Help
Hi, Can anyone help.
I have enciypted my external hard disk (NTFS) which contents to secure data,
but my Window XP professional has been re-format, and now i cant open my files.
Anyone can help to decriypt will be appreciated.
Thank you very much.
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Encriypt & decriypt
#2 Guest_Uncle19F51Hoppy_*
Posted 03 February 2006 - 01:37 AM
If you used Windows built-in encryption (EFS), the key is linked to your user log-in.
Which means, if you did a complete reformat/reinstall, the previous user no longer exists. No user, no key, no files.
I had a friend do the same thing several months ago. Still no files.
Which means, if you did a complete reformat/reinstall, the previous user no longer exists. No user, no key, no files.
I had a friend do the same thing several months ago. Still no files.
#3 Guest_Uncle19F51Hoppy_*
Posted 10 February 2006 - 01:33 AM
Additional information
How files are encrypted
Files are encrypted through the use of algorithms that essentially rearrange, scramble, and encode the data. A key pair is randomly generated when you encrypt your first file. This key pair is made up of a private and a public key. The key pair is used to encode and decode the encrypted files.
If the key pair is lost or damaged and you have not designated a recovery agent, and then there is no way to recover the data.
Why you must back up your certificates
Because there is no way to recover data that has been encrypted with a corrupted or missing certificate, it is critical that you back up the certificates and store them in a secure location. You can also specify a recovery agent. This agent can restore the data. The recovery agent's certificate serves a different purpose than the user's certificate.
How to back up your certificate
To back up your certificates, follow these steps:
1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. On the Content tab, in the Certificates section, click Certificates.
4. Click the Personal tab.
Note There may be several certificates present, depending on whether you have installed certificates for other purpose.
5. Select one certificate at a time until the Certificate Intended Purposes field shows Encrypting File System. This is the certificate that was generated when you encrypted your first folder.
6. Click Export to start the Certificate Export Wizard, and then click Next.
7. Click Yes, export the private key to export the private key, and then click Next.
8. Click Enable Strong protection, and then click Next.
9. Type your password. (You must have a password to protect the private key.)
10. Specify the path where you want to save the key. You can save the key to a floppy disk, another location on the hard disk, or a CD. If the hard disk fails or is reformatted, the key and the backup will be lost. (If you back up the key to a floppy disk or CD, you must store that disk or CD in a secure location.)
11. Specify the destination, and then click Next.
For additional information about the Encrypting File System (EFS), visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Encrypting File System in Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechn...in/default.mspx
How files are encrypted
Files are encrypted through the use of algorithms that essentially rearrange, scramble, and encode the data. A key pair is randomly generated when you encrypt your first file. This key pair is made up of a private and a public key. The key pair is used to encode and decode the encrypted files.
If the key pair is lost or damaged and you have not designated a recovery agent, and then there is no way to recover the data.
Why you must back up your certificates
Because there is no way to recover data that has been encrypted with a corrupted or missing certificate, it is critical that you back up the certificates and store them in a secure location. You can also specify a recovery agent. This agent can restore the data. The recovery agent's certificate serves a different purpose than the user's certificate.
How to back up your certificate
To back up your certificates, follow these steps:
1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. On the Content tab, in the Certificates section, click Certificates.
4. Click the Personal tab.
Note There may be several certificates present, depending on whether you have installed certificates for other purpose.
5. Select one certificate at a time until the Certificate Intended Purposes field shows Encrypting File System. This is the certificate that was generated when you encrypted your first folder.
6. Click Export to start the Certificate Export Wizard, and then click Next.
7. Click Yes, export the private key to export the private key, and then click Next.
8. Click Enable Strong protection, and then click Next.
9. Type your password. (You must have a password to protect the private key.)
10. Specify the path where you want to save the key. You can save the key to a floppy disk, another location on the hard disk, or a CD. If the hard disk fails or is reformatted, the key and the backup will be lost. (If you back up the key to a floppy disk or CD, you must store that disk or CD in a secure location.)
11. Specify the destination, and then click Next.
For additional information about the Encrypting File System (EFS), visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Encrypting File System in Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechn...in/default.mspx
#4 Guest_Uncle19F51Hoppy_*
Posted 10 February 2006 - 01:53 AM
If another user attempts to open an encrypted file, that user is unable to do so. For example, if another user attempts to open an encrypted Microsoft Word document, that user receives a message similar to:
Word cannot open the document: username does not have access privileges
(drive:\filename.doc)
If another user attempts to copy or move an encrypted document to another location on the hard disk, the following message appears:
Error Copying File or Folder
Cannot copy filename: Access is denied.
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.
After reformatting and installing again, you are now a new user. The old user is history. If you did NOT save your certificates from the previous installation, your files are worthless.
Word cannot open the document: username does not have access privileges
(drive:\filename.doc)
If another user attempts to copy or move an encrypted document to another location on the hard disk, the following message appears:
Error Copying File or Folder
Cannot copy filename: Access is denied.
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.
After reformatting and installing again, you are now a new user. The old user is history. If you did NOT save your certificates from the previous installation, your files are worthless.
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