the file and click on Properties | Advanced and in the Advanced attributes click on Details to find out who owns the encryption key to the files. Only the users shown there can decrypt the files, logon to the user's account and you should be able to decrypt the files.

John

Emmylou1489 wrote:

Hi

My fiance was having problems with his PC after loading a new game. His friend (who presumes to be a bit clever with machines) decided to reinstall Windows XP to cure the problem, which it did. Unfortunately what also appeared to have happened is that some of my fiance's files were encrypted during the process.

I'll state categorically now that they were NOT encrypted before the reinstall!!! But now they are, and the 'Access is denied' message comes up if you try and open/move them.

Is there any way whatsoever that we might be able to get them back - its our engagement photos.

Any help would be brilliant!!!

Thanks

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: password
    ... If you used XP's encryption, ... If you only had a password for your Windows username, ... Taking Ownership: ... Sometimes, in order to get access to a folder, you need to "take ownership" ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: user does not have acces privileges
    ... to reinstall the windows to do that. ... ownership is the reason of the inaccessibility. ... I'm not an expert but I find out, it is not the encryption but ... "Zorro" wrote: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.accessibility)
  • Re: user does not have acces privileges
    ... to reinstall the windows to do that. ... ownership is the reason of the inaccessibility. ... I'm not an expert but I find out, it is not the encryption but ... "Zorro" wrote: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.accessibility)
  • Re: user does not have acces privileges
    ... But now at the new files I should have the right EFS key in my computer. ... That means there is something wrong with the ownership settings and that was ... Or it is only matter if the encryption is combined with the ownership change? ... to reinstall the windows to do that. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.accessibility)
  • Re: Access denied error on folders on NTFS Drive
    ... > Yes, I've taken ownership, but it still denies me access rights. ... You didn't answer the question about encryption. ... MS MVP - Windows Shell/User ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)