XP Encrypted contents question

[nuonce]

I have XP with 2 hard drives. On one of my partitions a few months ago, I did a "Encrypt contents to secure data" and then soon after I formatted and did a clean XP install. Then it wouldn't let me open or view the data- but I could move stuff around, copy stuff, and delete stuff.

Is there any way to get this data back, or view it?

 

[amdskip]

Does windows do the encrypting?

 

[nuonce]

yes, i did the encrypting through the ntfs folder properties/advanced/Encrypt contents to secure data

 

[bsobel]

Unless you backed-up your efs encryption key, that data is not recoverable. Please see the FAQ.
Bill

 

[nuonce]

Originally posted by: bsobel
Unless you backed-up your efs encryption key, that data is not recoverable. Please see the FAQ.
Bill

Thanks! i found it here How to use EFS and back up your EFS Private Key.

no wonder i couldn't find encrypt in the FAQ before

since I didn't back up my EFS key, then i guess there is no way to get the data back. I guess I could format that partition or maybe keep it like it is (one day i'll hack into it with some uber-new future program )