Win2k, Encrypted folders, and why I need into them

[Praetor]

I went out today and picked up Slackware Linux 7.1 to try out on my machine. (I lack the patience to download it) Using Win2k's handy-dandy disk-management tool, I deleted my old linux partitions and created a new one. I rebooted, and no Windows. A got a halt just after the graphic boot screen saying something about NTOSKRNL.EXE.

Whatever. I try to fix it, but no go. So, I install Win2k onto the blank partition I made, but now I can't get into some of the folders I encrypted on my other drive.

How can I get into them? My projects are in there and I'd like to recover them if at all possible. I've heard of a .DLL for Win98 that would access NTFS partitions without worrying about permissions. Would this help? And where would I obtain this/these file(s)?

Is there a file or regkey I can delete/modify somewhere?

Or am I just $hit out of luck?

 

[noxipoo]

to decrypt you need to login as a administrator or a recovery agent or something and copy the file to a not encrypted partition. then you should be able to acces them. i'm still learning as i'm not a w2k MCP yet

 

[Wizkid]

Hmm.... just logging in as an administration won't help with encrypted files...
I am looking for a true solution as I am curious too...

 

[Wizkid]

According to what I have just read in the Win2k Pro Resource Kit... there is no way to recover this data unless you can get back into the previous install b/c it has your private key and the private key needed for emergency decrypting. Can you still boot into that old installation of win2k in vga mode?

 

[Wizkid]

Here is some more info: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q255/7/42.ASP

and a quote:



<< NOTE: If you do not have access to a Recovery Agent's account with a valid recovery key, you cannot recover the data. There is no workaround in EFS. >>

 

[jeremy806]

I feel for you dude. EFS and a w2k crash caused me to lose an MS Money file with four years of financial information.

Well, I gave up on recovering it, bought Money 2000, and started over.

Also, I use NTFS only for C drive, and FAT32 for everything else now.

And yes, I was very very mad at the time. I don't use EFS anymore.

jeremy806

 

[Wizkid]

EFS, if it is used, must be used with caution. You MUST backup the recovery keys and preferably run it on a network controlled by an active directory domain master. That way it is MUCH harder to lose data b/c the keys are stored on the server.

 

[Praetor]

Well, it looks like I managed to save my ass. (I said save not shave)

I distinctly remember playing around with the settings and deciding that encrypting and locking the folder would be the best idea for my personal info. What I don't remember is realizing that encrypting it would be a bad idea if I ever ran into a problem such as this and I needed to recover the data. Translation: I must've gotten rid of the encryption and just left the permissions set to one user.

Which still meant that I couldn't access it normally. I had to do a properties on the folder, add myself as an authorized user, then I deleted the broken user profiles and voila. I had access to my stuff. Yay!

Another fun thing I discovered was in completely moving my old user profile directory (c:\documents and settings\user) to my new directory actually worked. All my e-mail settings were proper, reg-keys seemingly restored, etc. With the exception of having to reinstall the software and deal with an old AIM/ICQ list off of a backup, I'm not doing so bad now.

Good thing I didn't have to deal with the encyrption, otherwise I would have been PO'd. (as I was getting from reading these disheartening posts.)

Thanks!