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decryption of files

Discussion in 'General Software' started by pidnes, Oct 29, 2009.

  1. pidnes

    pidnes Junior Member

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    Hello all, I need help to decrypt some files if it's possible. Some time ago I encrypted some files (in a moment of poor thinking:yikes:) and then copied them to my external hard drive. My computer was then reloaded and now I can't open or transfer the files at all. I have tried deselecting the encryption selection box in the files' properties but that doesn't work and I get the same error message about the file being protected. Is there any way to do this or have I been silly and I've lost them? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
     
    pidnes, Oct 29, 2009
    #1
  3. BeeCeeBee

    BeeCeeBee ADMINISTRATOR IN MEMORY

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    Welcome to Computer Help Forums, pidnes! :nod:

    Do you mean that your computer was reformatted? All data on the hard drive lost?

    Finally according to your profile you are using XP home. XP home does not support encryption, you need XP Pro for that. How did you encrypt your files? Did you use third party software and, if so, what?
     
    BeeCeeBee, Oct 29, 2009
    #2
  4. Dalo Harkin

    Dalo Harkin Registered Members

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    If you are EVER going to encrypt files for any reason it is far better to use a
    3rd party program, then you can move the files anywhere and then if anything goes amiss you can install the 3rd party encryper and it will still recognise the files.

    Better still you can also buy flash drives that encrypt the information it stores ;)
     
    Dalo Harkin, Oct 30, 2009
    #3
  5. pidnes

    pidnes Junior Member

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    Hi BeeCeeBee, thank you for the welcome.

    First up, yes, I meant that my computer was reformated and I had almost everything I wanted saved on a external drive.
    Secondly, I have XP pro version 2002 service pack 3. I apolagise for the confusion with both of these, clearly I'm not the computer buff I should be LOL.

    I encrypted the files by selecting properties for the file, under the general tab, at the bottom under attributes I selected advanced and at the bottom of that window I selected encrypt contents to secure data.

    Thanks again for your reply and any suggestions. Have a great day.
     
    pidnes, Nov 4, 2009
    #4
  6. Dalo Harkin

    Dalo Harkin Registered Members

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    I have never used the encrypt function you speak of, but I would have thought that the information to decipher the information is stored on the operating system drive that encrypted it, as you have formatted the drive I would have thought it has gone.
     
    Dalo Harkin, Nov 4, 2009
    #5
  7. Tony D

    Tony D Administrator Administrator

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    If when you reformatted the hard drive, did you use the same USER NAME for your account? I think Windows uses the User Name to secure the files.
     
    Tony D, Nov 4, 2009
    #6
  8. hatsoff

    hatsoff Inactive

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    Taken from

    Best practices for the Encrypting File System
     
    hatsoff, Nov 4, 2009
    #7

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