Recover encrypted files from an reinstallation of Windows 7
so I had to reinstall windows 7 due to a corrupt registry. I encrypted some files but now I lost access to them. I did some searching on the net and found out i need some sort of key to get them. I doont know where I placed it. Loging in as adminstrator doesnt help, neirther does disabling the encrypted file service. You have articles on how to recover these files in case you need to reinstall windows, but what if you dont have access to the key? You guys should have really thought long and hard with that. So my question is, is there anyway to recover the files (regestery hack, download, few setting changes etc) or am I out important files for work?
December 15th, 2009 12:25pm

How did you encrypt them? Usually if you encrypted some files and then lost the key, you are out of luck otherwise the encryption that you used isn't very strong or useful.Mark Morowczynski|MCT| MCSE 2003:Messaging, Security|MCITP:ES, SA,EA|MCTS:Windows Mobile Admin|Security+|http://almostdailytech.com
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 15th, 2009 4:29pm

Just the normal way, though explorer. There should be a way to unlock it in situations like this, other wise Microsoft did not think long and hard when they created this feature.
December 15th, 2009 8:23pm

Anyone?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 16th, 2009 8:20am

Hi,Please understand that if we can recover encrypt files, anybody who get your hard disk can do a format to remove your system and get the encrypt files easily.For encrypted files, it is recommended to backup the certificate with this method. Sorry for the issue but on system side we cannot help recover the files if we did not backup the certificate.For further information please refer this article:http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457020.aspx
December 16th, 2009 1:03pm

I'm aware of that, but if you took time to read my post, you'll see that I needed to reinstall and FORGOT that I had files encrypted. Its frustrating that theres no way to get them back becuase YOU (microosft) didnt think "gee, what if someone forgot or lost their key? I know! lets screw them and let them not have access to THEIR OWN files.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 16th, 2009 2:02pm

I can understand the frustration it is caused. However EFS is not using a password but the account information to protect files. Thus after remove the account, the key (account information) is lost. A people who lost the key is the same as did not have the key. So if we can recover the data without the key, it will be easy to get any EFS protected file.
December 17th, 2009 10:50am

Well I can see where this would be a good thing, but I can also see where it would be an bad idea. Personly I would have thought a re installation of windows would have wiped the EFS out (given its a fresh copy of windows) Guess I should have thought harder. :(
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 17th, 2009 10:53am

Not quite the answer I'm looking for. but as always you never listen to your custmorers
December 25th, 2009 9:20am

I know it is a bad result however in order to make sure the safety we cannot provide a way to unencrypt the files without account information.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 28th, 2009 1:25pm

That is EXTREMELY inconvenient that you use the account information. I am facing the exact same problem. If everything is on the SAME system, why can I not decrypt my files? When I first created the encryption, it didn't even prompt me to backup my key.
February 6th, 2011 4:08am

what if we were to prove our legitimacy? could you recover the encrypted files then?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
March 22nd, 2011 10:19pm

Exactly. Microsoft thinks once you install their OS, it will never need reinstalling. Why won't the original account password be enough to decrypt the files?? On another forum I was referred to a company that has a product that claims to recover the files with just the original account password. However, it's about $150. I am willing to spend that money if I am GUARANTEED that it will work. Those files are priceless to me, and I desperately need them back. I will let you guys know if it works for me, and what the name of it is.
March 24th, 2011 2:26am

I did a reinstall of Windows 7 and I need to recover a few encrypted files. The thing is, I encrypted them with a certificate & I have a backup of the certificate. I imported the old certificate into my new install in CERTMGR but I still can't remove encryption! When I look at the encryption properties, it shows the same certicate name, but the thumbprint is different! What the hell? The backup I made of my certificate is USELESS!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 27th, 2011 2:23am

2 cents (okay, more like 5c): If you want strong protection for your files, that's encryption. I'd hope that the encryption Micorosoft used is not readily defeatable by someone without your key (I'd hope that $150 would not be even close to the cost of defeating the encryption!). It's up to you to look after your key, or back up your data. Period. Alternatively, much weaker, just set the file permissions so only you (not even the administrator) can access it. Of course the key is in with your account, otherwise it would not be transparent encryption (you'd have to enter another password). Of course your account password alone is not adequate to later decrypt the contents - you wanted strong protection, and your account password is likely brute-forceable. So a generated strong key will probably be created by EFS, held under your account. So normally encryption on an internal drive is effectively only as strong as your account password (to recover the key), but once your account has gone (or on a USB stick etc) the encryption becomes effectively very much stronger. If you have a computer, you should back it up. If you back it up with Windows, I believe you are also offered the option to back up the key/certificate. If you don't back up your computer, then don't complain when you've lost data. And anyway, if you back up your data, I guess depending on what you use, your precious encrypted files will also be backed up, *un*-encrypted. @MeatRocket: Okay, I've no sympathy for the others, but that's worrying. Hopefully you've resolved this, or found you've restored the wrong certificate, or missed some step? Any joy?
July 13th, 2011 5:21pm

Hi, did you completley wipe the system, or did you save all the old system to windows old? It's an option you get when reinstalling, that is very handy as it retains all your old system in a folder called windows old in the C: directory.If this is the case, I don't see why you can't somehow recover the certificate and import it to your new installation. If I worked for Microsoft, that would be the way I would have approuched it. Security is important but not as important as not losing all your data as the result of a system failure.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
January 23rd, 2012 7:04pm

I will make this clear, unless you are in a corporate environment with servers to backup to etc using encryption is going to bite come the day the system dies. the problem is backups, the old XP backup was not very helpful as it could not restore protected file Windows MVP 2010-11, XP, Vista, 7. Expanding into Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server, SharePoint, Cloud, Virtualization etc. etc. Hardcore Games, Legendary is the only Way to Play Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews
January 23rd, 2012 7:17pm

I am facing the same issue. I previously did a complete system backup of my primary drive to a second drive. Last week my primary drive took a hit during a storm and scrambled the OS. The system wouldn't boot, but the data was still there and I was able to recover it. However, when I reinstalled the OS on a new primary drive, the encrypted files on the original drive and those restored from my backup are giving me an "Access Denied" error. XP does not give you an option to save, export or otherwise back up the encryption key. How am I suppossed to recover these files? What is the point in backing up encrypted files if there is no way to recover them after restoration? This is a little bit like locking the key in the safe. Help anyone???
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
March 5th, 2012 11:03pm

Well the difference between this and locking the key in the safe, is that by LAW, safe manufacturer's must provide a way to break the safe open if you can prove it's your belongings inside. Apparently Microsoft and the digital world isn't held to the same standards. I have the exact same problem. It is MY property and Microsoft won't let me access it.
March 5th, 2012 11:16pm

The only thing that has worked for me is http://www.elcomsoft.com/ This app allowed me to recover encrypted files after I gave it an account name and a list of my last few passwords.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
May 11th, 2012 1:14pm

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics