XP encryption woes.

Duffman

I have a few encrypted files I can't access anymore, nothing too important but I'd still like them back

Files were encrypted using XP. I moved them to another volume to do a reinstall without realising it too was NTFS, meaning the encryption was preserved. The account used to encrypt these files is gone.

Now without really knowing what I was doing, I exported certificates from that account ages ago in the belief that I was backing up a recovery key for this kind of situation. I have a pfx file and a cer file. I've imported these successfully into my new account or so I'm told but files still can't be read. This was all done though certficate manager and the security management console. Don't really know what I'm doing I'm afraid.

Is there any hope?

Stephen

The .pfx should contain the private key you need to decrypt the files. If you right click on it and choose "import certificate" (or something along those lines) can you still not access the files? Are you sure you backed up the correct certificate in the first place?

_CreeD_

With an admin account you should be able to take ownership of the files and decrypt them.

Capt'n Midnight

Probably getting mixed up with something else but...
Was there a service pack between the when the files were encrypted and now ?

Duffman

I tried importing the certificate using the correct password for the pfx file. It is almost as if the certificates don't match so it's possible I exported the wrong one. Although I only had one account on my machine at the time.

I tried taking ownership of them but they still can't be opened.

My new install is SP2 while the old one was SP1.

DemonOfTheFall

XP's encryption makes me cry. Not saying theres anything wrong with it just it tends to be a total unbelievable hassle...

emaherx

reboot pc
press F8 during startup to enter safe mode
login as admistrator,
change ownership of files
should solve your problem