Accessing protected files

Adrian Wong · 22nd Sep 2005, 11:01 PM

I made the stupid mistake of protecting certain files using Windows XP's file encryption feature.

Then I forgot to disable it BEFORE I did spring cleaning and reinstalled Windows XP, etc.

Now, I discover I cannot access those files.

Any idea how I can access those files now?

Giraffe }{unter · 22nd Sep 2005, 11:22 PM

well sir without the key or a backup of the key there is no way to recover those files.

http://www.iopus.com/guides/efs.htm

Giraffe }{unter · 22nd Sep 2005, 11:27 PM

Possible backdoor into the file

http://www.serverwatch.com/tutorials...le.php/1471131

Adrian Wong · 23rd Sep 2005, 12:11 AM

The problem is I encrypted them under my login. And right now, I can't remember what my login is... and I don't think a new login (with the same details) would allow me to retrieve them, right?

peaz · 23rd Sep 2005, 12:38 AM

Nope... the only way is to use the same login used to encrypt it as the encryption key is based on the user's GUID which is unique.

so if it's encryption.. basically.. screwed and i hope you have a backup.
but if it's just a security access thing, you can always take control of the files as long as you are an administrator.. but from what i read here, this is not the case.

Didn't Jason did the same mistake last time?

Bestia(ry) · 23rd Sep 2005, 05:36 AM

Well, you could try Elcomsoft's Advanced EFS Data Recovery (TrialDL).

PsYkHoTiK · 23rd Sep 2005, 06:30 AM

It happened to me too...

All my pics of nasya...

lost..... First function we went to together...

Our first drive at night...

Such wonderful memories lost...

elton · 23rd Sep 2005, 10:34 AM

Em.. so next time is better to have a image of your window, i believe the GUID will still be the same when you ghost it back

peaz · 23rd Sep 2005, 03:21 PM

yup.. if it's ghosted, your user data will still be around. well, either that or simply just backup the user. Link here.... this is of utmost importance if you use the encryption facility. http://www.practicalpc.co.uk/computi...xpencrypt3.htm

zy · 23rd Sep 2005, 04:04 PM

why do you want to encrypt ?

22nd Sep 2005, 11:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,146 Reputation: 3081 Rep Power: 67	Accessing protected files I made the stupid mistake of protecting certain files using Windows XP's file encryption feature. Then I forgot to disable it BEFORE I did spring cleaning and reinstalled Windows XP, etc. Now, I discover I cannot access those files. Any idea how I can access those files now? __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? Keep Tech ARP free! Visit our sponsors! We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

22nd Sep 2005, 11:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Giraffe }{unter Super Active Join Date: 9 Feb 2005 Location: NJ USA Posts: 1,002 Reputation: 736 Rep Power: 12	well sir without the key or a backup of the key there is no way to recover those files. http://www.iopus.com/guides/efs.htm __________________

22nd Sep 2005, 11:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Giraffe }{unter Super Active Join Date: 9 Feb 2005 Location: NJ USA Posts: 1,002 Reputation: 736 Rep Power: 12	Possible backdoor into the file http://www.serverwatch.com/tutorials...le.php/1471131 __________________

23rd Sep 2005, 12:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,146 Reputation: 3081 Rep Power: 67	The problem is I encrypted them under my login. And right now, I can't remember what my login is... and I don't think a new login (with the same details) would allow me to retrieve them, right? __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? Keep Tech ARP free! Visit our sponsors! We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

23rd Sep 2005, 12:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
peaz ARP Webmaster Join Date: 13 Oct 2002 Location: http://atpeaz.placidthoughts.com/ Posts: 8,501 Reputation: 1633 Rep Power: 31	Nope... the only way is to use the same login used to encrypt it as the encryption key is based on the user's GUID which is unique. so if it's encryption.. basically.. screwed and i hope you have a backup. but if it's just a security access thing, you can always take control of the files as long as you are an administrator.. but from what i read here, this is not the case. Didn't Jason did the same mistake last time? __________________ Ken Ng Tech ARP Visit my web gallery - Ken's Digital Canvas Shoot and Earn Money from Stock Photography Sterling@PJ Community Forums

23rd Sep 2005, 05:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bestia(ry) Fenrisulfr Join Date: 11 Oct 2004 Location: Lyngvi Posts: 2,217 Reputation: 1510 Rep Power: 22	Well, you could try Elcomsoft's Advanced EFS Data Recovery (TrialDL). __________________ Gods. Men. Beast alike.

23rd Sep 2005, 06:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
PsYkHoTiK "Little" Devil Join Date: 8 Apr 2004 Location: On the "throne" Posts: 14,323 Reputation: 4003 Rep Power: 59	It happened to me too... All my pics of nasya... lost..... First function we went to together... Our first drive at night... Such wonderful memories lost... __________________ Intel SLAPL 4.3GHz @ 1.35v : 2x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066 : Asus P5K Premium : WD Raptor X : G92 8800GTS 512mb 800MHz Core WIP : XFi Platinum : Silverstone OP650 : Silverstone TJ-07 : Vista Ultimate Edition : Dtek FuZion CPU : Swiftech MCW60 : MCP655 : Thermochill PA120.3 w Scythe Ultra Kaze : Tygon R3603 1/2" ID 3/4" OD CPU-Z: SLAPL : SLA9U : FX-55 : DDR 600 : VX www.techarp.com

23rd Sep 2005, 10:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
elton WhAtSuPdOc Join Date: 22 Nov 2002 Location: Any place that have COM with NET Posts: 2,832 Reputation: 828 Rep Power: 17	Em.. so next time is better to have a image of your window, i believe the GUID will still be the same when you ghost it back __________________ Elton Tan IBM ThinkPad R60 AMD Barton 2500+ Abit NF7-S V(2.0) Corsair 256MBX2 PC3200 Seagate SATA 80GB Radeon 9200 SE 128MB Altec Lansing ACS 56 Sony Clie TH-55

23rd Sep 2005, 03:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
peaz ARP Webmaster Join Date: 13 Oct 2002 Location: http://atpeaz.placidthoughts.com/ Posts: 8,501 Reputation: 1633 Rep Power: 31	yup.. if it's ghosted, your user data will still be around. well, either that or simply just backup the user. Link here.... this is of utmost importance if you use the encryption facility. http://www.practicalpc.co.uk/computi...xpencrypt3.htm __________________ Ken Ng Tech ARP Visit my web gallery - Ken's Digital Canvas Shoot and Earn Money from Stock Photography Sterling@PJ Community Forums

23rd Sep 2005, 04:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
zy Dead Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Penang,Malaysia - Buffalo,New York Posts: 12,842 Reputation: 1998 Rep Power: 37	why do you want to encrypt ? __________________ current: P4-3.2\|P4P800-Deluxe\|512x4-DDR\|NV6600 WD2500KS\|WD5000AAKS\|AD-7191A\|1860NX\|Z2300\|MP470 home (malaysia): P4C-2.6@3.1-StockHSF\|AI7\|256x2-BT-D43\|512x2-DT-D43\|A9600XT-VIVO WD1200JB\|2xWD2500KS\|DRU-800A\|DVD-E616P\|LTR-52327S\|152x\|V.S.4121\|iP1500 laptop: M1210\|T7200\|2GBDDR667\|160GB5K160\|GO7400

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