Windows XP Encryption: I'm locked out by the system

[adit_sen]

I have a major problem on my hands.

I use the encryption feature of winxp quite frequently to protect my files, as I am constantly sharing files over LAN. Recently, I formatted my HDD and re-installed widows. Before doing go I copied all my data to another partition. Now, with winxp reinstalled and running, I no longer have permission to access my encrypted files!!! As the encryption setting in winxp is such that only the user who encrypts can decrypt, i'm locked out!! Since I've reinstalled, the user under which it was encrypted, even thought it was me, does not exist anymore. So I cannot use the files nor can I decrypt them.

Is there anyway to get out of this mess? Those files are very important, and I can't risk losing them.

peace...
aditya

 

[kalpik]

If you couldn't risk using them, you should not have used EFS. Now there is no chance of recovering them. Sorry!

 

[JGuru]

If those files are very important then you must have taken a backup in a DVD before
encrypting it. There are lot of data recovery software available. But I'm not sure if
those software can recover files that are encrypted. Maybe they may recover files
that are encrypted, that you won't understand. The chances are really slim.

 

[Rollercoaster]

dude see this : may be it will help
*support.microsoft.com/kb/308993

 

[Rollercoaster]

*www.beginningtoseethelight.org/efsrecovery/index.php and this

 

[nik_for_you]

one thing you can try .. dont knw it will work or not !!!

create user with the same name with which you created that encryted files and then try !! or again reinstall xp with that user name ..

dont tell me anything on this ok as this is a wild guess only ...

 

[kalpik]

^^ Wont work, no use trying..

 

[Rollercoaster]

you need either the certificate from the old user a/c or atleast the UID and Machine ID form the old installation to work around this prob...

 

[adit_sen]

ah...tried everything...looks like i have to give up...

 

[vinayasurya]

I think u can't do much abt unless you have certificate of userid from old installation. Creating the a newuser under same name doesnot generate same secutrity id. I don't know any applications for recovering data from it though..

 

[kalpik]

you need either the certificate from the old user a/c or atleast the UID and Machine ID form the old installation to work around this prob...

Wont work either.. The certificats are completely random! So maybe if u install windows kazillion times, you may get the same certificate

 

[sgurnani]

If I have a text backup of the Certificate number can that help? Should I start looking?