[Help] Encrypted files in windows 7 ultimate???

bilalferoz90 · 15 Feb 2012

I will try to explain things what I did and problem I am Facing in brief..

1. I encrypted a folder named photos as you can see in the video by going to
Properties(by right click)>General Tab>Advanced>Encrypt contents to secure data.

2. Then it asked me to backup keys and certificate.
I backed them up but lost them after few days.
a. Now the text is in green of the files and folders

3. I re-installed windows 7 ultimate after formatting the C: drive

4. After re-installing windows I am not able to view these files.

5. Even not able to de-crypt them..

Video is given below to understand the problem better:-
Link to Video Of Problem

Please Help me to find a solution.!!!!!!

kronckew · 15 Feb 2012

if you don't have the key, you are out of luck. you might find a brute force program to try all the possible keys, but you might need to let it run for a few generations, maybe your great grand children might see them if the pc lasts that long. the odds of you ever seeing them again are really low.

next time, if you must encrypt, make sure you do NOT lose the keys. if you do, back them up again before you do anything drastic like formatting.