Having Issues Opening A Windows Efs Encrypted File In Windows 7 Pro. I Need Your Help!

Hello. I have a question. I seriously need your help!!!

I am using Windows 7 Professional. The Professional/Business and higher editions of Windows since Windows XP version have the EFS (Encrypting File System) feature as part of the operating system. This is the main reason why I will not go lower in using/purchasing Windows editions than the Windows Professional/Business line editions.

Okay, I have an issue. Some time ago, I have a PDF file and I placed inside the a folder that happens to be EFS encrypted. When I moved/copied the PDF file into the encrypted folder the PDF file automatically became encrypted too. The text or file name turns from the normal black type to the green type indicating that it is encrypted. Good, I say. It is now secure. When I created the EFS folder I was NOT in Windows 7 Professional. I was using Windows XP Professional when I created the EFS folder. Also, when I created the PDF file and moved it into the EFS folder, I was ALSO using Windows XP Professional as well. (As we know, Windows XP Pro has the EFS technology as well.) WELL, SADLY I LOST MY WINDOWS XP PRO INSTALLATION SOME TIME AGO -- HARD DRIVE FAILURE AND IT IS LONG GONE. The hard drive was sent back to the Western Digital. NOTE: This EFS folder that has the EFS PDF file inside is safe on another hard drive. Now today, I am using Windows 7 Professional that has EFS technology as well. So I am trying to access this EFS folder/EFS PDF file inside with Windows 7 Professional.

Now, I get an acces is denied issue from PDF software programs. I have both the free version (limited version) of Adobe Reader installed (v.9.4) and a program called Nuance PDF Viewer Plus that also is a more advanced PDF application. For your information, I have set the PDF file “Associate a file type or protocol with a program” to the Nuance PDF Viewer Plus to open and view my PDF files. When I open the PDF file in that EFS encrypted file, I have an issue. As the Nuance PDF Viewer Plus opens the encrypted PDF file, I get a message or dialog box in the middle of the screen stating, “Access denied.” Okay, I go ahead and open this same PDF file with my Adobe Reader. Again, I get a similar message that states, “There was an error opening this document. Access denied.”. So I see I cannot open this PDF document that Windows EFS encrypted.

For your information, I did not password protect the PDF file with a more advanced PDF editing software that allows for password protection of PDF documents. So there is no PDF password protection on this Windows EFS encrypted PDF file.

Questions: Please tell me what I can do to still access this EFS PDF file NOW when I am using another Windows operating system that offers EFS.

So what I am looking to understand:
1. Why am I having issues? Please explain.
2. How do I resolve it? Please explain. Do have to only be in my user account of the same Windows operating system I originally created the EFS file or folder in order to open an Windows EFS encrypted file? Please explain.

I guess I do not understand Windows EFS File Encryption system works as it shows.

Please reply.

Thank you!

 

Hi montecarlo1987. I have never dabbled with Encryption, however because of the Time Zones, ask you to be patient,till someone comes on, that may be able to help you.  

 

@DSTM:

I'm patient. Thank you!

 

Just to echo DSTM. It is not a question for everyone. Of course I know the answer as I know pretty much all there is to know but will need to leave it to others so they can gain experience with the topic. :snckr: OK I'm lying but help will come along.

 

@ BeeCeeBee:

Again, thank you!

 

Hello. I figure I would let you know and provide some valuable information to you.

There is nothing I can do as I have learned today from other sources. If the EFS certificate and key are lost from Windows XP Pro and never backed up (and now that I have totally lost Windows XP Pro some time ago and don't even have the hard drive it was on any longer anyways), I am a dead in the water and I can never ever again recover the data (decrypt the files). The EFS recovery agents (the 3rd party programs that are designed to recover EFS encrypted files) NEED either the EFS certificate or the EFS private key in order to decrypt EFS files and folders.

I have learned my lesson and learned to back-up to a USB flash drive or blank CD/DVD-ROM both the EFS certificate and the key to one of them for safe keeping away from the Windows operating system ***IMMEDIATELY AFTER*** creating my FIRST EFS file or folder with that version of Windows that includes EFS functionality. I did this time with Windows 7 Professional! Now I am safe in case Windows 7 Pro completely fails me and dies. (Lets hope not!)

It is sad that Microsoft Windows does not DEMAND the user (with some sort of dialog boxes) to back-up to some external media the EFS certificate and key at the FIRST time the user performs to EFS encrypt an file or folder. I didn't know to begin with!

Website to read to perform the tasks: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-Encrypting-File-System-EFS-certificate

Thank for your help!

Take care!

 

You have learnt a valuable Lesson. I can see how it would benefit those in the Business World.

I have absolutely no need to encrypt Files. If I did encrypt any Files,I would certainly learn the pitfalls first.

I have followed your Threads on this subject,on other sites,and read their replies to you.

I now know more than what I did previous,about File encryption.

Thanks for the Link. May help somebody.  

 

I couldn't agree more! There is enough built in complexity in Windows - why would I want to add more??

Still, some may really need that level of protection. I'd try hard to find an alternative, tho.

 

Thanks for your replies. Just passing by and read your comment and it is ironic but I have been thinking... Yes, I am thinking about adding Truecrypt to my system. Any thoughts? I do not have Windows BitLocker since I have the Windows 7 Professional edition that has the EFS without BitLocker. I have to go to the Windows 7 Ultimate (& special licensed Enterprise) to have it all. I know Windows 7 Home Premium users I am told just add Truecrypt to their system to have both the file/ folder level and the hard drive/ partition level encryption protection similar to Ultimate and Enterprise editons – and they are very happy. I'll let you know that I do need it and that is all I will say on that topic. I know Truecrypt is free for everyone since it is open source. I know Truecrypt and BitLocker (if you bought Ultimate or a multi-licensed version of Enterprise for the latter) are the most popular names in Windows encryption to date. Anyways, your thoughts?

 

Since I've avoided using an encrypting program to scramble my data - which I manage to do sufficiently without any outside help - I'm not going to be helpful here.

I'll leave real discussions to those with real experience.

"TRUECRYPT" ...... wasn't there a TV series by that name? Complete with a Crypt Keeper??