Decrypting files

[Nole7]

I have an external drive on which I have some data from 2004 that I apparently thought was a good idea to encrypt back then.

When I try to decrypt through Windows (through properties), it says access denied.
Anyone know how to decrypt files?

 

[mechBgon]

You'll need the decryption key, which would be unique to the particular instance of Windows that was installed when you encrypted the files. If you still have that Windows installation working, it can decrypt the files for you. If you've reinstalled since then, the key is gone.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Did you use Windows to encrypt the files? If so, like mechBgon says, the encryption key is located on the computer you used to encrypt them.

If you still have that computer, plug it in to decrypt. If you saved a copy of the key, you'll need to import it into your new computer. Do you remember doing something like this?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/241201/en-us

If by some small chance your computers are part of an Active Directory domain, they may have been backed up for you. Check with your system administrators.

If all else fails, and you have a million years or so, you can attempt to brute force the 256-bit AES key. 🙂

 

[Nole7]

Unfortunately, the computer is long gone and since those were the only files I encrypted and they were on an external drive, I did not think to save the key.

What I do remember, though, is the computer name, user name and password. Would that help me out at all?

 

[mechBgon]

Unfortunately no. Your files are effectively gone, without the decryption key. 🙁

 

[Nole7]

That sucks. Thanks guys.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Consider using something like TrueCrypt next time. It uses passwords, so as long as you remember the password, all you have to do is install the program on the new computer.

 

[Nole7]

Good tip.

 

[Qua Sar]

You could probably get a decryption program and run it for ... well probably a LONG time and get your files back.

 

[rasczak]

you probably didn't want that pr0n anyway, you could just download some new stuff 🙂

 

[stash]

Originally posted by: Nole7
Unfortunately, the computer is long gone and since those were the only files I encrypted and they were on an external drive, I did not think to save the key.

What I do remember, though, is the computer name, user name and password. Would that help me out at all?

It would if you had the user profile from that machine.