Please help me with my encrypted data

My old XP pro box has died with some of my files still encrypted.

The problem is I accidently did it as an experiment and I could still access
and edit those files without a key or anything (Obviously because I was the
one who encrypted the files).

I formatted several times before my machine died and I couldn't open those
files.
Of course I didn't back up the certificate.
I thought there should be a solution to it and didn't worry.
Now the machine is gone and my new laptop is running on Vista Home Premium.

I connected that old problem drive to my laptop and could move files EXCEPT
those encrypted ones.

Even though those files were encrypted for whatever reasons, any system
should at least recognize the original certificate or key, whatever to do
"open sesame".
If that's the case (if I'm understanding it correctly), there should be a
clue in that drive, otherwise how could it know if the key or certificate
matches to the original?

Please don't say THEY'RE GONE.

"Bring it to life" <Bring it to > wrote in
message newsC371F52-9E41-4306-8721-...
> My old XP pro box has died with some of my files still encrypted.
>
> The problem is I accidently did it as an experiment and I could still
> access
> and edit those files without a key or anything (Obviously because I was
> the
> one who encrypted the files).
>
> I formatted several times before my machine died and I couldn't open those
> files.
As you formatted the hard drive, you have lost the data anyway.

Thank you for trying to give... information but I'm afraid you missed the
part that says I could move the data from my old drive to my new laptop
except those encrypted ones.
Thanks again.


"Mike of Wrexham" wrote:

> "Bring it to life" <Bring it to > wrote in
> message newsC371F52-9E41-4306-8721-...
> > My old XP pro box has died with some of my files still encrypted.
> >
> > The problem is I accidently did it as an experiment and I could still
> > access
> > and edit those files without a key or anything (Obviously because I was
> > the
> > one who encrypted the files).
> >
> > I formatted several times before my machine died and I couldn't open those
> > files.
> As you formatted the hard drive, you have lost the data anyway.
>
>
>

Bring it to life wrote:
> Thank you for trying to give... information but I'm afraid you missed the
> part that says I could move the data from my old drive to my new laptop
> except those encrypted ones.
> Thanks again.

Well, you did say you had formatted the drive and so this information
you are giving is ambiguous. In any case, if you did not backup your
encryption keys the data is probably lost.

You can contact Elcomsoft to see if their program can retrieve your
data. If they can't, they you might as well really format the drive and
move on because the data is effectively gone.

http://www.elcomsoft.com/aefsdr.html


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thank you for the tip. I will look into it.
I had two drives on my old machine.
XP was installed on my C drive and this one (D drive) was used for my
personal data.
I heard I would not be able to 'use' those files without encryption keys,
but was hoping to get them back because I wouldn't throw away my front door
if I lost the key.
There must be a clue for the keys hidden in my D drive for later match or
maybe I could remove the old keys and replace with new ones.



"Malke" wrote:

> Bring it to life wrote:
> > Thank you for trying to give... information but I'm afraid you missed the
> > part that says I could move the data from my old drive to my new laptop
> > except those encrypted ones.
> > Thanks again.
>
> Well, you did say you had formatted the drive and so this information
> you are giving is ambiguous. In any case, if you did not backup your
> encryption keys the data is probably lost.
>
> You can contact Elcomsoft to see if their program can retrieve your
> data. If they can't, they you might as well really format the drive and
> move on because the data is effectively gone.
>
> http://www.elcomsoft.com/aefsdr.html
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

Bring it to life wrote:
> Thank you for the tip. I will look into it.
> I had two drives on my old machine.
> XP was installed on my C drive and this one (D drive) was used for my
> personal data.
> I heard I would not be able to 'use' those files without encryption keys,
> but was hoping to get them back because I wouldn't throw away my front door
> if I lost the key.
> There must be a clue for the keys hidden in my D drive for later match or
> maybe I could remove the old keys and replace with new ones.

If it were that easy to recover the encrypted files there would be no
point in using encryption.

If you do recover them I'd try to find better security in future.

I use truecrypt as that is not tied to the OS, so a reformat will not
loose the ability to access the data.

--
Annie___ (VM BB L)________________________________
http://find-out-more.brion.me.uk - http://email-me.brion.me.uk

I still hope there will be an expert who can give me some tips, at least who
can explain how the EFS works on my machine, or tell me if I can dig in the
System Volume Information folder (of course the old D drive) and hopefully
find a clue or something. A friendly thinker who has the same problem and
wants to research and learn together to find a solution could be helpful as
well.
Maybe I could separate the keys from the files and replace them? giggle.

I don't have time for further debate. Thanks anyway.
Go fish if you are bored.




"Annie R J Brion" wrote:

> Bring it to life wrote:
> > Thank you for the tip. I will look into it.
> > I had two drives on my old machine.
> > XP was installed on my C drive and this one (D drive) was used for my
> > personal data.
> > I heard I would not be able to 'use' those files without encryption keys,
> > but was hoping to get them back because I wouldn't throw away my front door
> > if I lost the key.
> > There must be a clue for the keys hidden in my D drive for later match or
> > maybe I could remove the old keys and replace with new ones.
>
> If it were that easy to recover the encrypted files there would be no
> point in using encryption.
>
> If you do recover them I'd try to find better security in future.
>
> I use truecrypt as that is not tied to the OS, so a reformat will not
> loose the ability to access the data.
>
> --
> Annie___ (VM BB L)________________________________
> http://find-out-more.brion.me.uk - http://email-me.brion.me.uk
>

Bring it to life wrote:
> I still hope there will be an expert who can give me some tips, at least who
> can explain how the EFS works on my machine, or tell me if I can dig in the
> System Volume Information folder (of course the old D drive) and hopefully
> find a clue or something. A friendly thinker who has the same problem and
> wants to research and learn together to find a solution could be helpful as
> well.
> Maybe I could separate the keys from the files and replace them? giggle.
>
> I don't have time for further debate. Thanks anyway.
> Go fish if you are bored.

Do you not have decrypted versions of your files in your backup?

--
Annie___ (VM BB L)________________________________
http://find-out-more.brion.me.uk - http://email-me.brion.me.uk

"Bring it to life" <> wrote in
message news:68B7024C-B6ED-43DA-945A-...
>I still hope there will be an expert who can give me some tips, at least
>who
> can explain how the EFS works on my machine, or tell me if I can dig in
> the
> System Volume Information folder (of course the old D drive) and hopefully
> find a clue or something. A friendly thinker who has the same problem and
> wants to research and learn together to find a solution could be helpful
> as
> well.
> Maybe I could separate the keys from the files and replace them? giggle.

You have two problems. The first one is EFS is not supported in Vista Home
Premium. The second is you don't have the certificate (key) needed to
decrypt the files.

The needed certificate was in your user profile on the C: drive. If you
formatted the C: drive the the data is lost. If you still have the C: drive
then the Elcomsoft link someone posted may help you.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca

Thank you Kerry Brown.
Even though I still can't decrypt any of the files, I feel much better.
My boyfriend keeps almost all the copies but I wanted to learn more by myself.
You helped me remember the user profile thingee and I won't make the same
mistake in the future.
Thank you again.




"Kerry Brown" wrote:

> "Bring it to life" <> wrote in
> message news:68B7024C-B6ED-43DA-945A-...
> >I still hope there will be an expert who can give me some tips, at least
> >who
> > can explain how the EFS works on my machine, or tell me if I can dig in
> > the
> > System Volume Information folder (of course the old D drive) and hopefully
> > find a clue or something. A friendly thinker who has the same problem and
> > wants to research and learn together to find a solution could be helpful
> > as
> > well.
> > Maybe I could separate the keys from the files and replace them? giggle.
>
> You have two problems. The first one is EFS is not supported in Vista Home
> Premium. The second is you don't have the certificate (key) needed to
> decrypt the files.
>
> The needed certificate was in your user profile on the C: drive. If you
> formatted the C: drive the the data is lost. If you still have the C: drive
> then the Elcomsoft link someone posted may help you.
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>
>