how to decrypt a file

ellegrand · 01-07-2006, 11:43 AM

I have two hard disks: one with the Operating System XP (disk C) and the other just for saving video and music files and pictures(disk D).
I encrypted a folder in the disk D, so the files inside of it were also encrypted.
Then, I reinstalled xp in the disk C... and now I tried to decrypted the folder in question, I could, but I couldn´t open the files (pictures in jpg).

When I go to properties - advanced - and try to restore the attributes to not being encrypted, I receive a message: Error in trying to aply the attributes to the file.

It is not possible to open the files, to view the files... I can rename them, but when I tried to open them "there in not a preview available".

I want you to help me to open those files, there must be some way to do it!

**greffov** · 01-07-2006, 03:28 PM

I may be wrong here (I hope so...) but I vaguely remember something that windows encrypts your disk based on a password and key that is generated during the installation of windows. If your reinstall, you lose this key. I'm affraid you have a non-recoverable problem. I hope others can tell something else. Can you elaborate a bit on how exactly you encrypted the folder, what you used for that and how you did it?

ellegrand · 01-08-2006, 02:32 PM

Well, First I encrypted a folder(1), this folder had may other subfolders(4), in the subfolder #4 there many jpg files. when I reinstalled windows , I hid the folder(1) using a software -File lock-. After that I made the folder visible again with the same software , and decrypted the folder(1) using Properties - advanced- etc. in Windows. But when I tried to open the jpg files it was not possible. I don´t think the software File lock has something to do with the problem.
And I didn´t use any password when installing windows.

igalan · 01-09-2006, 11:31 AM

When a file is encrypted it is done by the OS in a transparent way using a key created by the OS itself; applications do not see a difference. When the file is needed the OS uses the key that it has stored safely to decrypt it. But if you install a new OS, it won't have the key so it will not be able to decrypt the files. As far as I know there is no way to decrypt them except using the original OS (did you do a Norton Ghost or something that could help?). Note that I may not be aware of tools developed for the purpose...

ellegrand · 01-09-2006, 08:17 PM

I formatted the disk and didn´t do any back up.

01-07-2006, 11:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
ellegrand Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 18	how to decrypt a file I have two hard disks: one with the Operating System XP (disk C) and the other just for saving video and music files and pictures(disk D). I encrypted a folder in the disk D, so the files inside of it were also encrypted. Then, I reinstalled xp in the disk C... and now I tried to decrypted the folder in question, I could, but I couldn´t open the files (pictures in jpg). When I go to properties - advanced - and try to restore the attributes to not being encrypted, I receive a message: Error in trying to aply the attributes to the file. It is not possible to open the files, to view the files... I can rename them, but when I tried to open them "there in not a preview available". I want you to help me to open those files, there must be some way to do it!

01-07-2006, 03:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
greffov Da House Nerd Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: One CPU Lane Posts: 3,512	I may be wrong here (I hope so...) but I vaguely remember something that windows encrypts your disk based on a password and key that is generated during the installation of windows. If your reinstall, you lose this key. I'm affraid you have a non-recoverable problem. I hope others can tell something else. Can you elaborate a bit on how exactly you encrypted the folder, what you used for that and how you did it? __________________ Linux virusscanner detected a virus: Windows 95 ... delete [Y/n] y ~ ~ :wq

01-09-2006, 11:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
igalan PCTT Articles Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Barcelona, SPAIN Posts: 1,018	When a file is encrypted it is done by the OS in a transparent way using a key created by the OS itself; applications do not see a difference. When the file is needed the OS uses the key that it has stored safely to decrypt it. But if you install a new OS, it won't have the key so it will not be able to decrypt the files. As far as I know there is no way to decrypt them except using the original OS (did you do a Norton Ghost or something that could help?). Note that I may not be aware of tools developed for the purpose... __________________ AMD64 X2 3800+, Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe, 2 GB RAM, GeForce 6600GT, Windows XP Home SP2

01-09-2006, 08:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
ellegrand Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 18	Hello I formatted the disk and didn´t do any back up.

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01-08-2006, 02:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
ellegrand Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 18	Well, First I encrypted a folder(1), this folder had may other subfolders(4), in the subfolder #4 there many jpg files. when I reinstalled windows , I hid the folder(1) using a software -File lock-. After that I made the folder visible again with the same software , and decrypted the folder(1) using Properties - advanced- etc. in Windows. But when I tried to open the jpg files it was not possible. I don´t think the software File lock has something to do with the problem. And I didn´t use any password when installing windows.