dammit! just got fvcked by Windows' file encryption

[thomsbrain]

i played around with encryption once a while back, but thought i took it off everything. i re-installed windows a few days ago and went to restore the backed up files. one folder wouldn't go because it was still encrypted. you can guess which folder. you know... THAT folder. years of scouring the internet for the cream of the crop... down the drain.

DIE WINDOWS!

seriously, you'd think they'd scream at you to save your key, to keep retards like me from messing things up. but no! they have to let us dumbasses can our entire collection!

*sulks*

 

[nerp]

Good reason to start fresh I guess.

 

[IEC]

You had a folder full of EA games?

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
i played around with encryption once a while back, but thought i took it off everything. i re-installed windows a few days ago and went to restore the backed up files. one folder wouldn't go because it was still encrypted. you can guess which folder. you know... THAT folder. years of scouring the internet for the cream of the crop... down the drain.

DIE WINDOWS!

seriously, you'd think they'd scream at you to save your key, to keep retards like me from messing things up. but no! they have to let us dumbasses can our entire collection!

*sulks*

Sorry but this is really funny!!! I guess you had to encrypt it

I just hide mine.

pcgeek

 

[cessation]

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

You're welcome. ;p

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: cessation
http://www.elcomsoft.com/aefsdr.html

It appears that solution is intended for "corrupted" systems, where the Certificates are damaged. Since the OP wrote an entirely new system on top of his old one, I suspect this approach won't work.

 

[cessation]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: cessation
http://www.elcomsoft.com/aefsdr.html

It appears that solution is intended for "corrupted" systems, where the Certificates are damaged. Since the OP wrote an entirely new system on top of his old one, I suspect this approach won't work.

If he installed windows on the same drive as his previous installation then it could be tough. But even then there's still a chance he could get the files back if he really wanted.

Also some people save their old installation, if he did then he could recover the key from that backup.

 

[Smilin]

It's tough to blame yourself for this stuff huh? Windows fault :roll:

 

[Boyo]

Next time just go into properties and click on hide file. Then you can enjoy all you want

 

[drag]

This sort of thing is why Microsoft made alternative data streams for.

C:/> type pron.wmv > cutepuppy.jpgron.wmv

Hidden folders are for wimps.


edit: got rid of smiley code stomping on my post.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: drag
pr0n folders are for wimps.

Fixed

 

[stash]

seriously, you'd think they'd scream at you to save your key, to keep retards like me from messing things up. but no! they have to let us dumbasses can our entire collection!

FWIW, there is a lot more warning in Vista, but only if you use the new wizard (click your picture at the top of the start menu, "manage your file encryption certificates"

There's also plenty of warning in the XP help file, but people typically assume (wrongly) that the help is worthless.

 

[oldman420]

I always back up my files to a cd zip files with passwords work slick.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Spartan Niner

Originally posted by: drag
pr0n folders are for wimps.

Fixed

Real men have pr0n networks. :evil:

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Spartan Niner

Originally posted by: drag
pr0n folders are for wimps.

Fixed

Real men have pr0n networks. :evil:

Yep.

You know they have a name for it. It's called 'The Internet'.

The whole thing is just one gigantic scam by hackers on the 'establisment' to brainwash them into thinking that it's great for business to build a worldwide porn distribution network so that they can ftp spreadsheets to one another. It's the biggest joke on mankind since they created the dirty joke duplicating machine we now call 'the printing press'.

Of course the scientists are all upset that normal AOL-folk have polluted their vast empire of porn with things like E-commerce and E-mail containing spam and windows viruses so they created their own little 'Internet2' which is capable of transmitting many dvds worth of porn a minute. (the real measurement of bandwidth)

Everything you'd ever need:
Pornzilla
VLC
Torrentflux, the ultimate bittorrent client

 

[Rottie]

OP I feel your pain. it happened to me before...learn lesson not to play with encryption folder

 

[Nothinman]

But even then there's still a chance he could get the files back if he really wanted.

If you've got several centuries or eons to wait for the bruteforce to finish, sure.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

But even then there's still a chance he could get the files back if he really wanted.

If you've got several centuries or eons to wait for the bruteforce to finish, sure.

Nah, we'll have quantum computing RSN.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Nah, we'll have quantum computing RSN.

Yeah, but those will all be busy calculating AACS encryption keys for HD-DVD and Blu-Ray disks.

 

[ForumMaster]

it's better to hide it, use a space as the name and change the folder icon to nothing. then, even if "show hidden files" is selected, you won't see it unless you know it's there! and hide it in a good spot. encryption is just asking for problems.

 

[Nothinman]

it's better to hide it, use a space as the name and change the folder icon to nothing. then, even if "show hidden files" is selected, you won't see it unless you know it's there! and hide it in a good spot. encryption is just asking for problems.

Security by obscurity, better hope you're not hiding it from anyone with half of a clue.

 

[dwcal]

Can't help you with the old files, but don't mess with Windows file encryption next time. Try FreeOTFE. 100% Free and works great.
www.freeotfe.org

 

[WiseOldDude]

Sounds like your computer did EXACTLY WHAT YOU TOLD IT TO DO, protect your files from any user but yourself. If you really want to blame someone, don't look at a Window, look in a mirror.

 

[cessation]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Nothinman

But even then there's still a chance he could get the files back if he really wanted.

If you've got several centuries or eons to wait for the bruteforce to finish, sure.

Nah, we'll have quantum computing RSN.

Lol, did you guys even read my first post or are you both just trying to raise your post count? Nothing I said requires "bruteforce".


What I was trying to say with that sentence you quoted was... If he tried to recover his original windows folder which he did not say was encrypted then he could get the key if successful. Once he has his original windows folder he could use the software I posted to extract the key then un-encrypt the folders.

 

[stash]

If he tried to recover his original windows folder which he did not say was encrypted then he could get the key if successful. Once he has his original windows folder he could use the software I posted to extract the key then un-encrypt the folders.

The key info is not stored in the Windows directory, it's stored in the profile and protected by the account password and SID.

It is possible to recover the profile after a reinstall, but not without data recovery tools that are typically not cheap. And you would also need to make a $245 call to PSS for them to recover the key info from the profile (provided you know the password).